LOCAL business owners made a statement of faith in the future by turning out in force at the Cultúrlann for the official launch of the West Belfast Traders’ Forum.
Traders in the West of the city came together to discuss how to further promote the successful ‘Buy Local’ campaign and how to encourage growth and spend here.
Speaking at the launch, Chairperson of the West Belfast Traders’ Forum, Gerard Stafford, said: “Today is a platform for all the West Belfast traders and consumers to come together and support each other. It’s only by working together that we can keep the businesses here active and alive.
“We’ve got to get the message across that with people choosing to stay in their area and shop local they are sustaining business and helping to create and secure jobs.
“We know that businesses in West Belfast can compete with the bigger stores and outlets in the city centre and further afield.
“If you take the likes of Noel Grimley’s, Collins Furniture and Direct Furniture, these are prime examples of businesses that can and do offer a first-rate customer service, product and after-care.
“We want to get the small businesses known and put on the map. On the website we intend to create a ‘rating service’, a bit like Tripadviser, and see which people are rating that shop or that restaurant.
“It’s going to be a lot of work but we have well established business people on board who want to see the people of West Belfast get a fair deal.”
“We want to get the small businesses known and put on the map.”
Gerard Stafford
