Category: News

Uber to create 300 new jobs in Ireland

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The world’s largest online taxi service Uber will create 300 new jobs in Limerick, with a customer support centre set to open. The company have expressed their desire to launch in cities nationwide, currently open having operations in Dublin.

The new Limerick base looks to hire 150 people by the end of the year, with a further 150 people by the end of 2016. Uber General Manager Kiaran Harte mentioned that the company has over 1,000 drivers in Dublin. Uber, which launched in 2011, has seen fortunes soar and major investment of late. €5.3 billion was ploughed into Uber, which has had unrivalled success in the US.

Harte furthered that “Limerick put on a fantastic show to win our investment. We’re doing five times the amount of trips in Europe as we were last year. This will serve all of our English speaking customers from all over Europe and Africa’’.

Furthermore, Uber have also signed a 10 year lease at a premises in Thomas Street.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan expressed his delight at the news by saying Uber’s investment is a massive boost for Limerick. We are particularly delighted to welcome a world leading company, operating at the cutting-edge of innovative technology, to Limerick city centre. Creating 300 jobs and with an investment of €4m planned for the city, Uber will become a major part of the Limerick economy.”

Source: http://www.independent.ie/business/jobs/uber-to-create-300-jobs-in-limerick-with-new-customer-support-centre-31408321.html

Ikea to pay all their Irish staff ‘The Living Wage’

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

There has been much debate surrounding Ireland’s minimum wage of late. Many argue that minimum wage is not reflective of the cost of living and thus ‘The Living Wage’ is a better reflection on the minimum amount Irish workers should earn on an hourly pay scale. Enter Ikea…

The Swedish Retail giant has agreed to pay all its Irish staff ‘A living wage’ ensuring a meaningful wage for all workers. Ikea have only one Irish store, located in Ballymun North Dublin. The flat pack giant will issue pay cheques based on the cost of living for employees in Ireland and the UK.

Ikea HR manager for the UK and Ireland Pernille Hagild said as a ‘values-driven organisation’ the chain believed in “providing a meaningful wage to our co-workers that supports the cost of living no matter where they live”.

He furthered ‘’Over the coming months we will work together with the relevant organisations and authorities in Ireland to secure this in the right way in the Irish market.” In the past days the government have agreed to increase the mimumim wage (€8.65 per hour) by 50 cent. Ikea already pays their staff above this, with the bottom pay scale €9.77 per hour.

A consortium of unions and other campaigners have put the living wage in Ireland at €11.50 per hour although it’s not yet known on what basis Ikea will calculate its rate.

Source: http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/ikea-pay-rate-2226056-Jul2015/

Best Menswear enters into examinership

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Retailer Best Menswear has gone into examinership. The men’s clothing and accessories retailer have faced turbulent times over the last few years. Bets Menswear had been a concession holder in the now closed Clery’s store.

A pop up store was introduced to Parnell Street earlier this month and acted as a means of clearing available stock. An examiner form PWC has been appointed to the business and will assist in the restructuring of the company to ensure financial viability.

Managing Director of Best Menswear David Jones said the following ‘’ While trading is slowly improving, the biggest challenge remains unsustainably high rents and upward only rent reviews, which are a significant burden on our business’’.

Best Menswear currently has 13 stores across the country.

Online Retailer Amazon to launch Grocery delivery service

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Online Retail giant Amazon are to launch ‘Amazon Fresh’, the retail giant’s grocery delivery service that will launch in the UK this year. According to speculation, the plans are at an ‘advanced stage’ and are due to launch the service in September of this year.

Amazon Fresh will allow customers to in certain areas to order an array of grocery products. It is currently available in large urban US locations such including New York and LA. While suggestions continue to circulate, an Amazon spokesperson said that ‘we do not comment on rumour or speculation but we will remain thoughtful and methodical in our approach to expanding Amazon Fresh’.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/amazon-grocery-delivery-service-uk-new-investment-2227052-Jul2015/

Most popular supermarkets for weekly shops revealed

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Figures have been released showing where Irish consumers are likely to do their main weekly grocery shop. The continued trajectory of discount rival retailers like Lidl and Aldi, have intensified the market over the last number of years. Tesco, have come out on top with 33% of all consumers choosing to do their main weekly shop there.

Tesco have had a rough time of late with a sales trough, but in figures carried out by Checkout Magazine and Ignite Research it points them as the most popular supermarket for big spends. Tesco was also the most popular supermarket choice by females. The greatest disparity of genders was Dunnes Stores, with 19% of who were male and 11% of female.

Value for money was frequently cited as the most popular reason for shoppers in Lidl and Aldi. 86% of Aldi shoppers and 81% of Lidl shoppers believed that their respective supermarkets were the cheapest. The German discount rivals have seen the biggest rise in consumers switching.

Source: http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/tesco-shopping-ireland-news-money-2213681-Jul2015/

 

Brown Thomas begin €1.5 million revamp

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Brown Thomas on Dublin’s Grafton Street have begun a €1.5 million revamp to their flagship department store. Hoarding has been erected over the last few weeks as repairs begin on the building’s exterior. It includes work to the brickwork and water damage.

The work is all part of an estimated €20 million refurbishment programme which aims to modernise the iconic store. The work will take 12 weeks to complete and will include work to their South William Street and Clarendon street entrances.

The work has been planned carefully and will not affect business. It has been planned meticulously, so as not to disturb the shopping day. Managing Director Stephen Sealy said “If you plan it carefully it won’t affect the business. “It will cost us about €1.5 million but it’s the right thing to do. Ultimately, it’s an investment in the future of the business.”

Brown Thomas have seen a lift in sales of late. They have stores across in Dublin, Cork, limerick and Galway and BT2 outlets in Grafton Street, Henry Street, Dundrum and Blanchardstown. In 2014 Brown Thomas had a profit of €4.7 million.

Penney’s to expand to Italy

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Fashion retailer Penney’s has plans to embark on the Italian market, eyeing up potential stores. Known as Primark to UK consumers, has plans to open three Italian stores next year. It is believed that the first Italian store will open North West of Milan in Summer 2016.

Primark opened in France 18 months ago and have had success across all French operations. The first French store opened in Marseilles 2013 and the second in Dijon 2014. This is believed to have been an encouraging factor in opening Italian stores. They currently operate 250 stores across Europe in 8 countries and are one of the most revered fashion retailers.

With 38 stores branded as ‘Penneys’ across Ireland, they also have stores in Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Belgium and Austria.

Source: http://www.newstalk.com/Penneys-Primark-Italy-expansion-Marseilles-Dublin

Ownership change and redevelopment for Stephen Greens Shopping Centre

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Stephens Green Shopping Centre will undergo an expansive redevelopment as the centre’s ownership will change. Irish Life is currently the majority shareholder with 73%, will sell 35.4% of its interest with the expectation that it will trigger change. These include a new layout which will accommodate five large new fashion stores and a nine screen rooftop cinema.

Currently there are 90 shops over 3 levels which produces an annual income of €6.2 million and a further €2.2 million from the 1,200 space car park. However, over the years the shopping centre has failed to capitalise on its prime retail ground, residing on the top of Dublin’s most revered shopping avenue. Irish life has failed to invest in the shopping centre to date and have been reluctant to plough in funds. Currently there are a string of fashion traders waiting for suitable premises on Grafton Street.

One of the problems has been the over-reliance on kiosks, which drown floor space and continually grow in numbers, currently standing at 20. The new ground floor layout will include a central pedestrian aisle and more spacious outlets, utilising centre space.

The current owners of the centre have already secured planning permission to develop a €10 million, nine-screen cinema on the roof of the centre, with a seating capacity of 1,612. It will be the only cinema in the south inner city. The opening of the cinema was to have coincided with a remodelling of the second floor to accommodate a wide range of restaurants and coffee outlets.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/ownership-change-for-stephen-s-green-shopping-centre-1.2276461

Vodafone to create 200 new jobs in Dublin

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Vodafone, the telecom giant is to invest €200 million in a new European Sales Centre that will create 200 new jobs in Dublin. The centre will be named ‘Red Edge’ and will supply expertise in specialised sale capabilities for business customers across Ireland, The UK and The Netherlands. It will see Vodafone’s employee numbers, direct and indirect, grow to 2,000.

Recruitment is believed to already be underway for these jobs. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in attendance at the announcement. He said “The government is working hard to rebuild a sustainable enterprise led economy, which is a prerequisite for full employment. Today’s new jobs highlight Ireland’s attractiveness as a location where companies have access to a talented and highly skilled work force.”

They say that Ireland was chosen, following a “thorough evaluation process”, for the location of the centre primarily because of “the access to a large pool of the country’s highly skilled and talented graduate population”.

Dixons Carphone to launch in the US

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

UK Retailer Dixons Carphone has announced their intent to launch in the US market. They will pair with American telecomm provider Sprint. The deal is believed to be a lucrative pairing between both parties. Dixons Carphone was created last year, with the merge of consumer electrical giant Dixons and mobile phone retailer and operator Carphone Warehouse.

Dixons Carphone operate as one of the largest retailers in the UK and owns brands such as Currys and PC World. Sprint is one of the State’s biggest mobile phone operators.

Dixons Carphone will initially provide ‘mobile phone retail expertise and proprietary knowledge’ to Sprint as it opens 20 preliminary stores in the US. The trial of the 20 branded Spirit shops, if successful, will see the pair embark on an equal ownership venture. Each will control a buy-in cost of £20.5 million to Dixons Carphone with the intention to roll out 500 new Sprint branded stores across the country.

Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO, said: “We are excited to partner with Dixons Carphone and to leverage all their know-how as one of the world’s leading wireless retailers to benefit Sprint and its customers.

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1511928/dixons-carphone-and-sprint-in-us-stores-deal