Draw at Johnstown Shopping Centre highlights ability of local businesses to work together and beat the retail slump.
Fine Gael Councillor John Bailey has praised traders at Johnstown Shopping Centre in Dun Laoighaire, for their initiative to boost local retail trade and over 100 jobs on Johnstown Road. He described the shopping centre as a hub for the community.
He made his comments at a draw organised by the traders, an umbrella group for the eight businesses trading at johnstown shopping centre, who have come together to give one lucky shopper an early Christmas present.
The draw, which took place on November 26th, attracted lots of local interest, with 15,000 entry forms distributed to homes in the surrounding areas. The lucky winner won €800 worth of vouchers to spend at the participating shops, including: A1 Computers, Johnstown Therapy Centre, Vintage Off Licence, Johnstown Pharmacy, Centra Supermarket, Adrian’s Dry Cleaners, Brian Kenny Accountants and Reputations Hair Salon.
The eight businesses have worked together over the last two years to improve the environment of the shopping centre and offer enhanced shopping services to people in South Dublin. They have cleaned up litter and graffiti, improved the appearance of the carpark, tidied up stray wires and put up flower baskets.
Melanie Kovero, Secretary of Johnstown Traders’ Association and owner of A1 computers, said that the initiative was a vote of confidence in the local economy, despite the recession. “This is the culmination of lots of hard work from the shops,” she says. “Inspired by retail guru Feargal Quinn, we have come together to let the world know that we are here to welcome customers.”
Johnstown Shopping Centre is planning a busy year for 2011, with a new website and more competitions and offers for shoppers. To find out more about this initiative, contact Melanie Kovero on 01 2849715 or email info@johnstownshoppingcentre.com
