NEW LOOK FOR LOCAL CAMPAIGN URGES CONSUMERS TO SUPPORT WESTMEATH BUSINESSES

A new campaign by the Local Enterprise Offices is asking consumers in Westmeath to look for local when they are shopping for products, services and experiences this summer. The Look for Local campaign, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, aims to raise awareness of the benefit of spending in your local area.

Research carried out as part of the first Look for Local campaign which was run by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath in November and December 2020 showed that Irish consumers were 83% more likely to look local for products and services in 2021. 

This campaign aims to strengthen that sentiment and to educate consumers on the domino effect that local spending has throughout their community. Every €10 spent in Westmeath on Irish products and services generates more than €40 of benefit to the county in terms of employment.

Launching the new Look for Local campaign, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said; “It’s more important than ever to look for local and support the small businesses in your community. Whether you’re thinking of buying a gift, new clothes, a service of some sort – whatever it is, your local business would be delighted with your custom. 

“It’s wonderful to see so many small businesses reopen recently, after what has been an exceptionally difficult period and as our vaccine programme ramps up further, we hope to see many more open their doors.

“We’re hoping for a really busy summer for our small businesses across the country. Over one million people are employed by a small business in Ireland more than the public sector and multi-nationals combined. I encourage everyone to support these jobs and look for local in their own community.

The Local Enterprise Office’s “Look for Local” campaign, which is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, will run across the summer on national, local and online / digital media and will promote small businesses across the country and the benefit of spending with them. 

Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, Christine Charlton says:“Since the onset of Covid-19, Local Enterprise Office Westmeath has been working closely with small businesses across the county to help sustain them with financial supports, training, mentoring and consultancy for all areas of their business.  Now it’s our turn as consumers to Look for Local with the economy reopening. 

Every Euro you spend with a local business is an investment in the community around it and the quality of goods, services and experiences on our doorstep is second to none.  Not only that but it makes a positive environmental, economic and societal impact.  This summer we are asking everyone to Look for Local and support businesses and jobs across County Westmeath.”

In 2020 the Local Enterprise Offices approved over 13,000 Trading Online Vouchers which enabled small businesses to set up an online trading presence.  This was up over 950% from the year previous (1,218) and helped small businesses to keep the virtual doors open, when the physical ones were shut.  This supplemented with training, mentoring, sector & issue specific consultancy and financial supports helped thousands of businesses to continue to trade and sustain themselves ahead of this summer’s reopening.

The campaign will run all summer across social and traditional media, and profiling will continue until the end of the year to help spotlight local businesses across the country and encourage people to Look for Local.  For more information on the campaign go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/LookforLocal and agencies, businesses and consumers will also be encouraged to use #LookforLocal on social media to help support the campaign, with customers urged to tag their favourite local businesses and services.

Local Enterprise Office Westmeath is a one-stop shop for anyone with a business idea, or running a small business in County Westmeath. Contact the team at localenterprise@westmeathcoco.ie or visit their website at www.localenterprise.ie/westmeath.

ENDS