Write a comment
This Christmas it would appear that shopping footfall in Newry has improved on last year as shopping habits were affected by the mid week Christmas Day.
Buttercrane Shopping Centre Manager Peter Murray said: “Christmas falling on a Wednesday certainly changed the shoppers habits pushing spend further into December as many people had the confidence to ‘hold off’ buying until the final countdown to Christmas.
“The weekend before Christmas saw huge numbers coming to the city and to Buttercrane and many of our retailers have reported that Monday the 23rd December delivered their best trading day in years which is very positive.
“Pre Christmas sales in three different chain stores offering 20-40% off also offered great value and drove shopper numbers,” Peter added.
Buttercrane also reported record sales of Gift Cards in December – in part due to their successful £500 daily giveaway which 1000s of people entered and Newry woman Bernadette McCrink won the final £2500 prize on Christmas Eve.
“Obviously we won’t know the full extent of how footfall has translated into spend until we run our Jan review but it certainly appears positive for Buttercrane retailers at the close of the year,” Peter concluded.
Write a comment
Following the excesses of Christmas and with New Year’s resolutions fresh in people’s mind, Newry Chamber is hosting "Fit for Business" a unique business networking event providing delegates with all the information, support and encouragement they require to lead a healthy lifestyle in 2014. The event will take place at the Well Fit Café on the 15th of January 2014 from 5.30pm-7pm.
It has been scientifically proven that there is a direct correlation between stress, diet, cholesterol and health. A healthy lifestyle not only has an impact on your personal wellbeing, it also has a positive impact on your business and working life.
At this event, delegates will here the latest health and wellbeing advice from industry experts. Tom Hughes from the Well Fit Café will offer advice on good nutrition and eating a balanced diet. Maria Morgan from Crossfit Newry will advise on how to keep active even with a busy schedule. Mary Doran from Health Matters will be discussing how to effectively deal with and manage stress. Work related stress is a major issue; it can cause serious illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence and staff turnover. Effective management of stress is essential for a healthy working environment.
At this event, a light buffer supper will be served courtesy of the Well Fit Café. Delegates will also be offered free blood pressure tests and cholesterol checks from Health Matters with BMI and body fat readings available from Curves Newry.
Exhibitors at the event include, Harvest Health Store and Curves Newry.
This event is FREE of charge for Newry Chamber members and £10pp for non members. Booking is essential. Please log on to www.newrychamber.com or call (028) 3025 0303 to book your place at this event.
Write a comment
Minister of Finance Simon Hamilton will be guest speaker at the upcoming ‘Let’s Talk’ Business Lunch organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade.
The lunch will take place in the Canal Court Hotel on Wednesday the 29th of January.
Newry Chamber is inviting members of the local business community to attend this important event to hear from the Minister of Finance about his plans to rebuild the Northern Ireland economy.
President Deborah Loughran, Newry Chamber of Commerce stated, ‘we are delighted to host this important business lunch and networking event for our members and the wider business community. The economic environment poses both challenges and opportunities for local businesses; it is therefore vital that local business leaders gain an insight as to how the Assembly is dealing with economic challenges, helping businesses exploit opportunities and proactively engage with senior political representatives on the issues that affect the greater Newry area’.
This event is generously sponsored by Autoline Insurance Group. Mr Michael Blaney of Managing Director of Autoline Insurance Group stated, ‘Autoline is delighted to support Newry Chamber of Commerce in hosting this important event. As an indigenous Newry company, Autoline is keen to promote engagement between the local business community and Minister Simon Hamilton. We look forward to what promises to be a very interesting event.’
To reserve a place at this event please contact Newry Chamber office on; Tel: 028 3025 0303; or email: info@newrychamber.com. Tickets are £20 for Newry Chamber members, £30 non Chamber members. (Price includes a four course lunch).
Write a comment
The 2014 Cross Border Business Support Expo is happening at the Carrickdale Hotel on Thursday the 30th of January.
The event is jointly hosted by Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and is supported by InterTradeIreland, Louth County Enterprise Board and the Business Support Unit of Louth Local Authorities.
Are you in business and want to know about the support you can obtain? What business grants you can apply for? Which funded programmes will help you grow your business? Do you need to secure finance? Thinking of entering new markets? Do you need help on how to survive? Are you looking to expand and/or recruit? Want to start your own business? Are you unsure of where to look for guidance, support and advice?
If the answer is ‘YES’ to any of these questions the Cross Border Business Support Expo should be very useful. It runs from 9.30am until 1pm.
All the Business Support Agencies catering for the needs of businesses located within the Newry Dundalk region will be exhibiting at this unique event. This event will provide an ideal opportunity for local businesses to speak to all relevant Business Support Agencies in one morning, on a one-to-one basis, under one roof!
Orla Jackson, Chief Executive of Newry Chamber of Commerce stated, ‘we are delighted to co-host this joint Chamber Cross Border event with InterTradeIreland once again. There is an array of business support programmes currently offered to small businesses; however, there is some confusion within the business community about where to look for this support and exactly what they can avail of. In this challenging economic climate local businesses need to take advantage of all support opportunities afforded to them. The aim of this event is to provide a forum where businesses can find out all they need to know about the support they can and should avail of’.
Mr Paddy Savage, Operations Manager, InterTradeIreland, stated ‘Cross-border trade presents businesses with an invaluable opportunity to increase their sales, develop new markets and benefit from all-island expertise and innovation.
We encourage all SMEs from Newry and Dundalk and the surrounding areas to attend this event to see exactly what opportunities are available and how to access them.’
Confirmed exhibitors at the event include, InterTradeIreland, Invest NI, Newry & Mourne District Council, Louth County Council, Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency, Southern Regional College, Department of Employment & Learning, Louth Regional Development Centre, Enterprise Ireland, EURES, Employability Louth, all of the main lending institutions, plus many more.
This event is open to all businesses in the Newry Dundalk region. Entry is free of charge. It will operate on a ‘business drop-in clinic’ format; whereby business representatives can call in to the event at any stage between the hours of 9.30am to 1pm on the 30 January. To register for the event or if you require further information, please email, Newry Chamber: info@newrychamber.com
Write a comment
New Year sales figures from Buttercrane Shopping Centre showed that the anticipated shopping rush the last week in December ‘saved’ many retailers and in their Annual Review Buttercrane reports that many retailers experienced positive year on year sales.
Data out last week from the Office of National Statistics shows that small stores experienced higher growth year-on-year than large stores with the amount spent in small stores increasing by 8.1% compared with 2.6% in large stores.
In December 2013, the amount spent in the retail industry increased by 6.1% compared with December 2012 and by 2.6% compared with November 2013.
Buttercrane Centre Manager Peter Murray said: “Applying this in a local context, we can certainly see from our figures that this is true of many of our tenants. Data for December sales performance shows that the anticipated late rush did come, giving retailers a major boost following a fairly flat mid month report.
“The year ended on a fairly positive note and while admittedly there are still challenges - from empty units and online sales - there are a number of positive figures to report,” said Peter.
As per the OSM report, smaller non-food stores are showing growth. Both phones and electrical are performing well in Buttercrane with the mobile in the centre topping their groups for Dec sales; jewellery and perfume sales were also up on last year. One new retailer to the centre achieved 28% above their set target for Nov/December while another fashion retailer reported a double digit increase in sales.
Peter says: “Those that did increase sales have cited a combination of factors including innovative use of multi-channel selling (such as click and collect) enhanced customer service, increase of ROI footfall, offers and social media promotions.
“This is a positive end to a challenging year. For 2014 we are focusing on securing a number of new brands and services and planning events for the centre which will appeal to our local customers and offer ‘more for the family’. We’re also commencing a major upgrade to our toilet facilities next month,” he added.
Write a comment
Wednesday's ‘Let’s Talk’ Business Lunch with Finance Minister Simon Hamilton attracted over 100 business delegates.
The lunch was hosted by the Newry Chamber of Commerce in the Canal Court Hotel.
President Deborah Loughran, Newry Chamber of Commerce stated, ‘we were delighted to host this important business lunch with one of Northern Ireland’s key decision makers. The onstage interview with the Minister conducted by political correspondent Tom Kelly provided an insight into the Assembly’s plans for rebuilding our economy and gave us a valuable opportunity to press the Minister on key issues affecting the greater Newry area and its business community’.
This event is generously sponsored by Autoline Insurance Group. Mr Michael Blaney of Managing Director of Autoline Insurance Group stated, ‘Autoline was delighted to support this business lunch. As an indigenous Newry company employing over 140 people, we value opportunities where we can lend our support to promoting investment in the area and engaging with key stakeholders whose decision’s impact on wider economy’.
Addressing the delegates, Finance Minister Simon Hamilton MLA said: “I am delighted to be in Newry today and wish to take this opportunity to thank the Chamber for organising this business lunch. Events such as this are a great opportunity to engage directly with local businesses on matters that are important to you.
“I also wish to extend my thanks to Autoline Insurance Group - a company that has experienced impressive growth and success in recent years - for sponsoring this event and I look forward to my visit there later today.”
Write a comment
Carnbane Business Park based firm MJM Interior Build have bought Antrim based business Mivan following news that Mivan had ceased trading on Monday past.
Family owned company MJM was established in 1983 and are a world leader in the refurbishment of Cruise Liners, Ferries, Public Buildings etc.
Their purpose built 100,000 square foot Carnbane plant can design and manufacture bespoke joinery items from many types of materials for the projects.
The international engineering company Mivan (No.1) Limited was sold yesterday to MJM Marine – this includes property, plant & equipment and the Mivan name.
MJM Managing Director Brian McConville commented: “MJM have built up a strong reputation as a global player in the industry and there are obvious synergies between our two operations. There are exciting opportunities ahead to re-establish the Mivan brand in existing and new international markets.”
Peter Allen of Deloitte, and Administrator of Mivan, commented: “We had initially hoped to achieve a sale of the business as a going concern, but this sale of the assets will provide an opportunity to continue the Mivan name and hopefully the Antrim facility. The assets have been sold as a package to a strong player in the industry – and potentially this will provide a platform for new jobs to be created.”
Peter Allen was appointed Administrator of Mivan (No.1) Limited (“Mivan”) on 10 January 2014. Mivan (No 1) Limited employed 289 people upon appointment and is the main trading company created from a restructuring of the group in 2012.
MJM have worked on many prestigious projects including the Cruise Liners Splendour of the Seas and Celebrity Infinity, Stenna Lines Superfast Ferry and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Write a comment
Over 300 business delegates attended a Cross Border Business Support Expo yesterday in the Carrickdale Hotel.
The event was hosted by Newry and Dundalk Chambers of Commerce and supported by InterTradeIreland, Louth County Enterprise Board and the Business Support Unit, Louth County Council.
President Deborah Loughran of Newry Chamber stated, ‘As joint organisers of this annual event, Newry Chamber was delighted with its success in terms of networking opportunities created and the opening of communication channels between local businesses and Support Agencies’.
‘There is a wide selection of business support programmes currently offered to small businesses; however, there is some confusion within the business community about where to look for support and exactly what businesses can avail of. In this evolving economic climate local businesses need to take advantage of all appropriate support opportunities open to them. This event provided a unique forum for business owners and managers to speak directly to all the local Business Support Providers on a one-to-one basis, on one day, under one roof’.
Over 35 Business Support Agencies catering for the needs of businesses located within the Newry Dundalk region exhibited at this Expo; exhibitors included, InterTradeIreland, EURES, Invest NI, Newry & Mourne District Council, Louth County Council, Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency, Southern Regional College, SOAR, Stem Project, Department of Employment & Learning, Louth Regional Development Centre, Enterprise Ireland, Employability Louth, all of the main lending institutions.
Mr Paddy Savage, InterTradeIreland, ‘InterTradeIreland was delighted to support this important cross – border business event again this year. We would like to take this opportunity to remind local companies that we currently have a range of support packages for businesses interested in doing cross – border business or looking for networking/ partnering opportunities across the island. Details are on our website intertradeireland.com’’
Write a comment
Newry firm First Derivatives expansion into Asia was discussed yesterday by Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster who met up with Burren native Kevin McGivern during her visit to Singapore.
The Minister is leading a delegation of Northern companies taking part in the Singapore Airshow, as part of the first ever UK and Ireland joint trade mission.
The Minister met Kevin in Singapore, where he is working on the establishment and development of a regional hub for the company’s expansion in Asia.
Arlene Foster said: “Clearly, Kevin’s decision to join First Derivatives has given him the opportunity to further his career development on the international stage.
“The company has impressive plans for expansion in Asia, and I welcome its commitment to giving graduates like Kevin the chance to be involved right at the heart of this exciting new chapter.
“The experienced gained here in Singapore and throughout Asia will undoubtedly stand him in good stead and I wish him well in his future career.”
Since establishing First Derivatives in Singapore, the company has worked to create strong links with the universities there. This has culminated in a collaboration with Singapore Management University (SMU) which will give students of SMU’s Financial IT Academy access to FD’s innovative Delta Stream technology.
This investment with academia is similar to the initiative First Derivatives has in place with Queen’s University, Belfast.
First Derivatives plc is a leading provider of software and consulting services to global investment banks, brokers, hedge funds and exchanges.
 |
 |
 |