Tralee town could be in line for a major jobs and retail boost with news that four prominent high street retail chains are eyeing up the county capital for new stores.
The exact identity of the four businesses – or the units they are considering – have not been revealed but we understand they are all well known and highly regarded retail franchises.
As well as providing a significant boost to the town centre’s retail offering the arrival of the new stores would provide a welcome jobs boost with up to fifty full and part time jobs likely to be created based on typical high street retail staffing levels. On Tuesday of this week, Tralee Chamber Alliance (TCA) confirmed that they are currently in advanced talks with four national and international retailers with a view to setting up in Tralee.
The talks follow strong representation from the business representatives body at the recent Retail Excellence Ireland expo in Dublin.
Tralee Chamber Alliance said it has invested considerable time and energy engaging with high-profile retailers from Ireland and abroad to encourage them to open in Tralee. In a highly competitive sector, nine other towns and counties at the retail expo were all competing for the attention of these retailers at the expo and it appears that Tralee was successful.
“Four companies are giving serious consideration to opening in Tralee town centre, but some work remains to be done to support them to open in Tralee,” said Tralee Chamber Alliance Chief Executive Ken Tobin.
“In order to secure more retailers for Tralee, we need to actively support landlords and local developers to re-imagine and expand their properties in the town centre. As it stands, we do not have enough available large retail units in the town centre to help attract bigger brand name retailers to Tralee,” Mr.Tobin said.
“Towns and retail businesses are in a new phase and and considerable work needs to be done over the coming years to help Tralee adapt, and to support businesses undertake the necessary changes. What people want from the town is completely different to what it was even 10 years ago,” he added.
Source: The Kerryman