Optimism starting to return in local businesses

Retailers express hopes for July stimulus package

If there is a silver lining to be taken from the dark clouds that gathered during the Coronavirus lockdown, it's that many used the time to squirrel away a few extra euro and have emerged looking to spend it!

With foreign holidays and weekends still largely on hold, local retailers are seeing some of that disposable cash making its way back into their tills - a welcome boost for the local economy.

Several local business owners also expressed their hopes for the Government's much-vaunted July stimulus package due to be published yesterday (Tuesday) designed to maintain and create jobs.

Ben Gilmore, director of Gilmores of Kingscourt, Mercedes-Benz dealesrhip and also Cabra Cars is happy to report that business is “flying” for the local firm.

“We were very busy the first few weeks [after reopening] and we sort of put it down to people getting out of lockdown,” Ben reports, before adding: “But they've kept coming and, nine weeks in, it's still crazy busy.”

There is plenty of “strong interest” from customers is the new car market, but, as for used cars, Ben says “we can't keep hold of them”.

“Whether that's people not going away on holidays, or out at weekends, that they've got an extra few pounds to spend, the whole 'life is for living' thing, we're certainly not complaining.”

Of the government's economic stimulus package, Ben acknowledges that the wage subsidy has been “a great support” to many businesses. He accepts it can't continue.

Instead he bangs the drum of shop local, and hopes the government can do something for small-to-medium sized industry, which is often the lifeblood of many towns and villages across Ireland. “It's about keeping the country open really, the local person spending local that'll be the biggest positive for the economy.”

Brian Carey of E&M Stores in Cootehill has noticed the green shoots of recovery, saying too that business has been better than what many expected. However, footfall is still a “long way off” where it probably should be given the time of year.

For the likes of E&M Stores, news that Confirmations and other occasions such as weddings will be taking place once again, though under social distancing guidelines, is welcome news.

“Kids getting dressed up, parents getting dressed up, then a few small weddings as well, things are definitely on an upward trend. It's all positive. As each week goes past, people are getting more confident and that can only be good for the economy.”

For Brian, the “fairest” thing the government could introduce in the economic stimulus plan is a cut in VAT.

“Everyone would benefit,” he feels. “Consumers benefit too, and it's important that cut is passed on.”

It would, Brian believes, have a further postive effect by boosting construction in the country and other such industries. “We might begin to see projects once put on hold start moving again as well.”

It's not just shops, but service providers too who are beginning to see a welcome return of customers.

Cavan Leisure Complex reopened its doors on July 6, and only after all staff and a new checking system for patrons for both pool and gym had been fully implemented.

Manager Ann Coyle explained: “We've all the protocols done, for the gym, the lifeguards, they've all been trained in rules and regulations.”

She admits, in 25 years working in the industry, she has never seen it come up against such a challenge as COVID-19.

Ann says the numbers through the doors have been steady, but estimates even at that, footfall is down to “about a quarter” of what it was.

She hopes the Government remember businesses like theirs too, and says instilling confidence in the public to attend is crucial for their continued survival.

“People are wary and we just want to give confidence to them, that we have everything in place to keep them as safe as possible.”

Barry Wilson, CEO of Eurona Arden Broadband Ireland, believes another positive to take from the lockdown is that more and more people, as well as their employers, are realising that remote working is a viable alternative.

People working locally also has the added benefit of feeding into the local economy too.

There was plenty of demand for his company's services during lockdown, which saw traffic on its network rise by up to 50% in Cavan and Roscommon.

“It stayed there at that level throughout but it has reduced back down now to a more sustainable level,” Barry tells the Celt.

Unaware of the health crisis just around the corner, Eurona Arden Broadband Ireland had invested close to a quarter of a million euro to build up the capacity within their network prior to lockdown.

It was fortuitous, adds Barry: “It meant we were prepared better than most. Nobody could have prepared for Covid and, as it happened, many of the wireless network providers were instrumental in keeping the country on track.”