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A 95% occupancy level at Buttercrane Centre has helped produce a bumper December for the popular Newry shopping centre, with footfall returning to better than post pandemic levels and exceeding Dec 2021 figures by 10%.
Centre Manager Peter Murray in his end of year review said ‘We welcomed five lettings in November bringing occupancy levels to 95%. These included Superdrug, Boots Opticians, Home, Ivy Lane and BPerfect. This, combined with an already attractive retail mix in the scheme, enhanced the overall appeal of Buttercrane both locally and regionally and yielded positive results.
“Our anchor tenants, Sports Direct, LIDL, and Primark are dominant value sector retailers and this has served Buttercrane well set against the backdrop of economic challenges for many homes, when many customers are actively seeking extra value for money.”
The Centre also offers a range of fashion stores including Dunnes DV8, Louis Boyd, Vila, VeroModa Yours Clothing, Jack & Jones and Quiz Clothing among others delivering fashion forward looks for style fans.
In light of the cost of living crisis this winter, Buttercrane look a number of steps to add value, including a free Santa Experience, running a £5k Giveaway throughout December in addition to supporting a local Food Bank and Charity Toy Appeal. In addition School Choirs and local musical groups were on mall to entertain visitors during December - all of these initiatives added to the appeal of Buttercrane across the Greater Newry Area region and further afield with ROI trade standing at some 17%.
“Cross Border trade has always an important element of Buttercrane business and this final quarter was no different, with some 17% of visitors coming from as far as Dublin. These visits are valuable to the Centre as families make the trip a special seasonal shopping expedition, often spending considerably. They really are the icing on top of the Christmas cake,” Peter adds.
Reflecting on performance Peter said that despite challenging circumstances, he believed Buttercrane has traded strongly throughout December. “We are fortunate to have achieved what I believe is a great mix of retail and service offering, which has proved very popular at this time”.
Looking forward to 2023, Mr Murray said that there will be continuing challenges for customers from the cost of living crisis, particularly in Q1, alongside operational cost increments for retailer, “however, Buttercrane remains resilient and confident.”
“We have two new national retailers agreed and due to open by Q2, so the outlook for the future continues to be positive for Buttercrane Centre,” he added.
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A former engineer has turned his passion for traditional craftsmanship into a successful blacksmith business thanks to help from the Go For It programme in association with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) programme.
Robert Galbraith, from Downpatrick, decided to open Watershed Forge in 2022 after working as an engineer for 12 years. Having always enjoyed working with his hands, he got into blacksmithing after watching YouTube videos and taking lessons. That spurred his passion for the traditional craft and dreamt of one day having his own blacksmith workshop.
Robert explains: “When I realised that I could make money from doing what I love through the work that I was producing, I then wanted to better understand how I could make it into a business, so I contacted the Go For It programme to ask for advice on how I could make it a viable business opportunity.
“Whenever I launched Watershed Forge, I just felt like I had a lot of freedom and fulfilment from what I was doing. It was me pursuing my dream and allowing me to make it happen.
“For me, the best thing about owning your own business is being your own boss, you get to make the decisions day to day on what you want to do and the jobs you want to take on or don't want to take on.
“It’s just that freedom to decide. I get to choose my own hours, sometimes they're long, but they're for me and that's what's most important.”
Robert has already achieved a lot since opening the doors to his workshop and one of his proudest moments to date has been delivering a large-scale restoration project in Armagh city centre.
He launched Watershed Forge after taking part in the Go For It programme through Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The Go For It Programme is delivered free of charge by a team of experienced business mentors through Northern Ireland’s wide network of enterprise agencies. It provides expert advice and support to develop a business plan that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into commercial businesses.
“Go For It gave me a real understanding of what was required to run my very own business. I'd never done anything like this before and didn't understand overheads and outgoings. The business plan gave me the knowledge and insights to examine the levels of work I needed to deliver in terms of money coming in versus money going out.
“It gave me the skillset and confidence I needed to take that leap of faith to launch the business and the belief that I could make it successful. I would advise anybody looking to start their business to contact the Go For It programme and they will help you on the way!”
Councillor Michael Savage, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said: “I’m delighted to see Robert receive the necessary support through the Go For It programme to help him launch his very own traditional blacksmith's workshop in the heart of Downpatrick.
“It's an age-old tradition that he's helping keep alive in the region and the type of skilled restoration work he is bringing back to life is the highest of quality, so it’s great to see him fulfilling his dream of owning his own blacksmithing business and supporting the economic development of the District.
Joan O’Hara, Business Advisor with Down Business Centre added: “It was a real pleasure to work alongside Robert with the development of his business plan. He has so much passion for the craft and really wanted to continue the tradition with a viable business in the area. We helped guide and support him.
“We mentored Robert in the process of preparing a business plan, focusing on areas such as market research, financial planning, marketing, and goal setting. This provided him with a clear plan for the future of the business and helped him secure the premises that transformed his vision into a reality. It is fantastic to see Robert’s business thrive, and we wish him every success for the future.”
If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business contact the Go For It programme on: 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.
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A major Cross Border Trade Conference, jointly hosted by Newry and Dundalk Chambers will be held on Wednesday 8 March from 9am to 1pm at the Carrickdale Hotel. The free to attend Conference and will focus on future business opportunities and with sponsors including InterTradeIreland, has been launched for 2023. Sponsors including InterTradeIreland and case studies at the event will demonstrate how businesses, both North and South, have overcome significant challenges, using the supports available to navigate the changes in trade flows and identify opportunities for growth. Public Sector bodies from both sides of the border will set out their priorities for the region.
Speaking at the launch of the conference, Julie Gibbons, President of Newry Chamber said “The continued growth in cross-border trade, demonstrates the strong collaboration between business in NI and RoI. For businesses interested in trading cross-border, this is a must attend conference. It is an exciting time for the Newry/ Dundalk regions particularly, as we are set to benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of investment through a number of initiatives including the Belfast Region City Deal, Peace Plus funding and Shared Island Fund Projects.
Paddy Malone, Public Relations Officer of Dundalk Chamber said “Our objective is to demonstrate the strength of cooperation that exists within the border economy. Businesses need to plan ahead. The conference programme includes a number of key specialists who will provide practical advice and support for border businesses. This region is well set to develop given the priority afforded to it from the 2040 Plan, M1 Corridor and the Shared Island initiatives of the Government.”
Margaret Hearty, CEO of InterTradeIreland said “InterTradeIreland is delighted to continue to sponsor the Newry and Dundalk Chamber’s annual cross-border conference. This year’s event which focuses on future opportunities in the cross-border economy will provide valuable insights, advice and guidance to businesses who are keen to grow.
“Against a backdrop of local and global uncertainty, at InterTradeIreland we’re supporting businesses to accelerate their export growth potential through our dedicated suite of Trade and Innovation programmes. This includes connecting them to an island wide network of partners and academics to broaden and deepen their enterprise innovation and capability, as well as tapping into opportunities available in emerging areas such as the circular economy, advanced manufacturing and transitioning to a low carbon economy. .”
The conference is also supported by Louth County Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Louth Local Enterprise Office and Skillsnet.
Other confirmed speakers include representatives from DKIT, Enterprise Ireland, AIB, Trinity College, DELI-LITES Ireland and Kaseya.
MC for the conference will be Broadcaster & Journalist, Mark Simpson.
The conference is FREE to attend but please register in advance at www.newrychamber.com
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A ten thousand square foot site at Carnbane in Newry has been acquired by global metal trading business Techemet to establish and grow operations here, creating multiple new jobs over the coming years.
The £2.1 million investment in the two 5,000 sq ft units at Carnbane Industrial Estate is being made by the Texas based company which offers a range of recycling and metal trading services for the recovery and management of platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, and silver.
Property agency Bradley NI, which has branches in Newry, Belfast, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, acted on behalf of Techemet, sourcing, negotiating and securing the premises for the US firm.
Following an off-market search, Bradley NI was able to secure the off-market purchase of the units which sit on a two-acre site near major businesses including Norbrook and MJM. This adds to facilities that the company already operates in Mexico, Italy, Canada, Brazil and England.
Garrett O’Hare, Managing Director of Bradley NI, said: “This is a very positive story for Newry, with a high-quality inward investor adding to the vibrancy of the local business community by investing here and creating jobs. Techemet has a 70-year heritage and is considered one of the world-leaders in its field. Bradley NI was pleased to act on the company’s behalf and to secure high-quality premises for it to establish a base in Northern Ireland.”
Bradley Mills, Managing Director of Techemet added: “We are excited to invest in Newry and Northern Ireland and are very grateful to Bradley NI for their expertise, support and professionalism. Our new premises provide us with a great base between Belfast and Dublin and in close proximity to the port at Warrenpoint. We look forward to being part of the local business community and to growing our team in Newry.”
Techemet’s new base in Newry will be used by the company to further enhance their reach into both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets, connecting already established European operations with their UK office in Tamworth and Global HQ in Texas.
For more check out www.bradleyni.com or www.techemet.com
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A Newry Dry Cleaners is to close after 40 years in business. County Cleaners was opened in Monaghan Street in the city by John Mackin, the father in law of present owner, Mark Wright. Wright has worked there for 15 years and took over the running of the business from Mackin just before COVID struck. During the pandemic the shop remained open but customers were few. Even though all the restrictions have since been lifted trade just hasn't returned to pre-covid levels, while costs have continued to soar.
The shutters will come down 31 January at the Monaghan Street premises. It's a far cry from when the shop was kept busy with people leaving in their 'good outfits', as well as business suits, dresses, school uniforms, towels for hairdressers and beauty salons and football team kits amongst many other items. When County Cleaners started, Christmas Eve would have been the busiest day of the year, with people calling in to collect their clothes to ensure they looked their very best over the festive season.
Wright explains "Christmas time we used to get a lot of people coming in with their good outfits. People don't really have their good outfits any more, it's a lot of cheap stuff. Young ones especially are buying cheaper clothes whereas the older generation still have their good coats and good suit. The young ones don't really have that so they're not coming into dry cleaners."
Many different initiatives and campaigns were tried at County Cleaners to boost trade unfortunately without success. He believes to survive, a business like his would need to be doing four or five things at the same time, things like dry cleaning, key cutting, shoe mending etc.
County Cleaners was part of West End Stores at the end of Monaghan Street and so much has completely changed there over the years. Gone are all the family businesses, the butchers, the blind shop, the clothes shop, the shoemakers.
There were many factors considered when the decision to close County Cleaners was taken. Electric bills have more than doubled in price, cost of supplies have increased a lot and while rates relief helped during the pandemic, that assistance has now ended. A trend towards more casual wear is obviously another contributary factor.
"It's been hard to get the business back up to the levels it was before COVID. I think there's a lot of people still working from home, business and office people who still working remotely from home. Wearing a suit to work has died down, people are dressed more casually to go to work." Wright explains.
In the current climate people are also more thrifty with their money and dry cleaning is perhaps seen as a luxury.
Doing the annual end of year accounts in December past confirmed to him, if he needed any confirmation, that spending 60 hours a week working for a low wage with family committments just isn't feasible. Even with the minimum wage he'd be better off working for someone else.
"We were doing the books just before Christmas for the accountant. It's not losing money, it's not making money, but I can't get any money out of it so there's no way for me to pay the mortgage etc. If I was working minimum wage, I'd be better off, for the hours I'm doing." he said.
County Cleaners would like to convey appreciation and thanks to all their customers for their support and friendship over their 40 years. Wright also expressed thanks to John Mackin, his father in law and the Mackin family for all their support and help over the years.
Many local family run businesses are struggling in the current climate. Please try and support them as much as you can.
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A company that established an office in Newry in 2014 celebrated 45 years in business last month. McGahon Surveyors, with offices in Newry and Dundalk was set up in 1977 in Dundalk, by Damien McGahon and has been going from strength to strength over the past four and a half decades. The team provide Quantity Surveying and Cost Consultancy services to the Public and Private Sectors in the fields of Health, Education, Housing, Sport & Leisure, Commercial and Civic.
The office in Dundalk has continued to grow and develop from its inception in the town in 1977. To build on this growth, and establish cross border links, the firm established an office in Newry in 2014 which has gone from strength to strength. The two offices collaborate on many projects with the Newry office solely responsible for delivering McGahon’s NI portfolio of work.
Joe Beggs, Managing Director of McGahon’s Surveyors said, “We are delighted to be celebrating this milestone. I have worked under the McGahon brand name for over two decades. Originally established by Damien McGahon, the brand equity and reputation that has been built up by the team over the years on both sides of the border is invaluable. We are proud to continue to retain the name and build upon that reputation by offering a quality and professional service.
We are proud to have such a long-established history in Dundalk and across Ireland, based on the quality of our work and the quality of our people. It is great to share this milestone with our team and indeed to accept the many good wishes from our clients and stakeholders. It is equally important to acknowledge the place our Newry office now has in our Company, especially given recent issues surrounding Brexit and the Protocol. We continue to work seamlessly across all of our projects which is testament to our staff and Design Team partners across Ireland.”
Donal Mooney, Director of the Company said, “We employ 25 people across the organisation and I would like to thank our team for their dedication and commitment to service excellence. We are working on our strategic direction for the future, and we look forward to continued growth in the years ahead.”
McGahon Surveyors is based at St. Colman’s Park in Newry and Quayside Business Park in Dundalk.
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Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership is offering local employers and residents the opportunity to come together at a Job Fair in Downpatrick. The event takes place in Down Leisure Centre on Thursday 9 March 2023.
Providing a platform for businesses across the district to promote a range of vacancies, the Newry, Mourne and Down Job Fair will entice those interested in starting, progressing or shifting to the career they aspire to.
Labour Market Partnerships, which create targeted employment action plans for council areas, are funded by the Department for Communities, and allow for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work.
Launching the Job Fair at Down Leisure Centre, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “This is undoubtably a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to promote their vacancies and for individuals to seek out a new job or to find out about the variety of supports available to develop into a particular role.
“It is vital that we support economic development across the Council area to retain and develop the talent pool of our residents. I encourage anyone eager to fill a vacancy or indeed secure a vacancy, to get themselves to Downpatrick on Thursday 9 March”.
With a large number of multi sectoral vacancies available with employers based in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, from full-time to part-time, and flexible and casual roles, our global, local and family-owned businesses will be on hand to engage with participants regarding available opportunities.
Attendees can avail of one-on-one support and advice on finding a job, writing a CV, and preparing for interview from local support agencies including the Careers Service and local Job and Benefits Offices. Local Further Education Colleges and the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership will have information stands about training available to help people secure jobs as well as to support businesses with their recruitment, employment, and training needs.
The Newry, Mourne and Down Job Fair is free to attend on a drop-in basis from 10am to 2pm.
Employers wishing to exhibit should register their interest by emailing business@nmandd.org by Thursday 16 February 2023 to secure one of a limited number of places available.
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Paul Slevin, Branch Manager at Bank of Ireland Newry, recently welcomed customers and representatives from local community organisations to take a tour of the newly modernised branch at Trevor Hill followed by a reception. Speakers included Branch Manager Paul Slevin; George Higginson, Director for NI Partnerships and Mortgages, Bank of Ireland; Jacinta Linden, Bolster Community and Peter Fitzsimmons, Warrenpoint Golf Club.
The refurbishment is part of the £7m investment in branches and new technology services in Northern Ireland.
Those in attendance included representatives from a range of commercial and community organisations, including Warrenpoint Golf Club, Bolster Community, Newry Chamber of Commerce, Surefreight, MJM Marine and St Mark’s High School.
During the event, guests heard more about the longstanding history of the branch as well as the refurbishment and the Bank’s continued commitment to serving its customers and the wider community across the Newry and South Down area.
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Architectural practice Gray Design has been appointed by Specsavers Ireland to upgrade and deliver over 30 new stores across the island of Ireland.
Newry based Gray Design, which also has offices in Dublin and Belfast, will join the Specsavers Ireland team as a designer and project manager and will be responsible for designing new stores, relocations, rebrands, and expansions.
Specsavers is bringing its Ireland stores up to date since the covid pandemic first began and, with the help of Gray Design, intends to include Hearing Centres in many of its new and existing locations.
Barry Gray, CEO and Co-Founder of Gray Design said “We are delighted to be able to share the news of this exciting new partnership with a global brand such as Specsavers.
“We will be responsible for detailed design services and full project management, from start to finish, and will be collaborating with the Specsavers Ireland team to deliver brand new stores and refurbishments to existing stores.”
“We have already begun work on a number of Specsavers stores, and we hope to begin site work on several of these projects within the next few months.”
This year Gray Design will celebrate 16 years in business, has extensive experience in all major sectors including commercial, conservation, retail, housing, transport, and leisure and is well-known for delivering high-quality services from residential extensions to multi-million-pound commercial schemes.
To learn more about Gray Design visit www.graydesignltd.co.uk
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