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Shoppers will be encouraged to make their January sales by shopping online with retailers to offer deals and discounts there rather than in store.
This follows a two-hour meeting today via video conference between the Minister of Retail, Damien English, and representatives of the retail sector.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin called on retailers to postpone post-Christmas sales to protect public health when he announced that non-essential stores could remain open as Level 5 restrictions return from midnight tomorrow. .
In a statement tonight, a spokesman for the Department for Business, Commerce and Employment said that in a bid to prevent post-Christmas crowds from gathering in stores, deals and discounts would be available online.
“Retailers and the government are committed to working together to protect public health, minimize crowding, and ensure that consumers can shop safely and get the best value at this time of year.
“To avoid unnecessary travel by consumers and in-store congregations, this year’s sales and best discounts will be available to consumers through online and ‘click and collect’ promotions for the post-Christmas period, instead of promotions in the store “.
Starting tomorrow, Christmas Eve, the country will return to Level 5 with adjustments until January 12.
While non-essential retail stores will remain open during this period, retailers will face many challenges in the coming weeks.
Are sales in progress likely to be canceled?
Speaking at Morning Ireland, Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Excellence, which represents retailers in Ireland, acknowledged that many sales are already underway.
“Most stores started discounting on Black Friday, some even earlier,” he said.
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Graham said he believes retailers will maintain these discounts through the post-Christmas period and said he believes some retailers will cut prices even further.
“To a large extent, the message retailers are getting is that they will not market their sales, which means that you will not see great bargain stickers on your front windows and you will not see big and massive discounts as you would have seen in previous years,” he said .
How will retailers cope if crowds build up?
Duncan said the influx of people into stores in recent days has slowed and he doesn’t expect large crowds to gather in stores after Christmas.
“Clients are clearly concerned about the increase in cases,” he said.
In the event crowds build up, Graham said retailers are equipped to deal with it.
“I think if you look back at the last few months of the pandemic, retailers have done everything they can to make their facilities as safe as possible.
“If you look at the performance of the facial covers, for example, it is phenomenal.
“Retailers have been managing the queues very well during the busy period leading up to Christmas, and this will continue.
Retailers are encouraging customers to check their sales online and to visit stores outside of peak hours, if possible.
“Consumers have a lot of options, they can go to the store but they can also shop online and shop at their local Irish retailer.
Why did the government decide to keep nonessential retail open?
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said all decisions have been made on the basis of evidence.
Ryan said the evidence shows that the retail sector, in general, operates safely.
“On that basis and on the basis that around 40,000 jobs would be lost immediately if the sector closed, and the broader context of mental health benefits, the decision was made to keep this sector open,” he said.
He added that if there is any evidence that commercial areas become a source of transmission, a review of the situation will be carried out.
Will nonessential retail still open in Northern Ireland?
No, nonessential retail will close in the north starting Saturday.
In Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she believes non-essential stores in the Republic should also close on December 26, reflecting restrictions in the north.
McDonald said the country should function as a single unit for the purpose of public health.
He added that it makes “a lot of sense” to have the same measurements in the north and south.
Additional reporting by Gill Stedman
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