Pricing at Millars
At Millars, we strive to bring you the best products from around Ireland and the world. While our prices may not match other retailers, we feel that everything is priced reasonably.
A wide variety of factors are considered when we are pricing; from providing full-time employment in a rural area to restoring our piece of architectural heritage, running a small business is no easy feat.
You can read more about these factors below.
Varied Collections
The range of products we sell is varied and wide. From women's fashion, shoes and accessories, to menswear, gifts and homewares, each item is carefully selected. Our buyers travel far and wide to curate an eclectic mix of ladies' and men's clothing, often from major cities such as London and Paris. The buying season is hectic and spans several months of the year, including travel from Clifden to Dublin, Belfast, and abroad.
A considerable amount of time and effort is put into handpicking items and placing orders for the boutique. Everything from fabric, price, country of origin, and wearability are contemplated. Even the most minor of details are considered: the placement of a button, whether a zipper can be zipped both ways, hem and sleeve length. We want what you buy in Millars to serve you for many years to come, and so our prices reflect the effort we put into choosing our collections.
Open All Year Round
We are open 360 days a year: the days we close are Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day, and the last three (or four) Sundays in January. We understand that many shops in rural areas close for several months of the year; however, we believe that the services we provide are essential to our community. During the summer, we stay open late which is an extra cost but one we are happy to provide in a bustling town like Clifden.
Whether you need an outfit or accessory for a forgotten event, or a last-minute thank-you gift, we are open all year round to help you choose something that will suit your needs.
An Independent Business
Unlike larger stores around the country, we are a small, independent boutique. We do not have an international multi-conglomerate to fall back on. Every item you buy from us helps us to pay our hard-working team, pay bills such as rent and electricity, maintain our heritage building, and service the local community. While we have fantastic local customers, we also rely on tourism. The season is shorter than we would like, so our prices reflect the fact that we are quiet for several months of the year.
Full-time Employment
As we are open all year round, we have full-time employees. The shop covers a large space, requiring a minimum of two members of our team to 'man the shop'. We have 4 full-time employees and 3 part-time, all of whom receive work throughout the year. Consistent and reliable employment are the cornerstone of rural communities. It is key to the revitalisation of small towns around Ireland in a time of flux, when many people are moving to larger cities or abroad. We are proud to play a small part in this development.
Shipping and Inflation
You may have noticed that shipping to Ireland, and from Ireland, is very expensive. As an island nation, everything from our electronics and groceries are brought in by either plane or boat. While this is a costly and not very enviromentally-friendly practice, it is the only way to get goods in and out of the country at present.
This also applies to every item in our shop; whether it comes from Co. Clare, South America or Asia, every item we receive into the store has high freight charges attached. We cover the majority of these shipping costs, but a small portion of this cost is passed on to the customer.
Inflation also plays a role in our pricing. As our shop covers a space of over 4,000 square feet, our electricity and heating bills are becoming higher. We do our best to conserve heat and energy; however, a lot is lost through old windows and stone walls. We are currently undertaking renovation works to improve the condition and sustainability of the building, for now and for the future.
Renovations in a Protected Building
Millars is housed in a wonderfully unique space on Main Street. A former hotel, the building dates back to circa 1860 and has been maintained by the Millar family since the mid-20th century.
In a space of over 4,000 square feet, the shop takes a lot of maintenance and care. The building itself is a protected structure, requiring many repairs to keep it in stable condition. This year and in 2025, we are undertaking significant renovation work to repair old walls and replace a large section of our roof. We are also striving to mitigate dampness by replacing carpets and curtains, painting, and installing specialist ventilation units throughout the three floors of the building. These are just some of the measures we have committed to in order to preserve our piece of architectural history.