Shop local campaign launches new initiatives
A campaign that aims to drive the recovery of small businesses has launched a range of new measures to help people support local.
Champion Green has launched its 2021 programme with new plans including a local loyalty app and a National Champion Green Week, all of which will encourage and reward consumer support for local brands and businesses, as well as facilitating SME recovery.
Plans are afoot to hold the National Champion Green Week in the summer with a date to be confirmed.
The initiative is backed by a €1m investment to drive consumer support for local enterprise and to help SMEs adapt their businesses. The #ChampionGreen movement is about highlighting the simple ways everyone can make a difference.
The new plans for Champion Green are supported by Kilkenny Design and Visa, in association with Retail Excellence, Small Firms Association and Chambers of Commerce Ireland. The campaign encourages the public to shop and to click local to help businesses in their community bounce back and thrive again.
Welcoming the campaign, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said: “This Champion Green campaign is a great reminder to people to consider what is on their doorstep and to shop local. Hope is on the horizon. There will be brighter days ahead and, in the meantime, we need to all look after each other and support our local communities.”
Champion Green founder and Kilkenny Design CEO, Marian O’Gorman added: “Change is in the air as we look forward to the country reopening in the coming months. We are encouraging business owners to keep their spirits high, keep driving their business online, and grasp the green shoots of recovery.”
Announcing the new national Champion Green marketing support and consumer advertising, Marian O’Gorman said the movement’s continuing priority is to drive the renewal of local communities and local enterprise.
Marketing toolkit
To support SMEs’ consumer marketing, businesses can access a new marketing toolkit on championgreen.ie, free of charge. By signing-up they can also avail of business support, webinars and the latest news, while national campaign advertising explains how money spent locally supports local jobs and services.
Champion Green social media channels are also used to gain support for local businesses and to communicate offers from small businesses.
Recent research commissioned by Visa indicated that consumers are keen to support local business wherever possible, with 75 per cent of people saying they feel better about themselves when shopping locally.
Businesses and service providers across Ireland are rallying to support the renewal of small firms. An Post created a Champion Green postmark and display material for Post Offices, encouraging people to shop locally, while also providing parcel delivery support to local businesses newly adapting to ecommerce.
Small business owners can register to avail of PR and marketing support, as well as business advice, as part of the national Champion Green campaign. Detail is available at championgreen.ie.