Shop local, eat local, spend local, enjoy local in Offaly this Christmas

Shop local, eat local, spend local, enjoy local.

That's the message to consumers in a shop local campaign by the Tribune and our sister online platform, offalylive.ie in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Shopping locally as far as possible this festive season will help secure jobs and economic growth in our towns and villages.

The logo of a bread company in Tullamore sums up the shop local message very well - “use your loaf and keep the dough in town.”

Local retail outlets and businesses can supply virtually all people's needs, particularly foodstuffs and gifts, this Christmas.

Consumers are blessed with a great array of choice at local outlets where there is an emphasis on quality and price.

Offaly County Council is also supporting local businesses in a campaign run in partnership with Tullamore and District Chamber of Commerce.

Said Chamber President, Anthony Hanniffy: "There is a very clear message that Tullamore is open for business. We have seen many improvements in our town after the past difficult few years and I would like to encourage everyone to think local this Christmas."

Added Mr Hanniffy: "Our Christmas vouchers are the perfect gift and are accepted in many businesses throughout the town and I would encourage people who perhaps are unsure of buying a present for a loved to consider buying a Tullamore Quids voucher."

Tullamore Municipal District has also relaxed car parking charges for the entire month of December in a bid to encourage more people to shop in the county town in the coming weeks.

“Stay local, shop local and click local,” urged the council in a statement this week. “Even in extraordinary times, we can all make a difference,” it added.

Shopping local is not only important for our communities but it also aids the national economy as local retailers tend to support Irish goods.

Those of us involved in community and sporting organisations are only too grateful for the support received from local businesses throughout the year. The lead up to Christmas – the busiest time for most local retailers – is the perfect opportunity for people to return their support to local business.

In tandem with the shop local message consumers are also being encouraged to support Irish made goods and produce where possible,

Most consumers are anxious to buy Irish produce because of its reputation for quality and their desire to support Irish farmers and workers.

But consumers good intentions can be exploited through misleading labelling and unsustainable discounting.

Consumers should realise that the only labels they should trust to signify Irish origin, when buying meat and other produce, are The Bord Bia Quality Mark, Origin Ireland and the National Dairy Council Guarantee. 

In the past consumers have been misled through the use of tricolour images boasting "produced in Ireland" or "processed in Ireland" on non-Irish food.

In past years the Irish Farmers Association also identified the practice of using fake farm and creamery brand names to mask non-Irish product and displaying Irish product next to identically packed non-Irish product.

Playing with perceptions is designed to mislead consumers. It denies them the opportunity to make informed choices and gives the impression the retailer cares about local suppliers when in reality there is no guarantee their suppliers are being paid a fair price.

So, keeping all these factors in mind, in the remaining two and a half weeks to Christmas Day please heed the message “shop local, eat local, spend local, enjoy local.”