“We’ll have nothing left”: Kilkenny bookshop owner calls for dedicated Minister for Small Businesses
As featured in the Kilkenny People newspaper
The owner of a closing down local bookstore believes the time is now for a dedicated Minister for Small Businesses.
Khan Kiely, the owner of Khans Books on James’ Street in Kilkenny City, believes for too long the voices of small and medium size businesses have not been heard, amid growing concerns for the future of the local business sector.
Last month, book lovers in the city were left devastated when it was announced that after 32 years, the local business would close its final chapter at the end of November.
The announcement came amid a series of blows to the local economy, with John Joe Cullen’s Butchers closing its doors after five decades on John Street, while the Zip Yard has also confirmed it will cease trading later this year.
For the bookshop owner, proactive government measures are required to keep small businesses in towns and cities alive.
“I’ve been very much overwhelmed by the whole experience,” revealing that many customers have cried since news of the closure was revealed.
“It’s absolutely horrendous for a street (a closure). It's just absolutely devastating,” Khan told the Kilkenny People
“The small and medium-sized businesses of Ireland need a full Cabinet minister. We have no representative at the table, which, in my opinion, is a huge problem for us.
“I would want somebody who has experience of a family business, who understands the cost of running a business and all of the other details.
“Running and doing business in this country needs to be dealt with. We’ll have nothing left. We’re actually at a crisis point, and I’m being honest with you about that,” she claimed.
“Our costs, like our ESB bills, are unbelievable. The first thing I would slash is our ESB bills. It’s not enough, but it’s the start of the road to recovery,” she stated.
“I think we have forgotten the small things, and I think we’ve actually forgotten the people, to be honest. In the era of big tech and pharma, that takes the headlines. I think it’s all about big and big announcements and big everything. Whereas I think the people (running small businesses) have been forgotten, and that’s across Ireland.”
Khan argued that Kilkenny and other towns and cities need to be run ‘from the bottom up rather than from the top down’, advocating for a suggestion box to be erected outside the Town Hall in Kilkenny City.
Despite her own personal disappointment, Khan stressed that Kilkenny still has a very good offering, but would like to see that ‘enhanced’ rather than take a turn for the worse in the years to come.
“Kilkenny is an absolutely beautiful city, and it actually should be a model city of the future, but I’m concerned. The DNA of our towns are disappearing in front of our faces,” she explained, adding, “we need to cherish and to enhance our independent businesses because that’s what Kilkenny is all about. Kilkenny should be a leader.”
A new story now beckons for Khan, who has thanked her many customers and friends for their support over the years.