By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Philip Konopik, Ireland Country Manager, Visa
A badly needed injection of €875 million to the local economy is possible if each adult in the country spent just €20 extra a week in small businesses, for the next 12 weeks, according to Sven Spollen-Behrens, the Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA).
He was speaking at the launch of Champion Green, a consumer marketing initiative backed by a €1M investment to drive support for local business and enterprise, supported by Kilkenny Design and Visa, in association with Retail Excellence, Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland.
Spollen-Behrens said: “This small conscious decision to support local would have a huge, positive impact on jobs and the vibrancy of towns and local communities. With most businesses now re-opened, we are appealing to consumers to use the coming weeks as an opportunity to focus on shopping local and supporting local businesses, online and in-store, as they recover from the impact of Covid-19.”
‘All Rise’ is the compelling cry of the national movement which organisers say will drive the renewal of local communities and reinvigorate enterprise and economic recovery. A green butterfly symbol represents the campaign, illustrating the potential for renewal and growth as Ireland emerges from its cocoon.
“Where you shop matters and this is more important than ever before, as businesses at the heart of communities across Ireland grapple with the challenges of the pandemic. Their survival will be key to the recovery of the Irish economy.
Philip Konopik, Ireland Country Manager, Visa, highlighted that the campaign to promote supporting local businesses comes at a crucial time for thousands of businesses across the country that form the backbone of the Irish economy.
“Where you shop matters and this is more important than ever before, as businesses at the heart of communities across Ireland grapple with the challenges of the pandemic. Their survival will be key to the recovery of the Irish economy.
“Visa is proud to play its part in this campaign by helping to empower Irish SMEs to take advantage of the benefits offered by digital payments and build for the future. While shoppers can feel secure by using digital payments, we would encourage them to think about where they shop as the local economy reopens.”
The Champion Green advertising and public information campaign provides a digital hub of resources for businesses and service-providers to signal that they are locally owned or employ locally, and to promote products and brands designed or made in Ireland. A Champion Green Pledge to support can be made here, http://championgreen.ie/.
