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WHILE there has been a devastating impact on the retail trade in Tralee due to the Coronavirus crisis, some retailers are rising to the challenge by adapting and offering an online shopping service.
We spoke to a few of them who are doing their best for their businesses and to provide a service for customers during this difficult time.
“It’s obviously a massive change for us, especially at such a busy time of year”, Heather O’Sullivan from John Ross Jewellers told us.
“My great grandfather saw us through the Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1918. I never thought that I would be looking after the business during a pandemic too.”
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Heather said that she has had to completely change the way John Ross Jewellers works since the start of the temporary closure.
“We are now selling jewellery and watches exclusively online through our website www.johnrossjewellers.com. Customers are purchasing gifts and gift vouchers for loved ones because they can’t visit them in person. We are sending out the gifts directly including gift wrap and gift cards. Despite all the worries that everybody has at the moment, it is still lovely to see people being so thoughtful.”
Peter Harty of CH Chemists explained that whilst the pharmacy and opticians at CH are still open, the other departments are available online at www.chtralee.ie.
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“We are evolving during this difficult period so that we are covering essentials and maintaining good contact with our customers. Our pharmacy is operating to fulfil prescriptions and offer advice. The optical department is open for emergencies only, but products like contact lenses can be ordered by telephone. Our other departments are online at www.chtralee.ie or customers can place orders for any product over the phone. We are also offering a home delivery service in the Tralee area.”
Another Tralee retailer who has further developed their website to adapt to the changes, Sandra Rusk at Weardrobe, told us that many of her clients are availing of her deposit facility online at www.weardrobe.ie.
“We have had an online shop for some time, customers love looking at our new ranges from home, but the deposits facility is new. It means that my clients can continue to pay off the items that they have put away in the shop. It’s really handy for them.”
In light of government advice to businesses to find new and innovative ways of looking after their customers and protecting jobs, the businesses of Tralee seem to be rising to the challenge.
Kevin McCarthy, President of Tralee Chamber Alliance commented: “I believe that the people of Kerry will want to support local and shop local throughout this crisis. It’s good to see that Tralee shops are doing their best to keep business going and support the local economy.”
All three retailers would like to offer their assurance that all goods dispatched from their shops are handled in line with HSE advice in relation to COVID-19.
For more on the businesses featured here, check out http://www.johnrossjewellers.com, http://www.chtralee.ie, http://www.weardrobe.ie
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