Five Irish Shopping Centres sold for €175million

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The record for the biggest sale of retail space in Ireland has been set at €175 million, after the sale of five retail parks. Investment firm Davidson Kemper have bought 1.1 million sq ft across five different counties. Estate agents Savills who handled the sale said that there was domestic and international interest.

The five properties were:

Nutgrove Retail Park - Image via Irish Times

Nutgrove Retail Park – Image via The Irish Times.

Tullamore Retail park

Tullamore Retail Park, Offaly – Image via The Irish Times

deerpark

Deerpark Retail Park, Killarney, Kerry – Image via The Irish Times

sligo

Sligo Retail Park – Image via The Independent

 

letterkenny

Letterkenny Retail Park Donegal – Image via The Irish Times

Source: http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/retail-record-sale-2451207-Nov2015/

Urban Outfitters buy Italian restaurant chain

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Urban Outfitters, best known for their clothing and homewares have bought an Italian restaurant chain. The retailer also known as UO, have made a bold move in diversifying their portfolio by purchasing the Vetri Family group of restaurants.

UO, which is based in Philadelphia has 2 Irish stores in Dundrum Town Centre and Temple Bar, Dublin 2. The price has not been released, but the sale was confirmed yesterday. Certain UO stores already have an in-store food offering with cafes, but the acquisition of a restaurant chain is an unusual move for the fashioned focussed retailer.

It is believed that Urban Outfitters will help expand the restaurants to a wider audience while the Vetri family focuses on the food.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/urban-outfitters-buys-italian-restaurant-chain-1.2432208

Aislinn Lea, Head of Fashion & Non-Food, Excel Recruitment

My Journey Into Recruitment – Aislinn Lea

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What titles did you hold while working in Retail?

Retail Store Manager

Area Merchandising Manager

How does it compare going from working in Retail to a Recruitment environment?

Retail and Recruitment are very different industries. With Recruitment, you are confined to the one spot in an office, it is a very administrative business and you are only really measured on your sales which is driven through your relationships with your Clients and your Candidates

With Retail, you have a wide range of duties and accountabilities, it is far more creative and commercial where you are constantly looking to drive business through a variety of areas, People, Product, Merchandising, Standards and Costs. However once you have loved retail, recruitment taps in on this as you will thoroughly enjoy learning about a company, understanding their business requirements and passing this knowledge and understanding of a business to your candidate.

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

Visual Merchandising and Commercial success

What is your favourite aspect of working in Recruitment?

My favourite aspect of Recruitment is when I found myself really busy with a lot of live roles. I love filling roles and achieving that goal of finding the right candidate for the client.

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

Yes, there is a lot more quality candidates however there is also a lot more jobs therefore I am finding that candidates are often out for 2/3 interviews at one time.

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

Not too many jumps on their c.v is the main thing I would be conscious off.

 

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

I have had a few great placement that I would consider memorable for a variety of reasons.

Gary. I placed as a Territory Sales Manager with a relatively new client. Why, because he listened to all my feedback and took everything on board, he researched, practised and proved to our client that what he didn’t have in experience he had in enthusiasm, energy and ambition.

Fran. I placed Fran as Regional Manager with one of the largest mobile telecomm. operators in Ireland. I spent 6 months on this placement and was up against 3 other agencies. Fran was fantastic, she showed her enthusiasm and energy time and time again through each assignment asked of her throughout the interview process

Mari. I placed Mari as Department Manager with the a luxury Irish retail group. Mari has being trying so hard to get into the Retail Fashion Industry. She is an award winning grocery retailer however was finding it very difficult to get an interview with any Fashion house, that is until the our client group offered her an interview and ultimately loved her and offered her the position.

A young sales assistant aspires to be a Retail/Area Manager – Buyer/Senior Buyer. Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

I think for a Young Sales Assistant looking to progress to Retail Area Management I would suggest you put in the work, studies, long hours and be as flexible as you can with regards to location when you are young and energetic therefore availing of all the opportunities and training afforded to you at the beginning of your career.

Listen and take on board any criticism, compliments and training offered and always be looking to improve yourself and let your employer know where you see yourself down the road.

My Journey Into Recruitment – Sarah Hurley

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Sarah Hurley oversees Head office and Buying roles. Below, Sarah takes us through how she got into recruitment.

What titles did you hold while working in Retail?

Trainee Buyer, Assistant Buyer, Senior Assistant Buyer, Junior Buyer.

 

How does it compare going from working in Retail to a Recruitment environment?

Coming from a buying perspective it’s not as fast paced and probably more service focused.

 

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

Developing product and analysing sales performance were my favourite.

 

What is your favourite aspect of working in Recruitment?

Keeping candidates and clients mutually happy.

 

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

Perhaps more Ecommerce candidates are applying and also more Ecommerce jobs are being registered with us.

 

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

Keep it simple/ My ideal CV has a short personal profile that sums the candidate up and describes main objective for their career, followed by career summary, education, IT skills (computer programs and systems you can use well) and then any relevant interests. CV’s on Word are preferred as PDF’s can often at time be difficult to format if we need to.

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

One candidate we worked with wanted to get into a trainee merchandiser role. She had great experience but was struggling with nerves at interview and her relevant skills and knowledge weren’t getting across. We spent time with her going through her CV, practising interview questions and any potential difficulties she might come across. Long story short – she got the job and we’re all delighted for her!

 

A young sales assistant aspires to be a Retail/Area Manager – Buyer/Senior Buyer. Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

If the company they work for has a head office here in Ireland then it would make sense to see if they offer any entry level buying or merchandising schemes depending on which function you wish to get into. For any head office roles, it is pretty imperative to gain some office experience so you can brush up on your IT skills and work in a fast paced environment.

130 Jobs saved at Best Menswear

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Best Menswear will exit examinership on Friday, November 13th. 130 retail jobs have been saved after the approval of the examiners scheme in court. Best fell into examinership in July of this year as part of the fallout from the Clerys closure. Best are one of many concessions who are owed money by OCS Operations Ltd which ran the department store. The figure is approximated of being between €1.5 – €2million.

Best said that the closure of their Clerys concession placed an enormous strain on company cash flow. Almost all Best Menswear stores will continue to trade and no indications have been given about store closures. Best have stores in pinnacle retail centres including Dundrum Town Centre, Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown and Swords.

MD of Best, David Jones said ‘We are delighted to be set to successfully exit examinership on Friday. The process has facilitated Best Menswear reaching agreements with our creditors and, together with the adoption of a range of cost control measures, we now look forward to a bright future’.

Nikki Murran, Excel Recruitment's Director of Grocery Retail Recruitment

My Journey Into Recruitment – Nikki Murran

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What titles did you hold while working in Retail?

I started my career working in our family Spar stores, so my first title was probably floor sweeper or shelf packer! I worked up to Junior Manager and Store Manager there and then moved to Lidl as a Trainee District Manager and then spent 5 years with Lidl as a Sales Operation Manager.

 

How does it compare going from working in Retail to a Recruitment environment?

It actually has so many similarities that I was very surprised when I made the move. Both are very customer focused, fast paced and target driven! Obviously the main difference for me was the move from being out on the road to being stationed in an office! But between client visits, head hunting trips and away recruitment days I’ve never felt too stagnant! I used to miss the buzz of a shop floor on a busy morning, getting the store prepared for opening but that has been replaced by the buzz of placing great candidates in great roles!!

 

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

I loved my staff. I loved developing them and recognising talent and growing it. Another one of my favourite things in retail was achieving KPIs across my stores and growing sales by focusing on trends, standards and displays. I also loved the customers!

 

What is your favourite aspect of working in Recruitment?

Well I love my team! I love seeing how much they have grown since joining us. I love dealing with clients and still getting those snapshots into the retail world and see how the market is moving and changing all the time. And obviously I really enjoying identifying talent and bringing that talent to our clients knowing they will make a real difference to their bottom line.

 

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

I think the applications are pretty consistent this year versus last year. But I have noticed a lot more counter offers coming back to candidates – something that had been pretty non-existent in the last few years!

 

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

This is a difficult one as a CV really only tells half the tale. I do look for strong brands, progression and longevity in each role.

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

My very first one of course! He was a Baker from New Zealand who had just arrived in Ireland. Some of the most rewarding ones have been where clients have asked me to garner them really top talent and I was able to do this but also being able to secure a role for a candidate who had been out of employment for a while.

 

A young sales assistant aspires to be a Retail Area Manager Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

Ask questions – Lot and lots of questions! I never stop doing this. No matter how long in a role or company you can always learn more.

Educate yourself – if you’re not in a position to go get a degree or qualification, then read everything you can about the market and industry – keep yourself up to date – again this is something I always do!

Be the master of your own destiny! Don’t wait around for training, go get it, ask for it, do it in your own time, approach your managers, friends, neighbours, relatives in the industry and get as must knowledge as you can.

Be reliable and consistent. Even as you start out as a sales assistant it’s so important to start working on your professional reputation as a hardworking, reliable employee from the very beginning.

Use Excel Recruitment when it’s time for each move! We are the No. 1 Retail Recruitment agency in Ireland and are very good at what we do!

A little more advice than 4 sentences 🙂

Retail Jobs | Open Day | I BELIEVE Christmas Market Jobs

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

*Update. Excel Recruitment are the exclusive recruitment partners for the I BELIEVE Village and Event taking place this Christmas in CHQ Dublin. The event will run from November 26th to December 23rd. With the best of Irish Shopping, dining and entertainment in one location it is the place to be and the ‘go to’ event this Christmas.

As part of an extensive recruitment drive, Excel Recruitment are holding an open day in the CHQ Building on Tuesday November 17th. Anyone interested in these jobs are asked to attend, with 100+ jobs currently available, full and part time.

Applicants should bring with them a current CV, working visa (if applicable) and any Manual Handling / HACCP certs. The open day takes place between 1pm – 4pm in CHQ Building. Walk in applicants are also invited.

The I BELIEVE Recruitment Team at Excel.

CHQimage (6)

Selfridges have bought Arnotts department store

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

UK Group Selfridges have acquired Arnotts department store for an undisclosed fee. Founded in 1843, the iconic retail store that resides on Henry Street North Dublin, is now under the ownership of Canadian businessman Galen Weston and his wife Hilary.

Arnotts is Ireland’s largest department store and its sale has been under intense speculation for a number of months. Weston also boasts Brown Thomas amongst his retail portfolio, as well as a number of International department stores.

The sale is part of a wider agreement which saw an agreement Fitzwilliam Finance Partners between and Wittington Canada. The former was set up in 2011 by Irish lawyer and developer Noel Smyth, whose intention was to acquire the debts associated with Arnotts debt. Wittington Canada is the holding company for the Weston group. The purchase of these loans by Wittington Canada from Fitzwilliam Finance Partners was cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in August, clearing the way for the acquisition.

Arnotts chief executive Ray Hernan will step down as chief executive to “pursue new opportunities” with Selfridges appointing Donald McDonald as managing director of the business. Mr Weston said of the sale “Our family has been a significant investor in Irish retailing and the wider economy since we acquired Brown Thomas in 1971.”

 

Rounding to begin in Ireland on October 28th

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Rounding will be rolled out across Ireland on Wednesday October 28th. In a measure to curtail the circulation on 1c and 2c coins, change on cash transactions will be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents. 1c and 2c will remain legal tender however, and rounding only applies to change on a final till amount.

  • An example:
    • If the change amount is 67c, then round the amount down to 65c.
    • If it is 68c, round it up to 70c.

Countries that use rounding include Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Norway and Sweden. Rounding was trialled in Wexford in 2013 and found 100% and 83% of merchants and consumers respectively favoured the measure. Rounding is being introduced to reduce the needs of producing 1c and 2c coins, often a hindrance to consumers, with the majority of those issued not actually in circulation. Furthermore, the cost of production actual exceeds the coins true value (1.7cent to produce a 1cent coin)

For more info visit www.betterallround.ie

My Journey Into Recruitment – Sean Thomas

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What types of jobs did you work at in grocery retail?

I started as a sales assistant in Supervalu Hartstown then joined my local Dunnes Stores for 4 years. I re-joined my old Supervalu as a Trainee Manager when I was 19, which had turned into a Eurospar by then. I became an Assistant Manager for Eurospar for 3 years and then later join Superquinn as a department manager.

 

How does it compare going from working in grocery to a recruitment environment?

Not much has changed, it both requires a passion for what we do and strong inter personal skills.

 

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

I enjoy the fast paced atmosphere, the customers and the sense of achievement when completing my job.

 

What is your favourite aspect of working in recruitment?

I enjoy the pressure! We’re constantly striving to go above and beyond, keeping up the high expectation of candidates we send out and preparing candidates for interviews.

 

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

I’m seeing excellent candidates come through, with excellent level of management experience with good education backgrounds behind them. More than ever, I’ve noticed that this year.

 

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

  • Good longevity
  • Career progression with good company brand names such as Eurospar and Supervalu etc.

 

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

I had a candidate who had been made redundant by his local Supermarket, like many others. He was an experienced manager, had excellent references and a qualified butcher, with good length of service in each job. Due to not having a brand named supermarket behind him we initially found it hard to place him. But due to us having good relationships with our clients, he was given the chance to become a fresh food manager with this large branded supermarket and has been in this store the last 7 months. I have been in touch with him quite recently and he stated that he can’t believe he did not find this place sooner, as the professionalism and store set up is much far advanced as to what he dealt with in the past and is loving his new role. There is a big sense of satisfaction when you know you get the right fit for both parties!

A young sales assistant aspires to be a retail/area manager. Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

  • Get a Degree in some related business course
  • Get on the job management experience in a large fast paced environment
  • Always be professional in everything you do.
  • Be nice, it’s nice to be nice!