LINK 2 IN LETTERKENNY

Link2 in the Courtyard Shopping Centre in Letterkenny opened its doors this October and has a great selection of gift ideas this Christmas. Paul and Keith Harvey had been working in music retail in Letterkenny for seventeen years and really know and appreciate their customer base. They saw a gap in the market and decided to branch out on their own, selling gadgets and novelties as well as music and DVD’s.

Link2 has a superb selection of all the top Irish CD’s including the new albums from Ronnie Drew, Enya and Snow Patrol. Don’t forget the comedy gem Nob Nation 2 –The Recession Album and DVD’s from Conal Gallen, Tommy Tiernan and Brendan Grace. There are loads of others to choose from and include all the chart stuff as well.

Novelties
At office Christmas parties it is customary to have a Chris Cringle and it can be difficult to think of a gift for a colleague who you may see every day, but not know that well. There are all sorts of fun ideas at Link2 such as the tight-git wallet (only €7.99) or the swearing punch ball (for €9.99). Guaranteed to break the ice and get a laugh before your first glass of wine takes effect.

Gadgets Galore
What is it about boys and their toys? How does a remote control helicopter make a seemingly well-adjusted man go weak at the knees? How many fathers buy a remote control car for their son and end up only giving them a turn very reluctantly? Link2 has a wide range of gadgets including the latest remote control helicopters, which they demonstrate in the store every Saturday and Sunday.

Ideas for Kids
Of course kids love gadgets too. What about a popcorn-maker at €34.99 for a healthy and fun treat or there is a rocket lava lamp (at €19.99) to create the right atmosphere for your moody teenager. They also have all the Sesame Street Puppets as seen on the Late Late Toy Show including Bert and Ernie and Oscar for €20.

On-Line
Paul and Keith have recently launched Link2 on-line too and you can purchase items at http://www.link2.ie/. This website only shows a few of their in store items but more are being added.

So when you are in Letterkenny, why not pop into Link2 in the Courtyard Centre and grab a few innovative and different gifts.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN BUNCRANA

Pulls
Hubert McLaughlins (HML) is the Wains World for grown up men who love to play.

When you walk up the grand red staircase of the Elite Electrical shop and go to the second floor you are greeted with what most of us wouldn’t be without, it’s not Santa, but it’s a great choice of wide screen televisions.

The smell of Christmas greets you as you walk into Finishing Touch and that’s because Georgina, the proprietor, always has some mulled (alcohol free) drinks to hand to warm up any cold shoppers.

Even before stepping into Bloomin’ Marvellous you will see gorgeous outdoor planters that are brimming with winter colour and will be flowering well after the festive period.






THINK OUTSIDE OF THE GIFT BOX AND SHOP IN MILLTOWN AND ARDARAVAN

The Milltown and Ardaravan shopping areas of Buncrana are the newest additions to the town. In a very short period of time the areas have become a much-needed expansion to the town merging seamlessly with the older shopping areas.

The Inishowen Independent would like to take you on a tour of the area starting on the top of the hill at Milltown, the thriving retail park that is such an easy walk from the town centre. Parking is free and plentiful. The first port of call is Wains World.

Wains World

Walking into the bustling atmosphere of Wains World you are greeted by both the friendly staff and a giant picture of Winnie the Pooh. The large images don’t stop there as Peter Pan and Batman are looking down on you from above as you walk into the downstairs play area. The key points for most parents is for their children to have a good time, to be safe, eat well and eventually to tire themselves out so they sleep well at night. Wains World ensures all of these things and gives parents the chance to sit and relax and read the paper whist the children enjoy themselves. Here is what a recent visitor said on the Tripadvisor website:

“ Finally a place where you can let your kids run a muck!” The Cafe was lovely and open so the children could come and go to us as they pleased and the food was very good- which was a pleasant surprise. Not to mention the cleanliness, the place was impeccable. Go and have the craic and stress less for a few hours.

Wains World has just introduced a fabulous new menu for Christmas and is planning a Christmas disco for a bit closer to the day. Check out the party packs, they can cater for large groups of children for parties and special occasions. Next door the Wains World is Elite Electical.


Elite Electrical store
Elite electrical is looking forward to a busy Christmas. On entering the shop you are greeted with a wide choice of low energy festive lighting for both inside and outside of the house. “People are only too aware of the extra costs involved at Christmas and low energy lighting is one are we can lessen the shock of a large ESB bill.” John, the proprietor tells us. The shop also stocks low energy bulbs for everywhere else in the house and the savings can be tremendous. “We stock low energy downlights that now fit flush into the sockets.” He continues. When you walk up the grand red staircase of the Elite Electrical shop and go to the second floor you are greeted with what most of us wouldn’t be without, it’s not Santa, but it’s a great choice of wide screen televisions. “I sell products that I know and trust,” says John. “We have two new innovative products new to the market. The Sink Erator and the Frank ‘Little Butler ‘ kettle. The Sink Erator is a waste disposal unit and can cut your waste bill by up to a third, as it will even grind chicken and chop bones up. The Little Butler is an innovative device that does away with the need for a kettle. It is a third tap on the sink and boiling water is always available.” Elite also sell top of the range fridges should you need to upgrade your old one to get all of the Christmas goodies in


Premier Carpet Co
Are you stuck for a gift idea for a loved one? Have you ever considered buying a rug? Rugs are a very prominent part of any room and they would be welcomed in any area from beside the bed to the fireside. Premier Carpet Company based on the Milltown estate is stocking a wide choice of different sized rugs for any space. It doesn’t have to be for a present either; maybe your home deserves one too. Ronan from the shop tells us of another incentive for ordering your carpets now before the Christmas period. “If you order your carpets now we will guarantee that you will have it fitted before the reindeers come onto your roof.” There is a wide range of top quality carpets to choose from. The shop also stocks a wide range of wooden and laminate flooring as well as vinyl’s for the more practical areas of the house.


HML
Hubert McLaughlins (HML) is the Wains World for grown up men who love to play. The store is packed to the rafters with well-known brands. Bosh, Ryobi, Stihl and Makita tools are all well laid out and ready for holding to see if they are the tools for you. HML cater for both the DIY’er and the professional. On a more festive note HML have some really good ideas for Christmas presents, not just for the man who wants to mix concrete or fix the coupling on a tractor linkage. If you fancy converting a room in the house into a pool or mini snooker room then HML will have the perfect table for you. Made from top quality materials these tables are flat and precise so you can show off your skills to the children, unless they are too busy outside on one of HML’s Berg go-carts. Berg go-carts are made in Holland to a very high specification and can withstand even the Inishowen potholes. They have pneumatic tyres and some have more gears than a flappy paddle Ferrari.

Before we go anywehre else we need some refreshment... there's no better place than The Lunchbox.

O’Donnell’s Premier Meats
Heading down the hill from Milltown and into the Ardaravan area we come toO’Donnell premier Meats. When you walk into the shop the professional butchers, who know a good cut of meat, greet you. They are expecting a lot of trade as people stock up their fridges and freezes for the Christmas period. To make life easier for people who have enough on over the festive period, the staff has put together some Handy Packs of choice products. There are different ones depending on the size of family so you can choose from the basic Tea Time Pack, Handy Packs, Weekly Planner Packs and if you need to feed all of the family that come over for the big day they will make up a Freezer Top Up. There are plenty of accompaniments on offer in the shop as well so if you need a bag of spuds a packet of stuffing, fresh or frozen food it’s all conveniently laid out for an easy shopping experience.


Finishing Touch
Up the road from O’Donnell’s meats you get to Finishing Touch, the furniture and gifts shop. The smell of Christmas greets you as you walk into Finishing Touch and that’s because Georgina, the proprietor, always has some mulled (alcohol free) drinks to hand to warm up any cold shoppers. Georgina has sourced fabulous gifts and Christmas stock from all over the world, most of which you have never seen before so it has a fresh and unique feel to it. All of the products on sale have come through the Ifat and Bafts Fair Trading companies so you have piece of mind that people who make the goods are well paid and work in safe working environments. “The decorations are flying out of the shop.” Georgina tells us. “There are going to be some very beautifully decorated Christmas trees this year”

Brennans Pharmacy
Across the road and heading into the town we get to Brennans Pharmacy. The chemist has secured a strong foothold in the area and is perfectly positioned for easy access with disability ramps and ample free parking. The shelves and counter are brimming with gift ideas from perfumes to toiletries and the friendly staff are always happy to answer any of your questions when it comes to keeping the dreaded colds at bay. Brennans are also offering a €10 gift voucher scheme, ask in store or check out the advert for more details.

Bloomin Marvellous
Popping up the street a short distance we get to Bloomin’ Marvellous, which certainly lives up to it’s name. Karen, the owner and driving force behind this successful business has everything you will need for a bloomin’ good Christmas (‘scuse the pun). Even before stepping into Bloomin’ Marvellous you will see gorgeous outdoor planters that are brimming with winter colour and will be flowering well after the festive period. Polyanthus, cyclamen, ivy and skimmia all go together beautifully to warm up the winter doorway. Inside the shop you are greeted by a wide selection of cut flowers and accessories as well as indoor plants. The Christmas cacti are budding and will be in full flower and a perfect gift - and where would we be at this time of year without the poinsettia, a must for everyone’s front room. Karen stresses that we need to get any flower orders in soon “There is a big demand all over Europe for cut flowers this year and we are making sure that we will be getting the best. Get your order in now so we can let the growers know exactly what we need to make Inishowen beautiful.”

McGuigan Opticians
McGuigan’s opticians next door to Karen’s have some fabulous frames on offer for those of us that wear spectacles. The shop is set up in a minimalist fashion and is very well laid out with plenty of room to float around and try all of the frames from the practical steel racks. There are well-known brand names like D+G, Prada, Versace, Gucci and of course the famous Ray Ban range. To make buying the glasses more affordable for Christmas McGuigan’s are offering 20% off a range of designer frames and this year they have taken the innovative step of offering Christmas gift vouchers . It would be impossible to choose frames for someone else so a gift voucher will allow the recipient to choose their new style… fantastic idea.


Elaine’s Hairdressers
You only have to hop next door to get to An Siopa Gruaige - Elaine’s hairdressers. This warm and friendly salon has the most comfortable settees in the town and very welcoming staff that will make sure that you have the best service whatever the occasion. “We have some lovely Pampering Packages this Christmas.” Says Elaine in between dealing with happy customers. “You can get a complete package of a Californian tan, Hair styled, make-up and manicure from €70. We also do Indian Head Massages to relieve the stresses of doing the last minute shopping.” The salon also sell hair products and are offering the JHD straighteners at €20 less that last years prices. “We also have discounts for men too with 20% off on Tuesday and Wednesdays. “If men say they are pushed for time then we also have a late night session on Thursdays until 8pm, so there’s no excuse for men to look untidy for the Christams holidays”

Shopping in the Milltown and Ardaravan area of Buncrana is a very enjoyable experience and has so much to offer on it’s own and as a part of the lager town of Buncrana. When you are thinking of Christmas shopping think outside of the gift box and use all of the facilities that Buncrana has to offer… you won’t need to shop anywhere else…

SHOPPING IN CARNDONAGH - EDITORIAL

CARNDONAGH – THE PLACE TO BE FOR SHOPPING

Take a look at the map of Inishowen and you will see that at its centre is the town of Carndonagh. Carn Domhnaigh or ‘Cairn of Donagh’ is a thriving market town - and has been for centuries. It is the place that farmers and traders have always come to serve the wider community from Ballyliffin to Culdaff, Gleneely and Moville. The thriving Inishowen Co-op and cattle market still serve the farming community but in today’s economic climate a town needs to serve all the consumer interests of an even larger catchments area. Carndonagh does this.

Driving in on any road, the prosperity of the town is apparent. Carefully planned new developments are still being built even though there is a down turn in the economy. New retail outlets will soon be in place to add the already comprehensive choice of shops. Carndonagh boasts one of the largest community schools in Ireland, which shows just what a large population the town and catchment area has, the last census showed over 2000 people living in the townland alone.

CATERING FOR THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPER
If you are asking yourself how Carndonagh can cater for the Christmas shopper then let us take a trip around town, starting in the Diamond, the fresh looking central point of the town.

The Heel Bar
Situated conveniently next to the Diamond, the Heel Bar knows all too well what men want for Christmas….High visibility jackets, trousers and safety boots. Men like a bargain and when they find out that the whole set costs a credit crunching €44.50, they will insist that they get a set for their birthday too. The bargains don’t stop there either. The shop stocks top of the range brand names such as Gore-Tex and Snickers work wear which will also make the ideal gift. Make sure that Santa doesn’t get left out in the cold either by getting him a key cut at the Heel Bars key cutting counter. Better still get a couple of sets for yourself and the family that will be popping around. No-one likes to be left in the cold. The Heel Bar also stock Alike locks, which allows on key to fit all of the doors of the house. They do free estimates and free fitting as well.


Shoe & Sport Store.
The Shoe and Sport store in the town have plenty of Christmas gifts for every-one. There’s €5 off a wide range of their boots and they have the latest stock just in of team calendars and teddies. These products are highly sought after so don’t leave the shopping until the last minute as stocks are limited. Check out the other bargains in store as they have €10 off a range of their sports shirts of all the top teams like Liverpool and Chelsea.


Hirrells of Carndonagh
Next we come to Hirrells, a shop that is bursting with a huge selection of vital Christmas goodies. As soon as you walk into the shop you are aware of the huge selection of lights and decorations for both indoors and outdoors. Christmas would be a dull place without the shimmering glows on the trees and houses. Talking of trees, Hirrells are selling fabulous fibre optic ones for only €49.00, and because you can use them every year they make fantastic financial sense. If you are decorating the doors, walls and tabletops then Hirrells have a great range of cribs, candles, wreaths and garlands too. Let’s not forget what Hirrells are well known for, they also have a fabulous range of toys for all ages. If you are looking for board games, crafts or techno games for the PSP, Nintendo DS and X Box the Toyland section of the shop is now open.


THERE’S MORE THAN SHOPPING IN CARNDONAGH

Branching out a few steps from the Diamond we get to more shops, not all of them are selling products, some are giving us that much needed services that boost to our self confidence and well being.


The Natural Touch Beauty Salon
The Natural Touch Beauty salon on Chapel Street has fantastic offers available from now until Christmas. Fancy a facial or an Indian head massage? Maybe you would enjoy a full body wrap and body massage to get you in the mood for going out to the staff party. Whilst you are enjoying the pampering; why not get a gift voucher from them for a loved one too.

The Loft
Just off of the main road we find a brand new row of shops. The Loft on the New Road in this complex has full beauty and tanning treatment facility for the serious beauty seeker. They offer exclusive Glamma Puss products. There are injectable treatments for wrinkles and a wide range of other services from lip enhancement, mesotherapy, restylane/perlane fillers, facial line smoothing sclerothereapy and cosmetic enhancements. Their next clinic is on the 2nd December, and booking is essential.

Serenity Hair Design by Collette
Don’t forget your hair, the winter weather can be hard on your head insulation. Serenity hair designs in the town are stocking a full range of organic hair colours and mineral products. These are generally more expensive products in the salons but at Serenity they are used at no extra cost to you. There might be time to get a couple of styles in before Christmas and if the man in your life wants a trim them at Colette’s then there are reduced rates (they have less hair after all) On Tuesdays there are special rates for senior citizens too so all of the family can go along


ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET

Ryan Carpets
Heading down the Malin road out of the town you will see Ryan Carpets. There’s no better time to roll out the red carpet for your guests over Christmas and the New Year. Ryan carpets also stock a wide range of vinyl and wood flooring for those of us who need a low maintenance, practical surface to mop up the spilt wine and trodden in mince pies that were dropped over the festivities. If you are having friends and family staying over the holidays and would like their stay to be comfortable and luxurious, then a new bed and bedroom furniture might be on the cards. Just make sure they are not too comfortable, you don’t want them staying too long after the New Year…

SHOPPING LOCALLY - EDITORIAL

Investing for the future: A marketplace of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

Your community is unique, and local traders understand this.

“I go to many different shops around Buncrana for my shopping, that means I get the best prices around and it also has a great social aspect too as I see a lot of people I know.” IG Buncrana

A wide variety of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices




SHOP LOCALLY - MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE

No one can tell you where to shop. You will use your head when it comes to getting the best value and best products for your family. Sometimes though the answers go a little deeper that saving 10 cent on the price of a tin of beans or getting an item for the house from miles away because they appear to have a better sale price. Often by the time transportation costs, customer support and time are taken into account we can find ourselves out of pocket.

Face value prices are just the tip of the consumer iceberg. Delve deeper and you see that shopping locally and supporting your local suppliers helps the local economy to grow. It’s not just the retail shoppers at the end of the supply chain that benefits; it is the whole community.

Significantly more money re-circulates in an area like Inishowen when purchases are made locally which helps the sustainability of the community. Money keeps flowing through the community especially if these businesses buy from other local businesses and service providers; such as accountants, solicitors, printers, insurance agents and fuel companies. This has great benefits for the local economy, which is needed in these difficult financial times.


REASONS TO SHOP LOCALLY

Environmental Sustainability

Local shops help to sustain vibrant, compact town centres, which in turn are essential to reducing urban sprawl, car use, and air and water pollution.

Small businesses provide jobs for local people, who then do not have to drive so far to get to work.

Going a shorter distance to get what you need saves your precious free time.

Small businesses generally have a much smaller environmental footprint than big shops.

Shopping locally saves precious fuel.

The quality of items sold locally tends to be better, since the shop owners realise you might be back to complain! That means less cheap junk ends up in a landfill or incinerator.

Local business may stock locally made or grown items, like honey or vegetables.


MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE

For every euro spent at a locally owned business, 48 cent stays in the local economy. This makes a huge difference to the wealth of an area like Inishowen. A market place of small businesses like the ones found around the peninsula is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices. This will help make the area economically healthy for a long time into the future.

Product Diversity
A town full of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices. This competition and diversity leads to more choices for the customer. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of Inishowens distinct character: This unique character is what brings people here and can keep us here. A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.


Jobs
Locally owned businesses means more jobs in the area which is good for the community. Customers can get more friendly service whith staff that understand their needs.

Community Well-Being
Locally owned businesses build strong ties by sustaining communities, linking neighbours, and by contributing more to local causes. Our euro spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact for the community, then a euro spent else where. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more local services through sales tax, invest in local improvement schemes and promote community development. You help to keep the euro in the local economy



Local Decision Making
Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. Local traders care about your community. They will donate to your school sports team and work with activists on community improvement campaigns. Not because they want to make themselves look good, but because the owners of these shops live and work next to you. Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services. Local businesses pay council taxes, funding town services.


Local interest
Local businesses care about the community. They are closely connected to it, and thus consider their impact on it. They are more willing to invest in its future. Many owners generously donate time, money and products to efforts that benefit their neighbours. Non-profit organizations receive an average 350% greater support from local business owners. Local businesses are owned by people who live in the community, and are less likely to leave and are more invested in the community’s future.


Element of surprise
The element of surprise and discovery in a small local shop whose inventory is carefully chosen by the owner means you can find all sorts of unexpected treasures. And with food shops, you may find a wider assortment of fresher, locally originating, and organic products. In a local shop, you can build a relationship with the staff, the owners and employees get to know you as people, and the smart ones know how to make you feel special. To be greeted by name and be told that something has just come in that your spouse will just love means a lot.

BUNCRANA SHOPPERS COMMENTS

“To support local businesses, I'll sometimes pay a little more than I would in a large store in the city. But once everything is taken into consideration, travel, time, environmental impact and customer support, I think I would be better off staying within a couple of miles of my house.” – MD Buncrana

“I go to many different shops around Buncrana for my shopping, that means I get the best prices around and it also has a great social aspect too as I see a lot of people I know.” IG Buncrana


HOW LOCAL SHOPS DO THEIR BIT

Mac’s Bookstore
Eunan McLaughlin from Mac’s bookshop stocks as much as he can from local suppliers. A majority of the cards and calendars in the shop are from Irish companies “ We stock O’Brien cards that are made in Ireland, they are top quality. Our books come from Irish suppliers and closer to home we have hand crafted cards from a company in Malin Head.” Eunan sources other products locally too. “We deal with a local cash and carry supplier in Gleneely for our minerals and confectionary and deal directly with companies such as Kerry Springs, the drinks manufacturer,” he explains.

Kavanagh Supervalu
Kieran Doherty is manager of the Supervalu store in Buncrana. The company employs 85 staff locally and their motto “Local food for local people” is part of their major branding and marketing strategy. “We stock as many local products as possible,” says Kieran. “In the cooler department we have local companies such as Country Kitchens from Malin, who supply soups and salads, Crana Foods make coleslaws and fresh vegetable mixes for our customers and our eggs come from Inishowen Eggs. We source fresh seasonal vegetables from small suppliers locally as well as larger set ups like Doherty’s potatoes from Bridgend. Our distribution network is also based locally to save unnecessary transportation.”

Elaine’s Hairdressers
It’s not only food suppliers that source their products locally. There are some surprises like Elaine’s Hairdressers in Buncrana. Elaine’s hairpieces come from a local supplier. “We also have a supplier in Burt who manufactures an organic moisturiser and cosmetic range”. Elaine works in a fast moving industry and new product ranges are released almost daily. It’s very popular for customers to choose organic product and ones that are gentle to the hair. We get organic hair colourant from Letterkenny and are in the process of having and organic range made even more locally.” she tells us. “The staff are also constantly upgrading their skill with courses and I try to get these courses brought to Inishowen instead of us having to travel away.” The salon is a good example on how a business such as this has a knock on effect on the local economy as the sales of magazines and coffee increases with every customer…….

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