Longford traders report upturn in festive sales
Traders Associations across County Longford have reported an encouraging upsurge in sales during the Christmas and New Year period. Following an interview in last week’s Longford Leader with Longford Chamber of Commerce President Seamus Butler, who noted a rise in sales in the town, trade representatives from Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown and Granard have all followed suit in narrating a positive picture as far as festive sales in each town is concerned.
Hugh Quinn, chairman of Edgeworthstown Traders’ Association was encouraged by sales levels in the east Longford town, commenting: “Things were good up here in Edgeworthstown. Figures in the weekend leading up to Christmas sales were fantastic from what has been reported to me.”
Mr Quinn said the association hoped to build on the positivity going into 2013. “There have been some good vibes up here from trade in the shops and in pubs. We have 80 businesses in the town along with several new ones and it’s encouraging to hear that they are all thriving during this time of year.
“We are always thinking of new things and coming up with new ideas and 2013 will be no different.”
Paddy Diffley, chairperson of Ballymahon Traders’ Association echoed these sentiments in relation to business in his own town over the past number of weeks. “The reaction from the local people here in Ballymahon has been unbelievable,” he said.
“People seem to have bought local and the goodwill has even extended into the following weeks.”
Mr Diffley, proprietor of Diffley’s DIY, added that business had been so good in his own store that they ran out of stock during Christmas week. He also accredited the rise in sales to the work the association has been doing.
“Sales returns are up from last year across the town and that’s down to the Traders’ Association and the hard work that has been put in,” he said.
Meanwhile, local Granard businessman Patrick Durkin commented that shoppers in his area had largely stayed local when buying Christmas goods this year.
Although Mr Durkin acknowledged the popularity of online shopping at this time of year, he also narrated quite a positive story as far as shopping in the north Longford town went.
“A lot of people shopped here (Granard) during December and into the new year.
“Local businesses reported a good increase in vouchers, which will be spent here in the local economy and although our local Post Office was busy delivering packages from websites such as amazon.com, we definitely saw an increase in sales from previous Christmases.”
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
