Towns go all-out to retain Christmas shoppers

Efforts by business leaders and local authorities in Meath"s towns to encourage shoppers to buy local this Christmas vary widely, with some areas going all-out to maximise spending in local shops. Massive efforts to ensure shoppers stay at home in Ashbourne this year to do their Christmas shopping are being made by the local Chamber of Commerce and the Town Centre traders. Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce is promoting a 'Stay Local, Shop Local" campaign for all local businesses, while Ashbourne Town Centre has distributed 'a gift guide" for their Christmas shoppers, which has been distributed to 40,000 homes in the catchment area. The Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce annual dinner dance takes place this Friday night in the Marriot Hotel and the theme of the night will be 'Shop Local", and local businesses are being urged to deal with each other this Christmas. The Chamber will be switching on the Christmas lights in the Main Street of Ashbourne at 5pm this Saturday outside Ashbourne House Hotel. The Chamber points out that there is a wide selection of shops in the area and 1,600 free car parking spaces. Meanwhile, Ashbourne Town Centre has launched a gift guide which details the gifts that can be purchased in Ashbourne this Christmas. The guide includes an entry form to win a €1,000 shopping spree and has been distributed to 40,000 households in the area. Ashbourne Town Centre turned on its Christmas lights last Sunday when Santa arrived by reindeer drawn sleigh, accompanied by a host of seasonal friends. There was live music, circus performances, juggling shows and balloon modellers. Santa"s Grotto will remain open every Saturday from 12 noon to 4pm until Santa departs for the North Pole on Christmas Eve. In Ratoath, the local Chamber of Commerce is also making a big effort to keep business at home this year and is currently distributing a 70-page directory of businesses in the area. The Christmas lights will be switched on this Saturday by Santa Claus and a brightly-lit Christmas tree will form a focal point for the village outside the community centre. The Chamber is promoting the area through their 'Ratoath Is Alive.ie" website and many local businesses are also undertaking their own promotions to keep business in the town this Christmas. Dunboyne will be lit up for Christmas this year also, with a large Christmas tree in the centre of the town providing a focal point for the village and many local traders are involved in their own promotions. A Christmas fair at the new Navan civic space in the days before Christmas week is expected to increase footfall for businesses in the town, Navan"s Mayor, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, has said. In conjunction with Navan Chamber of Commerce and Navan Town Council, Cllr Fitzsimons is planning to make the initiative a reality. Artisan foodmakers will feature and businesses are being asked to take part if they wish to have a stall. However, it is not expected that free parking will be a feature of the festive season in the town. Navan retailer, Francis Deane, a candidate for Fine Gael in the local elections, advocated this measure. But while Operation Freeflow, to ensure traffic runs smoothly over the Christmas period, will take place again in co-operation with Navan Gardai, there are no plans for free parking to be introduced. In Trim, however, the town council is offering free parking for the three Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas to entice shoppers to the town. The Christmas lights in Trim will soon be turned on, adding to the festive atmosphere. Kells traders, meanwhile, have signed up in strength for the local Chamber of Commerce Christmas Shopping Voucher promotion, with 55 outlets and a considerable number of local employers already taking part. The promotion continues to meet a very positive response, with traders focused on delivering quality goods at competitive prices to customers who are spared the hardship of traffic jams, parking and other charges, stressed Chamber president Jess Olohan. The scheme took its cues from a Mullingar Chamber promotion, which generated over €70,000 into that town"s economy in its first year. The Chamber has organised this Sunday"s visit by Santa to Farrell Street, where the Christmas lights will be switched on and live entertainment provided in Farrell Street from 3.30pm. Live entertainment is also planned and the Chamber will be promoting the voucher scheme with shoppers and businesses alike. 'We"re focused on delivering a winning shopping formula using Kells" strengths,' added the Chamber president. She praised the town"s traders for their very positive attitude in the current difficult times. In Oldcastle, the local Chamber of Commerce also plans a Santa visit, which will take place on Saturday 13th December at The Square. The Christmas lights, children"s choir and fire brigade will also turn out to welcome him, and other entertainement will also be provided for shoppers around the Christmas Tree from 5pm. 'Chamber members and traders in the town are clear that they can lift their game in these tougher times,' said Chamber officer Gerry Farrelly.