Love for local – four in five more likely to shop locally than a year ago

Four in five (80 per cent) shoppers in Ireland are now more likely to shop in their local communities than they were a year ago, according to new research released by Mastercard Ireland today.

The role of small businesses within the national economy has been severely disrupted by the public health crisis this year, but with Mastercard committing $250 million globally to helping local businesses bounce back, and trust in local shops at an all-time high, small businesses will be able to thrive again.

The research reveals that the most popular reason for the increased love for shopping local is to help local communities bounce back (58 per cent).

29 per cent say they are shopping locally to reestablish or form new relationships with local shopkeepers and independent stores and one in five (20 per cent) say their reason for shopping local is that they trust recommendations from people in the community.

Nearly four in five (79 per cent) people in Ireland say they have a newfound appreciation of their communities and local shops since the onset of Covid-19, with convenience (59 per cent), limits on travel (55 per cent) and queues for supermarkets (37 per cent) and the top three reasons for people rediscovering shops on their doorstep.

Three in four people (75 per cent) say they prefer to buy from someone they know and 78 per cent trust recommendations made by local shopkeepers.

Community values have also soared since lockdown, with almost two thirds (64 per cent) more likely to say hello to their neighbours than they were one year ago. More than one in five (21 per cent) have a spare key for their next-door neighbour, 46 per cent say they take online deliveries for them and 21 per cent say they are in a neighbourhood WhatsApp group.

Sonya Geelon, Country Manager at Mastercard Ireland said: “The way we shop has changed, and as well as an increase in online and contactless spending, we have seen a trend of people opting to shop locally. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and many are rediscovering the huge number of great, varied and unique shops in their local communities and neighborhoods.

“It is clear that local retailers have a major role to play in providing goods and services, but they also play an integral and broader role supporting local people and fostering community spirit. The bounce back of the economy starts on our doorstep and local shops and communities play an enormous role in aiding the recovery and return to growth.”

The research also revealed that the local post offices, pubs, schools, parks and corner shops are the top five staples of a modern community.

Top ten staples of a local community

1. School

2. Post Office

3. Pub

4. Park

5. Corner shop

6. Church

7. Café

8. Football/sports club

9. Library

10. Village