December Sales Boost For Irish Retailers

A survey carried out by researchers at Waterford Institute of Technology has found that December may give rise to optimism for beleaguered Irish retailers.

The study which was conducted by the RIKON Research Group, on behalf of AllGifts.ie, found that 73 per cent of Irish consumers will spend the same or more on Christmas gifts this year compared to previous years, while 63 per cent of those surveyed have indicated they will wait until December to do their Christmas shopping.

The face-to-face survey also reveals that online spending continues to grow in popularity among Irish shoppers. The main reasons given for shopping for gifts online were not price related, but rather convenience (60 pc of those surveyed) and time saving (22 pc), with online bargains accounting for a distant third (18 pc).

“Despite the current economic conditions, Irish shoppers have indicated that they are willing to open their wallets for a bargain,” said Gary Purcell, Managing Director of AllGifts.ie (ABOVE LEFT).

Mr. Purcell noted that the survey findings could be attributed to the introduction of pre-Christmas high streets sales and other special offers, as well as the 6.6 pc decline in consumer prices between January and October this year.

He added: “The results of this survey are very welcome news for Irish retailers who have experienced a considerable drop off in footfall over the last year. The vast majority of Irish shoppers are saying they will spend the same or more on gifts this year, with online shoppers leading the way. Online consumers are spending more even though their spending power is not as great as the non-online buyers”.

Survey results for consumers that do not shop online for Christmas gifts:
- The three major barriers to not shopping for Christmas presents online are (in order of importance): consumers do not have a credit card, they prefer to see items before they buy them, and they don’t like to wait for items to be delivered
- Over a third of these consumers will spend between 201-500 euro this Christmas (35 pc) with 24 pc indicating they will spend over 500 euro
- A large majority (69 pc) indicated that they will spend either the same or more than last year on Christmas presents
- A large majority indicated that they shop for presents in December (70 pc consumers)

Survey results for consumers that shop online for Christmas gifts:
- The three major reasons that consumers shop online for Christmas presents are: convenience (61 pc), save time (22 pc) and best place to find bargains (18 consumers)
- They are likely to spend 201-500 euro this year on their Christmas shopping (39 pc), with a further 31 pc indicating that they will be spending over 500 euro this Christmas on gifts
- They are likely to spend about the same online as previous years on their Christmas gifts (41 pc), yet a further 49 pc indicated that they would be spending more than in previous years
- 77 pc of online consumers will be spending the same or more this Christmas on gifts than the previous ones
- They are most likely to complete their Christmas shopping in December (58 pc)
- A slight majority does not expect to buy gifts online for children (56 pc).

AllGifts.ie sells 10,000 gifts and gift vouchers online from 175 Irish retailers. An estimated 50,000 shoppers are expected to visit the website during December.

The Top Ten Gifts purchased by the 8,500 registered users of the website in November are as follows (in order of popularity): (1) Airplane Flying Lessons, (2) Hotel Breaks for Two, (3) Restaurant Meal vouchers, (4) Netbook and Laptops, (5) Spa Treatment vouchers, (6) Helicopter Rides, (7) Gourmet Food Hampers, (8) Internet Radios, (9) Rally and 4x4 Driving Experience and (10) Oxfam Gift of a Goat.

For more on the Christmas Shopping Survey visit www.allgifts.ie.

Clare Tourism Sector Unites To Reverse Downturn In Visitor Numbers

The Clare Tourism Forum this evening launched a new website aimed at reversing the sharp decline in visitor numbers to County Clare over the last year.

Clareoffers.com, which was launched at the annual Clare Tourist Council conference in Ennistymon this weekend, promotes special offers and discounts on accommodation, attractions, activities, and shopping discounts from around County Clare.

The initiative follows on from a successful campaign undertaken, in conjunction with Aer Lingus, during which North American tourists were encouraged to fly into Shannon International Airport and spend time in Clare.

According to Forum Chairperson Richard Nagle the challenges facing the local tourism sector are significantly different from what they were when the Clare Tourism Forum was established four years ago. He noted that the significant drop in international visitor numbers had been exacerbated by the slowdown in economic growth in Ireland and the main source markets, as well as the emergence of cheaper holiday destinations.

“There is a very real commitment among all tourism agencies and operators in Clare to participate in a unified approach to addressing common issues facing the sector. I am confident that the Forum’s strategic and collaborative approach, which is illustrated by the launch of the new website, will result in a sustained increase in visitor numbers to Clare in 2010”, added Councillor Nagle.

The Clare Tourism Forum was established in November 2005 with the objective of mobilising a collaborative strategy to sustain and develop tourism within the county. Its membership includes representatives of the principle agencies involved in tourism promotion in Clare in partnership with representatives of the hotel, vintners, tourism retail and B+B sectors as well as the main local tourism attractions.

Commenting on the launch of the new website, Maureen Cleary, Marketing Executive of the Clare Tourism Forum said: “www.clareoffers.com is an ideal platform to showcase Clare as a fantastic value destination and provides the ‘call to action’ a potential visitor needs to book their trip to the County We are delighted that tourism providers from around County Clare are supporting this excellent addition to the existing county tourism website www.clare.ie. Both websites are excellent selling tools created by the dedicated tourism partnership, the Clare Tourism Forum”.

Ms Cleary continued: “The Clare Tourism Forum is committed to reinforcing Clare’s status as a domestic and international tourist destination alike. This commitment is underlined by the production of the first County Clare tourism brochure in over a decade earlier this year.. We are confident that members of the tourism industry and wider business community in Clare will embrace and support our marketing drive dedicated to Clare.”

Meanwhile, the Clare Tourism Forum has confirmed that Councillor Nagle will be stepping down as Chairperson in early 2010 and will be replaced by a leading tourism representative from the private sector.

For more on the Clare Tourism Forum see www.clare.ie, telephone 065-6846462 or email mcleary@clarecoco.ie.

IMAGE: Councillor Richard Nagle and Maureen Cleary of The Clare Tourism Forum

County Limerick Boil Notice To Remain In Place Until Mid Week

A precautionary boil notice affecting approximately 2,000 customers of the South West Regional Water Supply and Feahanagh/Castlemahon Group Water Scheme in County Limerick will remain in place until the middle of next week at least.

Limerick County Council, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, confirmed that 700 households are affected by the public water notice in areas including Broadford, Dromcolligher, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Mountplummer, Kilmeedy, Feenagh and surrounding areas.

The notice was issued last night after the Council’s Water Services section detected a deterioration in water quality in the South West Regional Water Supply.

Further information for customers in the affected areas is available from www.lcc.ie. Advice is also available from (061) 496326 (9.30am - 4.30pm Monday - Friday) and (061) 419226/ (087) 6295167 (outside of office hours).

Limerick County Council is advising members of the public served by the South West Regional Water Supply and Feahanagh/Castlemahon Group Water Scheme not to drink the water except under the following conditions and for the following purposes:

- Water for drinking purposes, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled
- Boil the water to ensure a rolling vigorous boil and then allow it to cool. Cover it and store it in a fridge or cold place. (Tea or coffee made with water which has boiled is safe to drink)
- Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic filters will not guarantee that water is safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers
- Use water that has been prepared for drinking (i.e. that is boiled) for preparing foods that will not be cooked, e.g. for washing salads
- It is safe to drink commercial bottled mineral water.

Prepare baby feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times. If tap water is unavailable, use bottled water that has been brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using water that is fizzy, unless boiling has removed all the fizziness. Check the label: water in bottles labelled “natural mineral water” is not required to meet all the standards of tap waters.

Don’t use natural mineral water with concentrations greater than the following for infant feeding: sodium –200mg/l; Nitrate –50mg/l; Nitrite –0.5mg/l; Sulphate –250mg/l. Water maybe used for flushing of toilets, internal house plumbing and for personal hygiene and bathing. Vulnerable users, those persons with poor kidney function, renal failure and particularly those on renal dialysis are advised to source alternative drinking water until further advised.

Members of the public are requested to advise the County Council of elderly or disabled residents, who may require special assistance. The Council has also asked for information on unoccupied residences and how the occupier or owner maybe contacted.