There are very basic messages about the need to shop local if you can this Christmas, and all year round – it creates jobs, local jobs, it keeps our main streets alive, and it keeps local money in local circulation. Simple as. It’s not so long ago – well, five years ago – since we were all hit by that terrible pandemic. It made us think about what we should be doing to keep local businesses alive and thriving.
Many people had a long think about their purchasing association with Amazon and Co and their drift of hard-earned cash out of the country, to someone else’s economy actually, to salary and wage packets elsewhere. Five billion – that five thousand million – flies overseas in online purchases.
And of course the local economy suffers, first of all through the loss of that money in circulation in the county and Ireland. There’s damage to the environment in the number of returns made by buyers who find the article they bought doesn’t fit or they don’t like the style and back and forth the items go.
Joe Staunton will celebrate 31 years since opening the pharmacy back in1994
Local spending can work to the benefit of local communities in so many ways. Apart from the local shops in Meath and their workforces, taxes raised locally can come back locally in the form of government grants to clubs and voluntary organisations and the money keeps local services going. The success of the Mi Meath Gift Card campaign is phenomenal. This Christmas 200 local businesses are backing the campaign. It’s so easy to pick up your card online at mimeath.ie or directly from selected retailers right across the county, then use it to buy local. Not only local but national businesses are buying into the campaign organised by County Meath Chamber.
Paula McCaul continues the drive to get county to support the local businesses with over 200 outlets sighed up for the Mi Card
Paula McCaul of County Meath Chamber says there has been a phenomenal response to the Mi Meath campaign, with local shops and major national brands coming on board. “Every euro spend on a Mi Meath card stays in County Meath and that gift card has the potential to generate €1 million for the local economy. The Chamber is encouraging employers to give their employees a Mi Meath card and that helps to
protect the local economy. The Chamber’s hot social media campaign keep the Buy Local message right in front of purchasers’ eyes. Happy Christmas and Happy Local Spending. The key message is keep it local, Keep your business in town and keep your town in business.
