Monday 15th Jun 2015, Councillor John Pender, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow, today launched the 2015 Retail Development Programme. The programme will see fifteen County Carlow Retailers develop their enterprises in a transformation business development programme delivered by Carlow County Councils Local Enterprise Office.
Developed by Carlow County Council in conjunction with PMM and assisted by County Carlow Chamber, the Programme delivers support for small retailers to achieve new innovations necessary to increase footfall.
Fifteen companies have signed up to take part in this year’s six-month long programme, which will consist of both workshops delivered by PMM and industry experts and one-on-one mentoring.
Launching the programme, Councillor Pender said
“In order to support our retail sector and get it growing again, Carlow County Council is determined to work hard, to ensure that we get the absolute most, in terms of job retention and creation potential, out of every strength and asset we have. Today’s initiative represents a great example of a coordinated attempt by the Council working with the Chamber as representatives for business and the private sector to enhance our retail enterprise base”.
Speaking about the programme, Dan Mc Inerney, Chief Executive of Carlow County said: “The Retail Development Programme is an important part of our strategy for the retail sector in County Carlow. Our Local Enterprise Office established in 2014 has achieved significant results in 2014 and I hope we can develop on these during 2015 and build on last years successes by introducing programmes for sectors such as Retail” Mc Inerney continued to explain “that the retail development programme was just one cog in the wheel of development programmes and initiatives being rolled out by Carlow County Council which included Vacant Property Survey’s , Direct Marketing to Brand Retail , Development of Investment Materials and the redevelopment of a balanced incentive scheme for new and current retail”.
Mc Inerney concluded by saying “Carlow County Council has seen significant growth in our manufacturing and services sector and while this boost is welcome, it is important that we focus on boosting our locally traded enterprises. We look forward to working with this year’s participants in what will, I’m sure, be a very successful programme’.
The programme will be delivered by Elmer Kerr from PPM who said " we have worked with over one hundred retailers in the past year to successfully develop their businesses through cost effective marketing to promote local shopping and create awareness of their special offers to customers; footfall increases leading to higher turnover and profits, protecting retail jobs and in many cases increasing local employment opportunities. Carlow retailers will be able to develop their businesses, become stronger and put Carlow on the map as a great shopping destination, not only for locals, it will attract day trippers, tourists and visitors to Carlow giving them a great shopping experience creating loyalty, rewarding customers and great shopping".
