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Newry based retailer the Rug House is taking its business to the next level with the launch of a new, state-of-the art website designed to enhance their global sales and drive exports.
The firm ships 3,000 rugs per week and is aiming to capitalise on worldwide sales through an enhanced site that they predict will boost profits four-fold in the next two years.
The firm, which currently ships their wares to more than 30 countries globally, want to boost their presence in new markets and have invested in a full redevelopment of their website which now features more than 6,000 rugs as well as multiple languages and currency options to meet the needs of their growing international customer base.
Paul Vallely, owner Rug House, said, “Our online business has been highly successful, but we knew we had to take it to the next level. This new site has been developed in direct response to client feedback and is both user friendly and highly responsive. We want to deliver more for our customers, both here in Northern Ireland and globally, and by integrating additional features such as currency conversion and multiple languages we will be able to drive forward the growth of the business and increase our exports.”
Started by brother and sister team Paul and Clare Vallely and now employing 23 full time staff in Newry, the new Rug House website will help the company enhance their exports and foreign sales further.
The team at the Rug House Newry were recently recognised for their exporting success at the DANI Awards and also won the coveted UTV Business Eye Award for SME of the Year believe that they must tap into both online and traditional retail to push for further growth.
To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of The Rug House's Showroom in Newry the firm are having a 20% sale of all rugs from Saturday 31st of October until Saturday 7th of November. Visit www.therughouse.co.uk for more.
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It really was a who's who of civic and business leaders that gathered in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry yesterday for a conference focusing on the ‘Brexit Debate’ a discussion on Britain’s potential exit from the European Union!
More that 200 delegates were hosted by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in association with the local business community.
Councillor Naomi Bailie, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council welcomed MP’s, MEP’s, MLA’s, Councillors, representatives from local schools as well as senior business and civic leaders to ‘The Big Debate’, which coincided with the launch of the Council’s Economic, Regeneration and Investment Strategy for 2015-2020 and the launch of its Foreign Direct Investment Smartphone App.
Speaking about the debate she said, “I am delighted that the Council in association with the local business community has taken the ‘Brexit Debate’ to the national stage by hosting this first major political debate, in the North of Ireland, on the economic implications of a vote that could potentially result in Britain leaving the EU. The potential impact on the North of Ireland exiting the European Union following the proposed Referendum in 2017 cannot be underestimated. With issues to be discussed including the impact on the Peace Process, the future economic prosperity of the region and border control with the south of Ireland, today kick starts the discussion on the pros and cons and the arguments for and against an exit.”
The event, which was hosted by Len O Hagan, Chair of NI Water, attracted high profile speakers and panellists from across the UK and Ireland including Dáithi O’Ceallaigh, Former Ambassador to the UK, UN and WTO, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Shadow Chancellor for Europe and Irwin Armstrong, former Chairman of the NI Conservative Party.
Pat McFadden MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Europe, to ‘The Big Brexit Debate’ said, “The decision on the United Kingdom’s future in Europe will be the biggest decision our country has taken in a generation. It will have an impact in terms of trade, investment and jobs. We will secure a better future for our people by keeping our seat at Europe’s top table rather than walking away from it. The better future is to play a leading role and influencing change rather than walking away and chasing a sovereignty that would see us the recipient of rules decided by others rather than by ourselves.”
The delegates were given their chance to voice their opinion on the argument as the event culminated in an audience Q&A with electronic voting on a number of issues which will form the basis of research for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to take the debate forward in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Irwin Armstrong, former Chair of the NI Conservative Party was critical of the EU and in his address made the case for an EU exit. He said, "The EU is no longer suited to the needs of its members and without substantial reform it will eventually fail. The UK needs to see that reform or Brexit will become the only viable option."
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who held the office of President of the European Council in 2004 was invited to discuss the relationship between the UK and Ireland as ‘good neighbours’. He said, “British and Irish membership of the European Union has been hugely important for Northern Ireland, both in terms of supporting the peace process and in helping develop its economy.
He also made the point about the impact a UK exit would potentially have on the Republic of Ireland. He said, “Britain is our most important trading partner. We trade over €1billion in goods and services every week. A British departure from the UK, and the uncertainty surrounding it, could have negative consequences for our economy.”
During the event Newry, Mourne and Down District Council launched its Enterprise, Regeneration and Investment Strategy 2015-2020 for the area, further details of which can be found on the Council website www.newrymournedown.org
The new Invest in Newry, Mourne and Down FDI App is now also available to download on Android, Apple, Windows and Blackberry Smartphones. Search for ‘Invest in Newry’ on the respective stores.
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Local business Finegan and Son in Newry was the location on Friday for the announcement of the result of the Newry BID campaign which will deliver nearly £2 Million of extra investment into the city over the next five years. Newry businesses who signed up for the campaign had 42 days to make up their mind on the proposals put forward. In the end an overwhelming yes vote has meant that Newry will now be designated a Business Improvement District.
Not only did stakeholders declare Newry a BID, the result places Newry as one of the top 15 BID ballot outcomes in the UK. Newry BID is Northern Ireland’s third BID area and Newry tops the poll here in terms of support for a BID.
The result was declared before a crowd of hopeful spectators by Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Naomi Bailie. Chairperson Bailie commended the BID Team on their hard work to achieve this result for Newry.
Transforming the city centre into a BID will deliver more than £1.8 million of additional investment over the next five years. In the last decade more than 200 BIDs have been established across the UK and last week, Belfast City declared the Belfast One BID following the Ballymena BID which was declared in March this year. A period of consultation conducted throughout the City by the Newry BID team made up of local stakeholders led to the development of the Newry BID business plan which sets out a 5 year economic plan for improving the City’s trading environment and raising its profile. A ballot conducted by the Electoral Reform Services showed that 87% of city centre businesses who voted were in favour of making Newry City a BID area.
The result symbolizes change for Newry City and will allow locally run city centre businesses a greater say in how the City is marketed, maintained and managed.
Sarah Henry Project Manager, of the Newry BID said: “I would like to thank all city centre businesses and stakeholders who actively supported the Newry BID and backed the process leading to such a fantastic, positive result. We did not expect such a high turnout and this has really given the BID Team the confidence to bring this project forward. To be ranked as one of the top 15 BID ballot results in the UK is something we should be really proud of.’
‘The Newry BID offers us a new and exciting opportunity and promotes collaboration between public and private sector in an innovative and proactive way. We want to see Newry City as multi-functional, diverse and social centre.’
Donna McConnell of Newry City Centre Management and the Newry BID Task Group said: “Partnership has always been a key driver in Newry and today’s result is testament to that. This is a strong vote of confidence from our business community and all stakeholders here and who clearly see the city’s potential for change.’’
Orla Jackson from Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade said that ‘The Chamber is delighted that the Newry BID has been supported and endorsed by the local business community and achieved a majority ‘YES’ vote in the BID ballot. The Newry BID offers local businesses a unique opportunity to have their say and invest in a wide range of programmes, events and activities that will promote Newry City as key location to visit, work and invest in.’’
The postal BID Ballot was run for 42 days from 25th September. Organised by the independent Electoral Reform Services (ERS), the BID ballot papers were sent out to eligible voters in the City Centre BID area.
Results
Yes by Number: 87%
Yes by Rateable Value: 92%
(A majority in terms of votes cast and rateable value is legally required for a BID to be voted in.)
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Newry based Re-Gen Waste Limited has secured its first major deal in Turkey with the help of Invest NI.
Established in 2002, Re-Gen Waste specialises in providing a service which incorporates the transfer, processing and sale of commingled mixed dry recyclable materials including selling recovered materials on to end markets. These include paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, steel cans, plastic bottles and hard plastics derived from household recyclables.
The deal, to supply a key Turkish distributor with plastic, is estimated to be worth £500,000 over the next four months.
The company currently employs 152 people at its headquarters in Newry.
Congratulating the company, Olive Hill, Invest NI’s Director of Trade said: “Our sustained economic growth will only come from enabling businesses to develop their global footprint and Re-Gen Waste is an excellent example of a company that, through an ambitious growth strategy, is achieving this.
“The company is fast becoming an export-led business that has been quick to identify and exploit the extensive business opportunities in a marketplace that is still growing.
“Re-Gen Waste recognised very early on in its market research that it could take several years to make an initial sale in Turkey and were therefore patient and prepared to invest the time to develop relationships in this important market.
Ms Hill concluded “This has reaped rewards and Invest NI will continue to work with the company to secure further successes into the future.”
The company’s headquarters is home to one of Europe’s most advanced Material Recovery Facilities with a capacity to process 160,000 tonnes of Commingled Mixed Dry Recyclables (MDR) and recently they have expanded to processing and the sale of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) & Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF).
Celine Grant, Sales Director at Re-Gen Waste said: “The waste industry here is saturated and in order to secure the future of our business we had to expand our horizons and look to overseas markets for new business.
“We benefitted from advice from Invest NI’s in-market consultants who were able to guide us on many things including the size of the Turkish market, language and etiquette, the culture in Turkey and building relationships with Turkish companies. This in turn gave us the confidence to achieve this new business.
Ms Grant added “In 2013 we participated on an Invest NI Trade Mission to Turkey which was hugely beneficial and started a journey which has seen us secure this deal today. Since then we have been on a further two Trade Missions to Turkey, plus several return visits, and it has taken us this time to build relationships with the right companies there and to learn how to adapt our marketing approach to suit potential clients.
“We are delighted with our results so far and we envisage significant growth opportunities arising in the waste and recycling sector in Turkey over the coming years. Importantly, we now have the expertise and knowledge to secure further business and build on our recent successes.”
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Newry firm First Derivatives has announced it’s interim results for the six months to 31 August with revenue up 44% over the previous six months to £53.8 Million, giving a profit before tax of £4.6 Million, also up 27% on the previous results.
A Software revenue growth of 87% has been made possible by multi-year investment in software and new clients within financial services markets.
Further growth and strategic progress in consulting, with increased scale and broader expertise has also resulted in revenue growth of 28%.
The strategic acquisitions of Affinity Systems and ActivateClients for a combined initial consideration of £7.1m is also generating positive results in the digital marketing and utilities sectors.
Commenting on the results First Derivatives Chairman, Seamus Keating said “This was another period of strong progress across the Group. Our consulting division delivered revenue growth of 28% and during the period a number of initiatives laid the foundations for FD to continue our remarkable track record of more than 20% per annum growth in consulting revenue. Although we remain at an early stage of full commercialisation of our software products we are pleased to report an impressive 87% growth in software revenue as we continued to penetrate our key target markets in the period.
“The positive performance in the first half of our financial year has continued into the second half and the high visibility within both consulting and software gives the Board confidence that the Group expects to meet market expectations for the full year. We will continue to invest to position ourselves to benefit from our software’s technology lead, to build upon this and look to convert our pipeline of opportunities within capital markets and other sectors. We continue to believe the work and investments we have made, along with our market positioning in both consulting and software, provide a strong platform to meet our exciting growth ambitions.”
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Deli Lites Monaghan Street and Warrenpoint stores are hosting a ‘Giving Friday’ event next Friday 20 November where every pound spent by customers will be donated to four local charities.
As part of Deli Lites commitment to raise £20k for 20 years in business, Deli Lites Monaghan Street, Newry and Warrenpoint stores will host ‘Giving Friday’ in aid of their nominated charities; Macmillian; Children’s Cancer Care, Diabetes Association and Special Olympics. All monies that ring through the tills will be donated, with no deductions.
Siobhan Connolly explains: “Earlier this year Deli Lites pledged to raise £20k for charity to mark their 20th anniversary and we have achieved 50% of our target to date. We’d like to thank our staff for their commitment and our suppliers for their generous support of this event which means that every penny customers spend in our Warrenpoint and Monaghan Street store on the 20th November will be given directly to the charities.”
Customers can get involved by making sure they visit our stores on Friday 20th November, for breakfast, lunch or place an outside catering order. You can pre order a platter of sandwiches or cake for the office or home by telephoning 028 3025 1071 in advance. Both Newry and Warrenpoint stores will open to 9pm on Friday night with live music in the evening.
“It won’t cost you any extra – the only difference is that on Friday 20th November, the money you spend on your normal order will be given by Deli Lites direct to our nominated charities,” Siobhan adds.
Full details on Deli Lites facebook page
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Seven new brands and some £3.725 million investment in new shop fit and expansion will result in the creation of 120 new jobs for Buttercrane Shopping Centre one of Ireland's best known retail destinations.
Anchored by M&S, Dunnes and Primark, the announcement is a major coup for Buttercrane’s letting agents Lambert Smith Hampton who have secured VILA; VERO MODA; name it; Jack & Jones; The Works; specialist toy store Order Sixty Six; and plus size brand Yours in recent months.
New lettings into larger premises have also been secured for existing centre retailers Louis Boyd, Uberfone and The Bureau.
Centre Manager Peter Murray said: “This is significant cause for celebration and demonstrates the buoyancy of the retail market in Newry and interest in Buttercrane in particular. We are thrilled to welcome these exclusive brands and leading fashion stores to the centre this month, bringing our occupancy to a very healthy 98%."
"The new brands and investments by current tenants will also result in 120 new full and part time jobs. ” Peter added.
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A Family Business Breakfast Seminar is taking place on Tuesday 1st December in the Canal Court Hotel.
The Seminar organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade in association with PKF-FPM Accountants begins at 7.45am.
Feargal McCormack, Managing Director, PKF-FPM, stated, ‘PKF-FPM is delighted to be jointly hosting this event with the Newry Chamber of Commerce. This seminar will be of interest to family businesses, who wish to increase the sustainability and survival rate of their business. Family businesses are vital to our economy and currently account for circa 75% of all businesses and accounts for 30% of employment in the economy. However, the startling fact that only 30% survive the second generation and less than 10% the third generation, highlights that assistance is needed to help the transition of our family businesses to the next generation and thus to safeguard our indigenous businesses.’
President Michael McKeown, stated, ‘Newry Chamber of Commerce is delighted to host this informative breakfast seminar in association with PKF-FPM who have a long history of supporting family run businesses. The greater Newry area has many family businesses; including some of our most successful companies. Close working relationships with family members present some of the best business opportunities however, it comes with its challenges. This seminar aims to identify and resolve the issues faced by these businesses’.
The Seminar is free of charge for members of Newry Chamber and £15pp for non members. To book your place at this event, please contact Newry Chamber on Tel: 028 3025 0303, Email: info@newrychamber.com or www.newrychamber.com
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Pat Jennings was in town this week to celebrate 20 years in business for The Bureau in the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry, and he just might have been stocking up with some Euros for a trip to watch his successors in the Northern Ireland team in next years Euro 2016 in France.
To mark the milestone The Bureau has been revamped with a new look store and a modernised brand identity.
The new look premises at the same location in the Buttercrane were officially opened by Pat our local sporting legend. The new Bureau has more than doubled in size, offering customers greater comfort and speedier service.
Speaking at the launch, John Gildea said he was thrilled to welcome Pat back to Newry. “I’ve always been a massive soccer fan and I’ve known the Jennings family for many years. I’ve admired Pat for his achievements on and off the field and it’s wonderful to have him here this afternoon to meet and greet our customers.”
The new look Bureau is a significant investment by the Gildea family offering innovative digital technology which tracks live currency market rates. The re-fit has been designed to enhance customer service, reduce queuing and increase efficiency.
John concluded “We will continue to offer the best rates and zero commission service that we pride ourselves on.
"The additional space created will give us opportunity to expand our digital services in the future”
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