Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday

An Taoiseach and Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor Support 280,000 Jobs in Retail

Small Business Saturday is 3rd December and is an initiative that is supported and promoted by Retail Excellence. This is the third year of the Irish campaign which profiles small businesses and encourages consumers to shop locally and support jobs and enterprises in their respective communities.

Speaking today David Fitzsimons, CEO, Retail Excellence said, “We are delighted to bring Small Business Saturday to Ireland again. It is about letting consumers know that by shopping local they support local jobs and businesses. We want consumers to understand that a small change in their spending can have a hugely positive impact to their local economy - €10 spent locally is worth €40 to that economy in terms of supported employment, supported communities and giving the business the opportunity to continue to operate year round. As we come to the Christmas Season, a vital period for local businesses, Small Business Saturday can play a major role in supporting jobs, businesses and ensuring that local towns thrive throughout the year.”

There are over 280,000 people working in the Retail industry across Ireland with the majority of these employed in small local stores. Retail Excellence also supports the rejuvenation of small towns and Small Business Saturday complements efforts to profile these smaller towns and encourage all citizens to support local business and employment.

About Small Business Saturday in Ireland

Small Business Saturday started as a grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December - Saturday December 3 rd this year. To download marketing collateral supporting the campaign please click HERE

About Rural Town Revival

Retail Excellence has been involved in a number of initiatives for the rejuvenation of small towns. In 2014, Retail Excellence launched a Rural Town Revival document to provide guidance and motivation to stakeholders in all of Ireland’s towns and villages to work together collaboratively to design and implement a plan which will reinvigorate towns and villages with a view to re-engaging both citizens and customers with their respective town or village. For more information contact David Fitzsimons on 087 2535482.

About Retail Excellence

Retail Excellence is the largest retail industry trade body in Ireland with the aim to enhance the consumer's retail experience by developing top class retail standards and skills and promote a vibrant and competitive world class retail industry in Ireland. Retail Excellence involves 1,300 leading retail companies who operate over 16,000 stores in the Irish market. The organisation invests in innovative and exciting learning, market intelligence, commercial services, Government representation and member networking initiatives.