TRADERS in Clonakilty are calling on shoppers to buy locally in the run-up to Christmas urging that they choose West Cork outlets over online retailers.

Businesses in the town say they are not trying to compete with big online retailers like Amazon.

But they want shoppers to remember that buying locally helps keep money in the community, supporting local jobs and enterprise.

Orla O’Donovan, chairperson of Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘We don’t want to go up against online retailers and compete with the likes of Jeff Bezos. If you look at online and local shopping, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. We are selling an experience in Clonakilty. We are a unique town and our shops and businesses have personality.’

Orla, who has run The Fig and Olive Café since 2010, said the town had a wide variety of businesses and boutique retailers offering a personal touch and, very often, better customer service than their online counterparts.

Orla added that recent events like the Clonakilty Guitar Festival, Samhain and last week’s Elf Parade boosted not just local and visitor spend, but more importantly community spirit.

And to encourage Christmas shopping, businesses in Clonakilty have organised a promotional weekend from Friday December 5th to Sunday 7th.

Sinead Hallahan, of Gooseberry Boutique, said: ‘A lot of people don’t like buying things from big corporations. We try to offer something different.’

The call to shop local comes as thousands of consumers prepare for the festive season and Black Friday, the two biggest sales events in the e-commerce calendar. According to recent surveys, Irish consumers planned to spend an average of €283 during Black Friday weekend, with 64% preferring to shop online.

Last year, Black Friday generated an estimated revenue of more than €5bn, reflecting an overall growth trend in the e-commerce market.

Research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) shows that nearly 30% of Black Friday shoppers say social media influencers sway their buying decisions, rising to 40% among 15 to 24-year-olds.

Meanwhile, one of the largest collectives of craft makers in the country, Cork Craft & Design, is urging shoppers to step back from the pre-Christmas ‘sales frenzy’ and choose locally made, hand-crafted gifts instead.

The organisation, which represents over 110 Cork-based makers, is hoping to inspire mindful gifting this festive season as an alternative to mass-produced goods.

From hand-thrown ceramics and illustrated prints to sustainable wooden toys, textiles, jewellery and furniture, Cork Craft & Design’s network offers over 4,000 handcrafted gifts online at corkcraftanddesign.ie or in-store at Douglas Court SC.

‘For us makers, every purchase is a validation of what we do,’ said Jade Hogan, CC&D operations manager. ‘It’s a way to continue our craft, and a reminder that there’s still huge value in things made with time and care.

‘We see that more and more shoppers want to give gifts that have meaning, and that’s exactly what local crafts provide.’