Why it’s more important than ever to shop local

GODFREY’S GOSPEL
According to Michael Godfrey
A COUPLE more businesses have closed down in Carlow over the past few weeks. There was no big write-up in the newspapers, no 30 seconds of fame on the radio.

Unlike high-profile closures such as Braun, Lapple, the Sugar Factory and so on, there weren’t hundreds of job losses – just a few. But to those losing their jobs, it had the same effect: total devastation.

One of those concerned had been in business for over 40 years. It was never high-profile but nonetheless provided an invaluable service to the public. The simple fact of the matter is that with the downturn in the economy the only option left to the owner was to shut down before he ran up bills he would be unable to meet.

I know of one other business where the owner was told in no uncertain terms by the bank not to look for a stocking loan because it would not be forthcoming. As a result, another business hit the dirt.

Unfortunately Carlow, once a proud manufacturing hub in the south east, was bitten by the property bug a number of years ago and switched from making items to shopping. That was all very well when people had more money than sense – or, at least, thought they had. Every weekend was like Christmas: there wasn’t a parking space to be had at any of the retail parks in town. Not any more. In fact, some retailers have now resorted to remaining closed until 9.30am or even 10am because of the distinct lack of business being generated.

I met one well-known retailer recently and enquired how things were going. He replied he was going through yet another recession and didn’t know where it would all end. That man has given and continues to give valuable employment to a lot of people, yet if his business closed in the morning again it would hardly merit a mention in the press.

You may have noticed that some retailers have by-passed Halloween and gone straight to selling Christmas products. When I asked one or two why they have done this, the answer was simple: they cannot compete with the pound shops and, anyway, they want to have as good a chance as they can to generate some stimulus for the Christmas trade because without it they will either have to close or lay off even more staff come the New Year.

I know I sound like a broken record advocating the same thing year after year – to shop local – but this year, more than ever, it is vital that whatever few bob circulating is spent locally between now and Christmas Eve.

Unlike years ago, when retailers or people in business generally put on a brave face, irrespective of the challenges facing them, nowadays there is no such charade. Many of the business people I have spoken to in the past few weeks didn’t blink an eye when they said that unless something happens – and quickly – they will not be around come the New Year, further adding to Carlow’s woes.

Thankfully, manufacturing in the county is going through something of a renaissance and those involved are actually expanding. But we need more of it – and quickly – if the good times are to return. Any day now the local authority will announce even more cutbacks because of the drop in revenue from commercial rates and the fact that it cannot sustain its own overheads. The only way to stop this downward spiral is to create more jobs. But before we can even attempt to do that, we must first secure the ones that are already there – and that means shopping local this Christmas.

There will always be exceptions to the rule, when you simply cannot get what you or your offspring are looking for. But those will be few and far between. All major chain stores are to be found in Carlow, as are all supermarkets, so there should be little or no reason to leave town. And who knows, maybe by spending your few bob this Christmas you might even be saving your own job.