THE campaign set up to encourage the Galway public to spend their hard-earned euro in locally-owned businesses has warned that many of the city’s independent retailers face closure in January unless business picks up.

Shop Local Galway has warned that the “vibrancy and individuality” of the city is now in the hands of shoppers, and more than 40 independent retailers in Galway City have come together to ask consumers to commit 10% of their every day spending to locally owned businesses.

“Christmas is fast approaching and there are a number of retailers who, should they not have a reasonable Christmas in terms of sales, will not make it past January 2010,” warned businessman and Galway City Councillor, Neil McNelis.

“This is a very real fact that will alter the Galway we love. In turn this will seriously affect our tourism industry as it is these independent retailers who contribute to the vibrancy and individuality of Galway. As well as this the loss of jobs in these businesses may lead to social problems for Galway,” he said.

According to Shop Local Galway, locally owned businesses contribute three times more to the local economy than large corporate chains, and says that in these “challenging times it is more important than ever to support local and individual businesses in the area in order to protect the jobs they provide in Galway”.

The group lists six main reasons to shop locally the first of which is to help protect the “unique character and diversity of Galway”.

Other reasons given include the fact the local businesses are enormously generous supporters of local charities; are more environmentally sustainable; and the money spent in local shops stays local.

“We are asking the people of Galway to recognise the value to be had in your local and independent retailers throughout the year and most especially in the run up to Christmas,” says Judy Greene of Judy Greene Pottery.

“Local retailers are aware that there are great bargains to be had in chain stores and we are in tough times where every cent counts for people. There are beautiful gifts to be bought at excellent price points in local retailers.

“Also, independent retailers are competing with the large chains in terms of prices for coffee, newspapers and books which makes it sensible to shop local. We ask that if there are shops you enjoy visiting locally please give them your business when possible as we cannot expect them to be there when we need them otherwise,” she said.

The Shop Local Galway group lists a number of ways in which people can commit 10% of their daily spend locally, such as buying a newspaper from the local newsagent rather than a supermarket; go to your local butcher/fishmonger; and scan local newspapers for sales, or sign up for regular direct updates from the local shops.

Another matter which people are being asked to consider is to use cash in making purchases rather than credit cards - Shop Local Galway says a merchant must pay fees on a credit card transaction which may eat up what would have been their profit on the sale, and by paying in cash rather than credit card, the purchaser will also be able to better manage their finances.