Today we visited the site of our project, Carrigart. A lot stood out to me, but most of all, the community presence and connection were impressive, especially how everybody worked together. Specifically, two of the sites, G-teic and the gift shop, showcased this extensively.

First of all, the gift shop was a nice place that highlighted aspects of Irish and Carrigart’s culture through its item selection. It featured advertisements for many of the companies in the town, including Gteic itself. We spoke with the owner, and she explained that business is fine during the tourist season but struggles when tourists begin to dwindle after the summer months. Furthermore, she mentioned how the general economic struggle affects her business and how people have started to be more cautious about spending money in large amounts. This is a general economic trend that our team will have to keep in mind as we work with Carrigart in the coming weeks.

Gteic was also an interesting example of a business within the town. On our site visit, I was impressed with how developed their business was and the features they offered. They provided advanced options for comfort and convenience, such as an on-site shower and free coffee/food in the kitchen. The hospitality stood out to me and is something other businesses don’t offer. Their affordable prices were also an important note, as Gteic has another nearby site that is much more expensive.

As part of the marketing team working with Carrigart, it’s important to highlight these features within the marketing itself to further promote the local companies of Carrigart.