Make it your Business to Buy Local

Local Businesses and citizens turned out in force to the public meeting to support the ‘Buy Local’ campaign in The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre yesterday.

Speaking at the meeting Mayor John McArdle ‘the buy local initiative is designed to encourage citizens to spend their money locally and with the main focus being on educating people about the economic and cultural benefits of buying local and also creating and securing local jobs. Making Newry & Mourne area your destination for shopping and doing business is significant to the local economy’.

‘The public meeting is an opportunity for the people of Newry & Mourne to be collectively creating in their thinking and discuss a number of proposals and strategies that can be implemented.

Mayor John McArdle finished by asking everyone who lives work and visits the district to fully endorse the campaign.

This public meeting included a very informative presentation by Mr Eddy Curtis Director of Administration, highlighting the work that is being undertaken by Newry & Mourne District Council and Newry City Centre Management.   Mr Eddy Curtis informed the audience that it included a marketing plan with a billboard campaign on the three main roads into the City centre, shop campaigns, media campaigns and many more’ Mr Curtis added that Pledge from the Shops to source suppliers locally was also essential to the campaign’. The Council would also be investigating the possibility of additional Markets where local produce could be sold in Newry, Crossmaglen and Kilkeel, and a ‘Buy Local’ website and Social Media page will also be launched in the forthcoming weeks.

Speaking at the public meeting was Mr Jack Murphy Chairman of Newry City Centre Management and Mr Cathal Austin President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade both fully endorsing this initiative and encouraged all in attendance to get behind the Buy Local Campaign for the future of local businesses and local jobs.

The meeting was opened to the floor for discussion, the delegates were very positive about the initiative and willing and determined to support with inclusion for all service sectors across the district.