(NewsNation) — St. Patrick’s Day is set to be celebrated by 61% of Americans this year, with an estimated $7 billion in spending, according to the National Retail Federation.
Michael McGowan, co-owner of Carrick Mor Irish Store in Glen Rock, New Jersey, said about 30 to 40% of his yearly business comes from St. Patrick’s Day, with Christmas being the second busiest time of the year.
McGowan attributes the holiday’s popularity to people’s desire to connect with their Irish heritage.
“It’s not just about buying Irish things. It’s about trying to find a connection to your heritage, and somehow it becomes part of people’s identity,” he said. “I think that’s what’s driving the sales, not the products. Products are beautiful, but it’s the connection to Ireland that we don’t want to lose.”
Though St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with celebrations involving partying and drinking, McGowan said he’s “not for” that style of celebration. While he supports people having fun, he wants them to recognize that “Ireland is a very special place.”
“When we opened the Irish store, we wanted to present Ireland in the best possible light,” he said. “It was very hard when Irish people came to America and had to really struggle to find their place here, and for them to now be celebrated in a place that was initially somewhat hostile to them is kind of amazing.”
Every item in McGowan’s store is sourced directly from Ireland. One of the store’s most popular items is the Irish flat cap, made by Hannah Hats — the last remaining handmade hat maker in Ireland, based in Donegal.