Retail jobs vital to local economy, says Kilkenny Chamber president

Retail promotion drive in Kilkenny to promote the local economy, supporting almost 1,000 businesses and thousands of local jobs

Anne Barber, newly-appointed President of Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and owner of The Butterslip outlet in Kilkenny. Photo: Dylan Vaughan

Fashion, food, jewellery and entertainment outlets in Kilkenny are engaging with a drive to create an uplifting lifestyle experience for shoppers, and protecting retail jobs.

One driving force behind this collective drive is Anne Barber, Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce’s newly-appointed president. 

The Cork-born entrepreneur and savvy retailer is one of the leading lights in a new multi-media campaign to spotlight the bustling, history-steeped city as a mecca for discerning shoppers.

“We’re excited about the new retail campaign,” said Anne Barber. “It’s a chance for us to tell our story to our local as well as visiting audience and it’s an opportunity for us to remind the people of Kilkenny city and county what a great mix of retailers we have here in Kilkenny, all working together for the good of one another.

“Retail is a very important sector in Kilkenny, with 931 businesses comprising 459 owners and 3,811 employees. As President of Kilkenny Chamber, I’m very conscious of working hard to protect and grow our unique retail offering, as well as all the other sectors the Chamber represents.” 

Kilkenny's retailers have joined forces with Kilkenny County Council and the Local Enterprise Office in a nation-wide campaign to showcase the city's retail offering. Photo: Dylan Vaughan

 The Fermoy native came to Kilkenny over two decades ago, having cut her teeth in the five generations-old family jewellery business in Fermoy, which her brother, Simon, now runs. Today, Anne owns and manages ‘Butterslip’ on Kilkenny city’s Rose Inn Street, a stone’s throw from Kilkenny Castle, the new Medieval Mile Museum and other historic landmarks.

The colourful, quirky city centre shop is a treasure trove of gorgeous gifts which include bags, accessories, baby and children’s presents and of course, jewellery. Anne says that she’s revelling in being a Rebel in ‘Cat Country’ and the banter that generates as the hurling season draws nearer to a close and both teams remain in the mix for top honours.

Anne says many of the customers who come into her gift shop and surrounding retailers are on a mission-driven shopping experience, also noting that a new summer initiative in partnership with Kilkenny County Council to promote the city’s unique retail offering is welcome within the sector.

“Kilkenny has an absolutely brilliant retail offering. It’s compact, clean and really easy to walk around, with a great mix of shops, cafes and restaurants, everything you need for a great day out,” she said. 

“There are always challenges but we are doing so many things right and we get amazing feedback from destination shoppers, who love the atmosphere in Kilkenny and the mix of shops on offer. We have an incredible catchment area — just over an hour from Dublin and less than two hours from Cork, so it’s perfect for day trips, a mid-week break or a serious shopping weekend.” 

 Anne said that retailers in Kilkenny work exceptionally well together. If one outlet doesn’t have what the customer is looking for, they very often refer the shopper to elsewhere in the city. It’s not unusual for a shopper to pop their head in the in the door on the way back, delighted with their purchase, and take time to express their thanks for the advice.

“I’m originally from Fermoy in Cork and will be in business for 20 years next year,” said Anne. “It’s gone by in a blink of an eye and Kilkenny has been very good to me. We take great pride in our city, in the way it presents and the way it works. I think the Local Authority and Kilkenny Tourism do a great job in attracting people to the city.

“We have a myriad of festivals, events, natural and built attractions in Kilkenny, there is always something going on and as retailers, the onus is on us too to embrace change, be prepared for any challenges ahead and constantly evolve to ensure we’re relevant and offer the best possible retail experience we can,” said Anne.

While businesses like Anne’s do have ‘shoulder seasons’, the action-packed festival and event calendar in Kilkenny brings in visitors in on a year-round basis.

“Festivals like The Cat Laughs, Kilkenny Roots, the upcoming Kilkenny Arts Festival beginning August 8th and high profile concert weekends all bring very different audiences and new people onto our streets.

“It’s important that we support local jobs, local employment and the future of our indigenous retail sector. Many families have run the same business for three and four generations and it’s important we continue to support them, the local suppliers they use, the community groups and sporting organisations they sponsor and the jobs they provide.”