Retail strategy puts emphasis on Navan's positive side
by Noelle Finegan Updated: Wednesday, 16th March, 2011 4:48pm
Chamber of Commerce meeting attracts more than 40 businesses
At the Navan Chamber meeting (from left) were: Chamber president William O'Reilly, PRO Linda Murray and local businessman Eamonn Gavigan.
More than 40 businesses attended Navan Chamber of Commerce's open meeting in the Newgrange Hotel last week when the Chamber gave a presentation on a vibrant new retail strategy encouraging shoppers to shop local this year.
Businesses from Trimgate Street, Ludlow Street, Bridge Street, Beechmount Home Park, Navan Town Centre, Mullaghboy Industrial Estate and Kennedy Place were represented, as well as the newly elected TD Peadar Tóibín, Damien English TD and Councillor Jim Holloway.
Navan Chamber president William O'Reilly welcomed each of the businesses present while vice-president Frank Harrington spoke of the importance of the Chamber getting businesspeople's views on the retail strategy and via feedback forms on local discussion points which were distributed to all present.
Linda Murray, PRO of Navan Chamber, gave a detailed presentation on developing a retail strategy for Navan that clearly shows Navan as a place to 'eat, stay, play, work and live'.
She acknowledged that there is a problem in Navan with businesses closing but said the focus was to work with the many positives that Navan has to offer.
The retail strategy for Navan included creating a brand for Navan town which was completed before Christmas. Ms Murray said the new brand demonstrates Navan as a modern, vibrant location to do business, rear a family, take part in leisure activities and live.
The strategy went on to showcase how a Navan town website featuring all local businesses would give Navan an online face, a place to browse and see what is happening in the area, a list of businesses in the area and community awareness of work done through the Shamrock Festival, for instance.
The strategy went on to showcase a loyalty card for shoppers and an advertising plan to bring shoppers from Navan and surrounding areas into the town, to its retail parks, industrial estates and shopping centres. The retail strategy was welcomed by all and a retail committee will be formed to roll out the plan.
Navan businesses had other serious concerns on the night, in particular car park charges throughout the town. Other issues highlighted were traffic management, accessibility, pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street and litter.
Cllr Holloway and Deputy English both commented on the importance of weekly meetings and ongoing communication between the council and the Chamber and retailers, while Deputy Toibin commented that the council initially put €30,000 aside two years ago to address retail issues and highlighted the huge opportunity to engage with technological issues to increase trade.
Navan Chamber hopes that, by launching a retail strategy for Navan, it will encourage shoppers to shop local and support the town's businesses while also promoting restaurants and hotels, the furniture industry, business services, arts and leisure activities and the the area's many tourist attractions.
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