Cork businesses call on people to support 'Champion Green' campaign and shop local

SHOP local or risk losing your independent stores – as well as other businesses that are the backbone of the local economy. That’s the message to Cork consumers ahead of Black Friday which takes place on November 24.

The public are being encouraged to support an alternative national campaign called Green Friday, spearheaded by Champion Green.

The movement was set up in 2020 to inspire people to support local, to do business locally, and to source local products and services; in-person and online.

Supported by Kilkenny Design and Visa, in association with Retail Excellence, the Small Firms Association, and Chambers Ireland, it’s the biggest #SupportLocal movement in a generation, with a €1m investment made in the information campaign to date, by its sponsors and trade partners.

CEO of Kilkenny Design, Evelyn Moynihan, who has been part of the initiative since the start, pointed out that two thirds of all online shopping leaves the country every Black Friday.

“But for every €1 spent in Irish retail, we generate up to €2.50 in the economy, through jobs and taxes, etc. You simply can’t get better value than that!

We are really appealing to people, as businesses head into the most important trading quarter of the year, to think local; think of your family’s jobs, your children’s education, the fact that there are amazing hospitality, retail, leisure and public services in our communities that we really don’t want to lose.

“We Irish spend around €5 billion each Christmas, and around €250 million will be spent by Irish shoppers on Black Friday; please help us own Green Friday and put your money where all of our futures are, in a healthier Irish economy and society.”

Champion Green has two main aims: to put the spotlight on small businesses and showcase their unique talent and consumer stories, while also educating people on the importance of shopping local.

Secondly, it’s about supporting the businesses themselves and educating them on what they can do help themselves. That includes how to better engage with their customers online and to further digitise what they do.

“It’s for all sectors, it’s very inclusive, all SMEs in the community can join in rural areas or in cities,” said Evelyn. The ‘why’ behind the movement is simple: “If we don’t back them, these businesses will just go.”

“People sometimes think that online overseas shopping or global brands will help with the family finances or save them money. But it is much more costly for Irish society in the long-term.

Local loyalty is cheaper by far because it will help our economic recovery, maintain jobs and opportunity for new business start-ups, and ensure we still have local shops and services.

"Every country in the developed world is grappling with high inflation, not just Ireland; it is to do with supply and demand. If our actions in supporting local increases local supply, and encourages smaller businesses to develop, then we have plenty of supply to meet demand, and we can keep prices down here,” pointed out Evelyn.

She described the small businesses of Ireland as a “gorgeous community”, adding: “And it’s such a labour of love, any of them we work with say it’s their ‘baby’. When someone makes an online purchase from them, they will literally do a happy dance.”

This year was even more challenging than last for year for retailers, she said.

“The cost of living has gone up; the cost of doing business has gone up too, so this makes it all the more important to support local enterprise, retail and local service providers.

“They’re all stronger and better together. New shops bring new life into an aera and none of us want that to dry up, we need that vibrancy. We don’t want to talk just about them surviving, but thriving.”

Someone who is seeing that vibrancy first hand is Cork-based Sian Horn, Champion Green ambassador.

Sian is an accomplished entrepreneur, podcaster, life and business coach, and dedicated small business advocate with a passion to empower small business owners to have the confidence to be more visible.

In her role as ambassador – which she described as a perfect fit – she travelled the country putting the spotlight on SMEs, or as she called them, ‘the little gems that are the backbone of the country.’

“It’s about giving them the visibility they deserve. They are all so passionate, but they’re largely forgotten about, they don’t feel like they have a voice. They need to find a place and Champion Green is creating that space for them, and lobbying to make sure they’re looked after,” said Sian.

Evelyn added that Kilkenny Design wouldn’t be able to do business without these amazing makers and designers.

Our Government knows the value of SMEs, and we, as consumers, need to realise that everyone’s prosperity relies on them, and to build local vibrant economies.

“More local jobs, and more local businesses means more people paying taxes here; that means more Government money to fund healthcare, education, public services. Use it or lose it is the simple proposition, when it comes to the local shop, post-office, pub or café.

“The Champion Green message is simple: make a considered purchase, think twice before shopping, and switch from national to international.”

Here is what Cork businesses say about being part of Champion Green...

Sinead Murphy, Blumáin Organic Skincare

“I loved the idea of this initiative by Champion Green to support smaller Irish businesses. For such a small country, we have so much to offer. It’s a great way to promote local businesses and support our local communities. Black Friday has become the biggest shopping day of the year.

“Champion Green is showcasing the fabulous products and services that our country has to offer, so that hopefully people will think before they buy and try to buy Irish, so I’m delighted to have Blumáin take part in it.

Supporting small micro-enterprises isn’t just about buying products or services; it’s about investing in the wellbeing of your community. Small businesses are significant contributors to local economies.

“When you support them, you help create jobs in your community. Smaller businesses often provide more personalised customer service. They get to know their customers on a first-name basis, tailor their products or services to local needs, and offer a level of care and attention that may be lacking in larger corporations,” says Sinead.

“People are quick to come knocking on the door of the small local business when they are fundraising for their kids school or the local sports club, etc. People need to support these smaller businesses to ensure they will still be there when they need them.

“Amazon and Ebay, won’t give them a penny no matter how much they’ve spent with them over the years. So please, think before you buy, all year round, but especially in the run up to Christmas. And you may be surprised by the quality and the fantastic customer service you could receive locally.”

Norma Kelly, Praline Pastry and Chocolate shop

“Before Christmas for the last couple of years I have been aware of the ‘Green Friday’ campaign and every year I say to myself that I must find out how to get involved, but as it’s the busiest time of the year for us, I always forget to do something about it after Christmas.

“However, this year, I was delighted to see that Sian Horn is involved in a roadshow, so as soon as I saw it on her Instagram page, I emailed immediately to find out how I could get involved, so here we are,” said Norma.

“It’s great to be part of an organisation that is made up of all small Irish businesses and emphasises the importance of ‘Buying Irish’. 

It can be so easy to go online and buy gifts from big brand websites, but by making people more aware of independent Irish brands that are available to buy online, hopefully it will increase the sales of Irish businesses.

“In 2023, there have been 1.17million people in Ireland employed by SMEs – that’s a lot of people unemployed if those SMEs were not there. By supporting SMEs, you are supporting employment, people’s jobs in every city, town and village of Ireland.

“There’s a phrase that I often see doing the rounds on social media: ‘if you support a small business you are not supporting a CEO buy a third holiday home, you are supporting a little girl get dance lessons, a student pay for college, a mother to feed her family, a father to pay a mortgage’. This is totally true because usually behind every small business there is a family and a parent or parents of that family that took the risk and started that business.

It’s a pretty simple idea, but that’s what keeps the economy going.

“It is so rewarding running my own business, but there are times that it is challenging. However, when we make a good sale or we get a good feedback from a customer, nothing beats that feeling of pride in our work.

“It’s not all about the turnover at the end of the year, but if the accounts are not healthy at the end of the year, we can’t keep doing what we love and for me that’s making great pastries and chocolates.

“I am very excited to say that we are opening another shop and café on the main street in Mitchelstown in November. It will be another challenge getting this up and running and managing the extra costs, but we are confident that it will be a good move and looking forward to being on the main street.”

Fionn McCarthy and Jack Norman, Zirkulu, premium Irish outdoor apparel

“Champion Green is a great initiative that helps to support Irish sustainable small businesses and we wanted to be part of a like-minded community that values the benefits of supporting local Irish businesses that are on a mission to create sustainable products.

“It’s easy to overlook the quality of products and services being provided by small Irish businesses because of all of the noise online surrounding promotions during the Black Friday and Christmas period,” say the Zirkulu duo.

“Quite often, Irish businesses won’t have a big online presence or be able to compete with the larger brands when it comes to advertising and marketing. 

It’s really important to look out for an Irish small business that is trying something new and give support however you can, whether by spreading the word of what they are doing or buying something from them.

“Being part of something always gives a sense of fulfilment and achievement. Being Irish, in itself, is something to be incredibly proud of. The same is true for supporting a small Irish business when they are in their early stages and watching them grow.

“Seeing a small business grow into something bigger is something that we should all be supportive and proud of.”

Angela O’Donnell, 100% sustainable Athleisure wear brand YAWUW (You Are What You Wear)

“The Champion Green movement is vital to be a part of and is the future of sustainable living. The fashion industry is the third worst culprit for pollution in the world and we have become part of the movement to end fast fashion and develop 100% sustainable collections,” says Angela. “There are constant challenges in a fashion business that develops products on the island of Ireland because we have next to no supply chain infrastructure from manufacturers to textile developers to garment technologists and this is what people don’t know.

So when you support SMEs in this space, you are actually supporting designers and makers that have gone to the ends of the earth to try and build a business here.

“For example, In Cork, we can’t even go into a store and buy a metre long double ended zip. Every single thing has to be ordered into Ireland, leaving no room for error, which makes our job unnecessarily challenging at times, but in saying that, we wouldn’t be doing anything else!

“As a consumer, Champion Green is a way you can really make a difference to Irish SMEs. There is so much choice now and all types of companies producing everything from organic soaps to slippers, and of course, like ourselves, our 100% recycled wool throw, which all make great gifts.

“Last year, we had a number of customers buying our 100% organic cotton and recycled polyester jackets for their loved ones as a gift. This type of gift is exceptionally thoughtful. Buying a jacket that is handmade for you in Cork is really considered because, as they had to order it 3-4 weeks before Christmas Day, they have really thought about it for you!

“When you become a customer of YAWUWs, you are saying to the world that you not only love fashion, but love sustainable fashion and have joined a movement to end fast fashion and will look good doing it!”

For more about the Champion Green campaign and Green Friday see https://www.championgreen.ie/