With the Christmas rush well under way, many shoppers are flocking to urban centres and shopping centres for last minute gifts. Others are choosing to shop online.
So how do smaller towns in rural Ireland manage to survive? Our Midlands Correspondent Sinead Hussey has been to Moate in Co Westmeath to find out.
At Audrey's Healy's Florist on the Main Street in Moate, the bouquets and arrangements are covering the floor.
"We have a huge amount of stock and sometimes you think you've ordered way too much, and next thing they all start coming in," said Ms Healy.
"Like this morning, there'll be people going out with two or three bouquets and arrangements" she said.
"We have everything made up so you just have to walk in the door and grab it.
"We're very lucky here in Moate because people support local us all year long, and then they'll come in again at Christmas and support us, so we know they're coming" she added.
The Town Team in Moate, headed up by Nick Linnane, has encouraged people to shop local this Christmas. Moate is located just off the M6 motorway, the main Dublin to Galway road.
It is close to three busy provincial towns, Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore.
The town team wants to remind people that "every euro spent locally is a quiet vote for the future of the community" and the strength of the local economy depends on the choices people make every day.
"Moate is a great town on its own and has great local shops and great local businesses," said Nick Linnane.
He said that unlike when money is spent in "large chains or online giants", money spent in local shops recirculates in the local area for much longer.
"By supporting local, you're supporting local jobs, you're supporting your neighbours, and you're supporting the businesses that you go to when you're looking for raffle prizes and contributions to the local GAA club, so it all adds to the sense the community".
Kit Gillivan runs Moate Meats in the town, which has been open for 112 years.
"I'm actually worried about how busy we're going to be," he laughed.
"We've a lorry out the back the back to try and store stuff," he said.
"We have seven lads working here and we're open from now until Christmas evening, from early until late," he said.
He said the community is very supportive, particularly at Christmas and said that people like the "personal touch"
"As we are all well a lot of butcher shops having unfortunately been closing, and we're a cog in the wheel for the local community, because we go the extra mile," he said.
"We actually give choice to customers, and we give them the personal touch. Supporting local is about using supporting communities and the community supports us," he added.
John Galvin is a local artist in Moate. He believes the town has a unique offering.
"We have a great town here that has fantastic shops and shops that you won't get in big cities, they're all run family businesses," he said.
"A lot of people would come in here and buy original works. We have a big hinterland around here. A lot of my painting are of local scenes, so it's lovely to have people come in here and buy and appreciate them," he added.
Irish Rural Link said supporting local businesses, in particular at Christmas, is hugely important.
"The smaller towns across Ireland have struggled over the years," said Louise Lennon, Policy and Communications Officer, Irish Rural Link.
"We need people to go in and support them.
"They're the heart of the community, they are there to provide jobs, and they give a lot to the community as well.
"If you have last minute shopping to do, go in and see what your local town has, to help them at Christmas but throughout the year as well," she added.
