Long queues have been forming at some shops across the country today ahead of an expected second lockdown.
It comes as the Cabinet is considering moving the country to Level 5 restrictions for a period of six weeks.
These would be in place until the start of December if agreed upon by Cabinet.
Non-essential stores would have to shut as part of the tighter coronavirus restrictions.
According to one retailer, shutting down non-essential retail would not be successful in clamping down on COVID-19 cases.
Pat Mullaney, General Manager of Navan Shopping Centre, said shops aren't a source of infection.
He told The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk: "I mean, if the schools are open and the students are coming out of school with no masks on and gathering in groups and their mums are maybe waiting for the smaller children and they're going to be chatting, sure they're far more threatening environments to a shop which has no history of any major clusters as far as I'm aware."
Meanwhile, with Christmas just around the corner, shoppers are making sure they get their presents bought early.
It was the supermarkets many people rushed to back in March when the country went into lockdown for the first time.
Retail Ireland says some outlets have seen demand more than double over the last few days compared to usual levels.
Its director Arnold Dillon said some items are in particular demand with the prospect of many people spending more time at home.
He said DIY, hardware, electrical products and homeware would have seen "a significant rise".
Retail Ireland also said closing down non-essential shops would be a massive blow to the sector - and leave tens of thousands of workers out of a job.
Reporting by Stephen Murphy
