Best Sellers in Dublin, Ireland
Retail Roundup
There are many similarities and some differences between gift retail in the United States and Ireland. Here’s a closer look.
In Ireland an abundance of designers, manufacturers and craftspeople continue to create innovative products for the gift retail market. Traditional Irish gifts are still readily available, but government economic support working in concert with local artisan pride has generated a more cutting-edge collection. These new products blend Irish heritage and tradition with modern materials and methodologies. A visit to any gift store in Ireland gives customers a look at an eclectic collection of traditional and creative, affordable and premium, Irish-made products.
The worldwide recession has resulted in Ireland’s retail sector experiencing many of the issues of its North American counterparts. Overall spending has decreased, many shoppers have moved down in price points and value has become a more critical element of the retail value proposition. As a result, retailers are more selective in their purchases and running leaner on inventory. They are protecting margins by emphasizing inventory turnaround and tougher negotiations with suppliers. Retailers are also capitalizing on private label opportunities where appropriate.
Although the gift retail experience in Ireland is similar to that of the United States, it is the predominance of domestic artisanal products that makes it distinctive. Support for entrepreneurial designers and businesses enable many to establish retail accounts and develop the scale required to grow and prosper. This thriving community of designers is on display in retail shops across the country as opposed to the limited exposure to this local and regional artisanship we see in the United States.
