It's all about the Customer

‘It’s All About The Customer’

A morning of practical insights and tips from leading retailers and other service-based business owners.

Event Programme

Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Fergal Doyle - The Arboretum   http://www.arboretum.ie/

The Arboretum in Carlow was formed 40 years ago by Rachel Doyle and her husband Frank. It is a multi-award winning garden centre and café site based in a rural location. 

Among the awards received are:

· Irish Restaurant Association: Best Casual Dining in Co. Carlow 2015

· Retail Excellence Ireland National Store of The Year 2015

· Bord Bia: Best Customer Service and Marketing 2014/2015

Together with his mother and brother, Fergal Doyle runs this highly successful business. Fergal’s core focus is on marketing and the company are attracting attention for their more recently launched “A List” loyalty scheme.

Fergal will share with Cork businesses the Arboretum formula for creating a destination business which will attract customers, over competitors and he will overview the family’s passion to keep the customer at the centre of everything they do. This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of Irelands successful independent retailers who are internationally recognised for their achievements.

James Burke  www.jamesburke.ie/

James started his food and retail career working part-time in Supervalu Bantry. He subsequently studied Retailed Management in DIT and joined Superquinn in 1984. He spent over 20 years in Superquinn, the last 10 of which were at Board Room Level. His Superquinn executive roles included Business Development Manager, Group Purchasing Manager and Trading Manager.

In addition James served on the advisory board of AMS €1 billion European buying group and was a director of the Irish Purchasing Company Aontas. He holds a degree in retailing and wholesaling from Stirling University in Scotland.

Mentors

Naomi Smith - The Happy Pear   https://thehappypear.ie/

The Happy Pear needs no introduction to most Irish consumers. Through their powerful use of digital media, TV appearances and book launches, they have become an Irish household name. Operations manager, Naomi Smith, will bring their story to life.

Gerard Keohane - StudioForty9   www.studioforty9.com/

Ger is an eCommerce expert who approaches his subject with the benefit of over 15 years of industry-grade web-development experience.

In 2006 Ger founded StudioForty9, an award-winning team with a national and international reputation for excellence in Ecommerce and Web Development. Indeed, StudioForty9 is the 2017 “Supplier of the Year” to the retail industry, awarded by Retail Excellence Ireland.

Since 2006, StudioForty9 has worked with a broad range of clients ranging from national brands such as DID.ie, O’Briens Wines, McElhinneys of Ballybofey, Carrolls Irish Gifts and The Irish Times to local retailers and boutique offerings. The team has also built integrations (used by thousands of Irish websites) for payment gateways such as Realex, and bespoke integrations with a wide variety of ERP, EPoS and accounting systems.

Lawrence Owens – Cork Business Association   www.corkbusiness.ie

Lawrence Owens has extensive experience in the retail sector beginning with Roches Stores in Cork in 1974. He moved to Waterford in1993 to head up their new operation in the City Square development.

In 1998 he returned to manage the Roches Stores flagship store on Patrick Street and when the Roche family relinquished their ownership of the business in 2006, he became store manager with Debenhams.

Since 2009 Lawrence has been working in business development and retail consultancy within the SME sector and has been Chief Executive of the Cork Business Association since May 2014.

Joan Lucey – Vibes & Scribes   http://vibesandscribes.ie/

Joan's retail journey started in November 1991 when she opened a book shop in Macroom, County Cork. Since then she has grown the business to where it is today with her vibrant and unique shop on Bridge Street selling fabric, wool, millinery and crafting supplies and two shops on Lavitts Quay; a new and special price bookshop and a second hand bookshop.

In 2011 Vibes and Scribes received the ‘small to medium business of the year’ award from the Cork Business Association and were also shortlisted for the Bord Gais Irish Bookshop of the Year awards.

In February 2015, Vibes & Scribes was awarded Retailer of the Year at the Cork Chamber of Commerce Awards and are a finalist in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2017.

Barry McEvoy - Carroll’s Irish Gifts   https://www.carrollsirishgifts.com/

Carroll’s Irish Gifts now have 16 stores throughout Ireland and focus on the gift and tourist market. Area manager, Barry McEvoy will share with his two mentor groups the Carroll’s story and elements which can be translated to other businesses.