‘All Rise’ is the compelling cry of a new national movement to help drive the renewal of local communities and to reinvigorate local enterprise and economic recovery.
Champion Green was launched by media personality and businesswoman, Aoibhín Garrihy, at an inspirational new wall mural, painted on Camden Row in Dublin. The green butterfly symbol illustrated represents growth and prosperity, as we emerge from our cocoon, organisers say.
The Champion Green movement aims to encourage the public to shop locally to help businesses in the community bounce back from the impact of the coronavirus.
The extensive advertising and public information campaign provides a digital hub of resources for businesses and service-providers to signal that they are locally owned or employ locally, and to call out products and brands designed or made in Ireland.
FOCUS ON LOCAL
Sven Spollen-Behrens, Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA), says that with most businesses now re-opened, consumers should use the coming weeks as an opportunity to focus on shopping local, buying Irish and supporting local businesses, online and in-store.
“If each adult spent just €20 extra in small businesses each week for the next 12 weeks, this would amount to an injection of over €875 million into the local economy and would have a huge, positive impact on jobs and the vibrancy of towns and local communities”.
A Champion Green Pledge to support can be made online, http://championgreen.ie/, and will circulate on social media so that people better understand the positive impact their choices can have.
Supported by Kilkenny Design and Visa, in association with Retail Excellence, Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland, the striking new #ChampionGreen movement is about simple ways everyone can make a difference.
HELP SUSTAIN LIVELIHOODS
While Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the economy, Irish industry is facing other battles too, including a possible hard Brexit, the rise of global online platforms and weaker consumer sentiment, Jean McCabe, Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence, said at the campaign launch in Dublin on Monday, June 29th.
“Now more than ever, we need to get into the hearts and minds of Irish people and leverage Irish pride and responsibility, as a means to sustain livelihoods.
“280,000 people are employed in the retail sector in Ireland alone, so, for the sake of jobs and local investment, Champion Green will hopefully be widely embraced”, the retail representative said.
