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RETAILERS IN DUBLIN City Centre reported mixed results in the run up to Christmas this year, with footfall down in general, but hospitality reporting an increase in business.
Richard Guiney, spokesperson of Dublin Town – a representative body for businesses in Dublin City Centre – said that there were “mixed trading results” over the Christmas period.
“So footfall will be probably down compared to last year, by about 2-3 %,” he said.
“Larger retailers are down, boutique is holding its own, and hospitality slightly up.”
Guiney said the run up to Christmas was “probably a bit quieter than we would have liked, but it wasn’t a write-off by any stretch of the imagination”.
“It was a little bit behind where we want to be,” he said.
Dublin Town’s figures come at the beginning of the post-Christmas sales period, where retailers usually expect to see a bump in sales in the last days of December and early January.
Guiney said he had no early indications on how sales were in the immediate Christmas period.
The Dublin Town figures come after Retail Ireland reported a slight increase in the average spending by households on the run up to Christmas, RTÉ reports.
This year’s Christmas shopping period was complicated by the closure of Holyhead Port, after it sustained damage during Storm Darragh.
Richard Guiney said that delays to online orders as a result of the closure showed the importance of physical shops.
“The other thing that the city has is the variety,” he said.
You have large and small, and you can go for a meal or have a drink or take in a play or some entertainment,” he said.
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My first job was in a local retail shop. My daughter’s first job was in a local retail shop. It’s in our best interests that we support local over Jeff Bezos so it’s important they do well. Most of the money generated locally stays local.
@Brian McMahon: how many shopped in their local Tesco? Where do those profits go I wonder?
@Brian McMahon: My local arts and hobby shop is charging €119.99 for a remote control car my son wanted for Christmas, the same remote control car on Amazon was €75. When my local shops stop ripping me off I will consider shopping locally.
@Thomas Meaney: Return cash to shareholders (a mix of institutional, retail and individual investors)/ invest cash back into the business/ keep cash on the balance sheet.
@Brian McMahon: It’s easy to say shop local, but by the time l have paid Irish prices and for travel to the nearest city I can’t justify the extra money.
@Brian McMahon: The global economy disagrees
@Thomas Meaney: some of the profits pay my wages and the wages of 15 thousand others
@Brian McMahon: local businesses sell on Amazon
@Ger Whelan: If you want to talk about rip-off ask them about the rates that they pay, which legally can never go down but hey, the majority elected them back into councils. Whereas multinationals still get a sweet heart deal brought in in the late 1950′s, such a progressive country, not for small to medium sized Irish businesses.
@Ger Whelan: again you understand nothing. Get your kid something better and a lot cheaper. imagine believing that local shops can compete price wise with supermarkets nevermind amazon.
But if what is cheapest is your priority, then buy the electric plastic shit on amazon. Your kid will be amused for a short while.
@Brian D’Arcy: What sweetheart deal do multinationals get on commercial rates? Also, rates can go down, I know plenty of businesses that had a reduction in rates over the last decade due to revaluations.
Seeing that you are a SF supporter, the party wants to get rid of property tax, do they also want rid of rates? How do local authorities get funding if you get rid of 2 of the main income streams, do you want to see it decided centrally?
@Brian D’Arcy: they pay minimum wage. As I’m sure Amazon does in this country and whatever country it operates in. There is no excuse for a €45 Euro difference for the same product. You shop local all you wish, I’m quite happy to have saved €45.
@Ger Whelan: This is in all likelihood the price before P&P, I have seen items on that website where the shipping was matching the purchase price or more with preferred/express shipping.
@offside again: again you not understanding it was the very same product. It was the exact same remote control car only the price was different. If you’re happy paying €45 Euro for the same product then go ahead pal go for it.
@Athena: Free posting and packaging and 2 days for it to be delivered. It was waiting under the tree for my son Christmas morning
@offside again: YAWN!!!!!!!
@Ger Whelan: i understand it’s the same product. It’s you who doesn’t understand anything else.
@offside again: If you say so. All I know is I have €45 extra in my wallet and my kid got what he wanted for Christmas. You feel free to pay the extra if you wish.
@Ger Whelan: The thing with Amazon is it’s a finely tuned machine. Local shops have to charge more to survive including extortionate rents and insurance among other things. Amazon also has its overheads but thanks to economies of scale they can provide these products for cheaper!….. It’s the same reason a cup of coffee is more expensive in a coffee shop compared to a cup of the same, and often nicer, in mc donalds
@Kevvy kerrr: happy new year kevvy
Oops I forgot, happy new year to all the others as well
@Ger Whelan: They are not ripping you off. It’s about economies of scale. The €119 contributes to the local economy. The £75 to Amazon doesn’t. You decide who you want to support.
@Thomas Meaney: and Lidl and Aldi? Any profits go back to the holding companies …….. after payment of Irish tax and Irish wages. Just as do any profits made Irish companies operating abroad. You have a very narrow view of the world
@The next small thing: not centrally please … we might end up with an IRFU scenario.
@Brian McMahon: power bank 140w around 150 euros in Amazon, 220 minimum in Ireland , got it from china 62.
same serial and model number.
says it all…
@Ger Whelan: You know the price but not the value. A lot of that €119 stays in the local economy. Probably none of the €75 does.
@Brian McMahon: Amazon consists of mainly Sole Proprietors and small to medium businesses just like those on our High Streets.. I have bought from many Sole Props on Amazon that are based in Ireland selling their products.. so your comment here is slightly out of whack.. and unfortunately considering the prices and parking issues in most cities.. yep I’ll take Amazon as a priority place to buy.. diesel is expensive, tires and parking… On the flip side we are keeping postmen in a job and many small couriers..
I’ll spend my earnings when and where I like, thank you very much.
Just catching up with news over the last few days. Christmas eve, Christmas day & Stephen’s Day – Comments from all the usual. What is wrong with you?
World’s smallest violin (only €7,500 in BTs].
great news. hopefully now all the pubs and restaurants will pay off the warehoused tax from covid.
Stop printing this waffler. Provide the figures, everything else is hearsay from a representative of vested interests
What wonderful news, surely this will cheer the whole country up, all we are short now is to hear what the average times are for people in Dublin going to bed at and get up in the morning.
Go to London, this place is a huge rip off with far less choice
@Thesaltyurchin: So when you convert from pound to Euro is it?
@Thesaltyurchin: go to the EU. Let the UK collapse. Give them nothing.
@Veronica Waastrumpet: Lame the three of you.
@Brian D’Arcy: yes, it is
@Veronica Waastrumpet: true
When do the Christmas sales at the Grafton Streer soup kitchens start? Any closing down specials?
On line shopping has taking over you don’t even have to leave the house
Prices wise things are out of control costs of living
We all need to shay local and shop in gus Longran shop
Dont buy on Amazon and wont stay in hotel in ireland as is a rip off. Save go abroad were not ripped of for food and drink and get guaranteed sun
I’m living in a dream world. Aren’t there actual places outside Dublin or is that the sum of Ireland? Next Dubliners will be wanting water piped in from the world outside. Hello I live in that dreamlike world.
@Nerb: weirdo. Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford are the only interesting places in Ireland. Cork and Galway are foreign countries. The rest is scenery blotted by bungalows and McMansions.
RG is a greedy little (well actually quite large) Man.
When prices come down more people will go out and shop. Seen a white jacket that would fit a 9 or 10 year old for 220 euro. They would grow out of it within a month
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