The aim of this research is to improve our knowledge concerning shopping habits in Bantry. We want to analyse Bantry’s area residents’ retail perception, attitudes, needs and behaviour to determine the reasons why people shop in and outside of Bantry. With the analysis of the survey, we want to study the opportunities for new businesses in the town of Bantry and see what is currently attractive and what can be developed.

We wish to ensure that Bantry offers a wide range of modern shopping facilities in order to discourage the catchment population from seeking alternative shop locations.

It is proposed that the survey will be face-to-face, i.e. a paper and pencil interview in the streets of Bantry to meet people while they are shopping. The survey will randomly sample 300 persons. This number would be of sufficient size to allow for a generalizable analysis at the community level.

The target population of this survey consists of all people living in Bantry and the neighbouring towns and also tourists to Bantry. We have to question a representative sample of each category of the population. For example, 15% of Bantry’s population is aged 65+ so we have to meet about 45 elderly persons.

The questionnaire is divided in four parts: - Identification

The town appearance is composed of different subjects like litter, buildings, flowers, public spaces, parking, and roads…People have to grade each issue.

To define the shopping habits of the inhabitants, we will ask several questions on a list of products and services. We will concentrate on the frequency of purchase, the localisation (in Bantry or not) and the reasons of this choice.

At the end of the questionnaire, we let people give their opinion on Bantry retail base in asking them what type of retail businesses and services should be added in Bantry with open questions.

How many people interviewed: 300

Who will be questioned?

After the interviews "face to face", we will compile the answers in a database. With this database we will be able to compare the results in tabulations and graphs. The results will be break down and analyse by age category and by gender. We will study young people’s shopping habits as much as elderly persons ones.

At the end of the survey, we will publish a report that can be available on BIDG web site for the general public. It will contain all the results of the research, the commentary with the tables and graphs and some significant conclusions. We will analyse how the town of Bantry is seen, what type of products and services are lacking and what satisfy people. It will be useful for shopkeepers and potential entrepreneurs who would like to set up a new business in Bantry to give them an idea about the wishes of the population.

We need approximately 12 days to undertake the questionnaire (3 persons per hour, 9 hours per day = 324 interviews).

The survey will take place from the Friday 7^th to the Friday 21^st of March.

Then we need a week to computerize the paper questionnaires and another week to prepare tables and graphs. Next, we will take two weeks to make the commentary and write the conclusions and at last a week to finish the report.

The report should be available on the 25^th of May  2003.