Irish shoppers set to flock to New York

rish shoppers set to flock to New York

Number of shoppers increases by 15% as dollar weakens. By Angela Sammon

Irish shoppers set to flock to New York

More than 170,000 Irish people are expected to make the trip, attracted by a weak dollar and cheaper accommodation. An estimated €170 million will be spent in New York during the shopping frenzy.

One of the shops to benefit will certainly be Macy’s, which claims that Irish people are its third most frequent visitors.

Managing director of Dublin-based tour operator Tour America, Mary McKenna, said most shoppers will be searching for designer clothes and electrical goods and bargain prices.

“The Irish shopper is most likely to be female, aged between 30 and 50, spending on average $1,500 (€1,015) per trip,” she said.

Marketing company, NYC & Company, said nine out of 10 Irish people that travel to New York each year do so on a shopping trip.

It said the activities of Irish visitors in New York “yields as one of the highest spending patterns of any international market”.

Total spending by Irish visitors to New York city last year reached $651m (€438m), according to NYC & Company figures.