Grocery and Clothes Shopping are tops for those spending on their Mí Meath Cards
Last Christmas County Meath Chamber launched the Mí Meath Card, a reloadable shopping card that can be spent in hundreds of stores across Meath, the first of its kind in Ireland. Mí Meath cards are ideal for the gifting season as staff rewards and personal gifts. With an objective to keep consumer spend in Meath, the initiative has been very successful in its first year with over €200,000 sales. Statistics released this week by County Meath Chamber outlines the shopping trends by consumers on the Mí Meath Card from December 2021 - September 2022. The figures show that Grocery shopping was at the top of the list, while Retail (clothing) was next with Restaurants, Beauty, Home & Garden also popular with those spending on their Mi Meath Card.
The spending trends by month shows that December and January had the highest spend on the Mí Meath Card with almost €50,000 spent locally, and a consistent spend of over €10,000 per month for the remainder of the year to September 2022. The stats also show that County Meath Hotels, Family Activities, Electrical, Bars & Pubs, Pharmacies, Hair & Beauty, Jewellers, and local services also benefited from the Mí Meath shop local initiative, which was conceptually and developmentally led by County Meath Chamber and supported by Meath County Council and Meath Local Enterprise Office.
Michael Hughes, President of County Meath Chamber said, “We are delighted with the success to date of the Mí Meath initiative. The one and only aim of Mí Meath is to support retail by driving and ringfencing spend within the county. 92% of businesses in Meath are micro and small homegrown companies, many of which are family-owned, so it is vitally important that we support our own first. Mí Meath programme is aimed at keeping Meath’s economy booming by encouraging consumers to spend in Meath, which will keep money circulating in the county, supporting Meath business which is the heartbeat of our county”.
Paula McCaul, CEO, County Meath Chamber said, “The success of the Mí Meath initiative relies on everyone getting involved. We have been overwhelmed with the number of retailers registering with us to accept the Mí Meath card in their stores and online. The benefit for retail is plain to see. Likewise, business owners are keen to play their part too by opting for Mí Meath when rewarding their staff, tax free, up to €1,000 per annum. Mi Meath cards can be topped up at any time, there are no hidden charges and exclusive Mí Meath discounts guarantees further savings to those shopping with a Mí Meath Card. It’s not just a feel-good shopping experience, it’s a win, win for Meath business”
Paula went on to say, “According to recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, this September retail sales volumes saw their deepest monthly drop in nine months, 7% down from the same time last year. Christmas will be critical for Meath Retailers; they are feeling the pinch as a result of the recent fall off on discretionary spend as a result of inflation. They will be depending on the public to shop Meath first this gifting season and County Meath Chamber echo their call.
County Meath Chamber has recently developed a ‘Where to Spend’ booklet which will be circulated with each card purchased from November. The booklet lists hundreds of outlets where the Mí Meath card can be spent and provides other useful information for cardholders. Those looking to purchase a Mí Meath card can order them online from www.mimeath.ie and they will be posted directly to them. Businesses who want to register to accept Mí Meath cards can register on the same website mimeath.ie and employers who wish to gift a Mí Meath card for staff rewards can order online also www.mimeath.ie or call the team in County Meath Chamber on 046 9046060.
ENDS