Daly calls on Kildare consumers to 'shop local' for Christmas

Kildare South General Election candidate, Cllr Richard Daly, has called on consumers in the county to ‘shop local’ this Christmas.

“There is no denying that every consumer deserves the right to seek out the cheapest prices when shopping, but I feel there is great value to be had in many of the smaller towns.

“Retailers in small towns in county Kildare provide a first class service throughout the year, and rather than travelling long distances in search of a bargain, I feel shoppers should look close to home first of all and try and maintain a certain loyalty to places where they have shopped for most of the year.”

The Fine Gael candidate said local retailers often relied on the loyalty of their customers to ensure their businesses remain viable.

“In recent years, retailers in the county's smaller towns have come under increasing pressure in a market in which multi-national chains have tried to monopolise with huge advertising campaigns.

“But many local shops have responded by spending large sums on modernising their premises, and providing state of the art facilities for the modern consumer.”I feel this sort of investment in local business deserves to be supported by the community.

“Every penny spent in the these communities means that businesses can prosper and continue to provide much needed employment in less populated areas.

"Successful businesses in smaller towns provide crucial full-time and part-time employment.

“In order to maintain the vibrancy and the future development of our smaller towns, the local community must row in behind these hardworking businesses and ensure their viability."