It’s a tough time for traders at the moment. The summer season is key and for many businesses it’s a successful summer season that will keep them going during the lean months ahead. The season’s trade is vital to all of those employed in the retail and hospitality sectors in our city. Anything that affects trade adversely is a problem for our members.
Road closures are a problem. Loss of trade for one day is a major problem. Loss of trade for a week can be catastrophic. Traffic in Newtownsmith was one way for five days last week ‘To implement a trial contra-flow cycle lane as part of National Bike Week 2010. Traffic shall not be permitted to travel along Newtownsmith from Abbeygate Street / Bowling Green to St. Vincents Avenue / Salmon Weir Bridge. However a cycle lane shall be provided in this direction. Vehicular traffic shall still be permitted to travel along Newtown Smith from the direction of St. Vincents Avenue / Salmon Weir Bridge to Abbeygate Street / Bowling Green. Some on-street parking will be temporarily removed in order to provide this trial contra-flow cycle lane. (Galway City Council Public Notice)
An alternative route for traffic was via a signposted diversion route as follows: ‘Traffic approaching Newtown Smith from Abbeygate Street and Bowling Green will be required to access Newtown Smith by travelling along Mary Street and turning onto St. Francis Street. From St. Francis Street vehicles will be required to turn left onto St. Vincent's Avenue (at courthouse junction). From St. Vincent's Avenue, vehicles can access Newtown Smith’ (Galway City Council Public Notice)
What tourist or indeed local is going to brave those diversions if they don’t have to? What the above two paragraphs really say is ‘Avoid This Area’. What Galway Chamber says is ‘Traffic Experiments should not put jobs at risk’
Businesses in the area have said that this pilot scheme has caused serious problems for them. They believe that there wasn’t proper advance warning about the scheme and they feel that they weren’t consulted even though it is their businesses that were directly affected. The City Council did publish public notices on the scheme and did have the same notice on their website and they also say that a letter would have been sent to the particular businesses affected. However, we don’t always see a public notice on page whatever of a local newspaper, neither are most businesses in the habit of assiduously checking the City Council’s website for such information.
What business wants is communication from City Hall, real face to face communication on matters of such importance. It’s only fair to ratepayers (and let’s not forget here that €33 million was levied in commercial rates this year in Galway City) that any schemes, road closures, major road works, refurbishments, traffic diversions be communicated to them…in advance. If an initiative is going to result in any business losing revenue and as a result possibly ending in job losses, then advance consultation must be a given. It’s not too much to ask. Businesses similarly affected should contact Galway Chamber.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Galway Independent Column - June 16th 2010
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping…
There’s no doubt that it’s been a difficult time for the retail trade. Spending by the general public has been cautious of late with global recessionary worries filtering to local pockets. But as much as the retail sector is a barometer of the economy so also it is the life blood of our towns and cities. People come to town to shop and anything else is a bonus. It is not untrue to say that our hospitality sector depends on our retail sector and the health of one is directly affected by the other.
So, in order to keep a vibrant city economy we need to attract shoppers. We have a great product and must do everything in our power to bring people here in the first instance and make them want to return. On a recent radio programme presenter Lucy Kennedy, in a discussion about Grafton Street, said that her favourite shopping street is, in fact, Shop Street in Galway. This is the sort of thing we want to hear. With the new motorway Dublin is only a couple of hours away…We want Dublin people to come and shop here. We have flights from Dublin, Cork and Belfast into Galway airport, a stone’s throw from the city centre. We want them all to come here to shop.
This week the Galway City Business Association launched a shopping guide. It joins Galway Chamber’s Shop Galway website www.shopgalway.com, a free website listing business in Galway in all sectors where shops can advertise their special offers free. Using a password, retailers can change their offers and add and delete at will making it the most up to date shopping site available. These are some of the practical things that are being done to attract shoppers and make the experience of shopping in Galway the best it can possibly be.
And let’s not forget the search to find Galway’s Best, where Galway Chamber is pleased to partner with the Central Park Group, in association with Heineken in a quest to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County. Also supported by Fáilte Ireland, the awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. For details of the public voting process log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com
Having a great product is the best possible start but we still need to attract shoppers. We must be ambassadors for our product at all times. This week the Around Ireland 2010 Offshore Powerboat Race finished in Galway, last week the Latin Quarter salsaed to the Little Havana Festival, this week the Galway Sessions Festival 2010 brings a Scottish flavour to Galway with musicians and dancers from Stirling joining our own in gigs and a pub session trail… and we’re only a heartbeat away from the Arts Festival. All of these events are opportunities to showcase our shopping, to bring people into our city, to strengthen our retail sector and safeguard all of the jobs dependant on it.
There’s no doubt that it’s been a difficult time for the retail trade. Spending by the general public has been cautious of late with global recessionary worries filtering to local pockets. But as much as the retail sector is a barometer of the economy so also it is the life blood of our towns and cities. People come to town to shop and anything else is a bonus. It is not untrue to say that our hospitality sector depends on our retail sector and the health of one is directly affected by the other.
So, in order to keep a vibrant city economy we need to attract shoppers. We have a great product and must do everything in our power to bring people here in the first instance and make them want to return. On a recent radio programme presenter Lucy Kennedy, in a discussion about Grafton Street, said that her favourite shopping street is, in fact, Shop Street in Galway. This is the sort of thing we want to hear. With the new motorway Dublin is only a couple of hours away…We want Dublin people to come and shop here. We have flights from Dublin, Cork and Belfast into Galway airport, a stone’s throw from the city centre. We want them all to come here to shop.
This week the Galway City Business Association launched a shopping guide. It joins Galway Chamber’s Shop Galway website www.shopgalway.com, a free website listing business in Galway in all sectors where shops can advertise their special offers free. Using a password, retailers can change their offers and add and delete at will making it the most up to date shopping site available. These are some of the practical things that are being done to attract shoppers and make the experience of shopping in Galway the best it can possibly be.
And let’s not forget the search to find Galway’s Best, where Galway Chamber is pleased to partner with the Central Park Group, in association with Heineken in a quest to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County. Also supported by Fáilte Ireland, the awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. For details of the public voting process log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com
Having a great product is the best possible start but we still need to attract shoppers. We must be ambassadors for our product at all times. This week the Around Ireland 2010 Offshore Powerboat Race finished in Galway, last week the Latin Quarter salsaed to the Little Havana Festival, this week the Galway Sessions Festival 2010 brings a Scottish flavour to Galway with musicians and dancers from Stirling joining our own in gigs and a pub session trail… and we’re only a heartbeat away from the Arts Festival. All of these events are opportunities to showcase our shopping, to bring people into our city, to strengthen our retail sector and safeguard all of the jobs dependant on it.
Galway Independent Column - June 9th 2010
Projects involving the word ‘Bypass’ on the NRA Website as at Bank Holiday weekend, June 2010 include the following: M1 Dundalk Western Bypass, N2 Ardee Bypass, N2 Ashbourne Bypass, N2 Carrickmacross Bypass, N2 Castleblayney Bypass, N2 Monaghan Town Bypass, N2 Slane Bypass, N3 Belturbet Bypass, N4 Edgeworthstown Bypass, N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road, N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass, N5 Charlestown Bypass, N5 Longford Bypass, N6 Loughrea Bypass, N7 Limerick Southern Ring Road,
N7 Limerick Tunnel, N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road, N9/N10 Carlow Bypass, N11 Arklow Gorey Bypass, N11 Enniscorthy Bypass, N11 Rathnew / Ashford Bypass, N15 Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bypass, N15 Ballyshannon / Bundoran Bypass, N16 Manorhamilton Bypass, N17 Collooney to Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass to Knock Bypass, N18 Ennis Bypass, N21 Adare Bypass, N21 Castleisland Bypass, N22 Ballincollig Bypass, N22 Cork Northern Ring Road, N22 Tralee Bypass, N24 Carrick on Suir Bypass, N24 Clonmel / Cahir Bypass, N24 Clonmel Bypass, N24 Mooncoin Bypass, N25 Dungarvan Bypass, N25 Kinsalebeg to Youghal Bypass, N25 New Ross Bypass, N25 Waterford City Bypass, N51 Navan Inner Relief Road, N52 Ardee Bypass, N52 Mullingar Bypass, N52 Tullamore Bypass, N56 Letterkenny Relief Road, N59 Moycullen Bypass, N59 South Westport Relief Road, N61 Boyle Town Bypass, N61 Roscommon Town Bypass, N62 Horse and Jockey / Thurles Bypass, N62 Roscrea Bypass,
N62 Thurles Bypass, N69 Listowel Bypass, N81 Tallaght Bypass Extension, N83 Ballyhaunis Outer Distributor Road, N84 Ballinrobe Relief Road…
The above, non-exhaustive list, does not include all of the hundreds of villages and smaller towns that have been bypassed by the motorway construction of recent times. The towns in the above list have either been bypassed or are in the process of being bypassed. The aim of a bypass is to reduce accidents, remove long distance traffic from local roads and improve the local environment. A bypass aims to act as a lifeline to commercial and tourist activity and make the bypassed village, town or city a better place in which to shop, work and live. Think back the few short years to when all of the above had to be traversed on any journey, anywhere….Also on the above list is the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass.
While the legal issues regarding the GCOB are ongoing, the need for the bypass has not changed. The news this week that the Supreme Court ruled that the legal issues relating to the Bypass and its compliance with the EU Habitats Directive, should be referred to the European Court of Justice, is welcome in that it will bring finality and clarification to the issue.
We hope that there will be an early determination from Europe but we believe that while Europe is deliberating there is work to be done here. We would like to see agreement from all parties that preparatory works begin right away. It’s worrying to think that further delays will involve significantly increased costs.
Galway Chamber has publicly welcomed the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway and looks forward to increased business for Galway as a result. As part of our lobbying on all matters infrastructural, Galway Chamber lobbied on the M6 and as part of that process we also lobbied for the Galway City Outer Bypass which we see as integral to the M6 motorway.
It makes complete sense that the Galway City Outer Bypass be part of the M6. There is no logic in a motorway finishing on the outskirts of Galway with its traffic having to cross the city via the city centre regardless of its destination. This is as true for a visitor from Dublin going to Clifden as it is for someone living in Knocknacarra going to work in Parkmore. Galway Chamber will continue, with our lobbying partners, to meet with those involved in this process. Our position has always been that the Galway City Outer Bypass will take traffic out of the city that doesn’t need or want to be there, thus freeing space for those who wish to visit the city centre to shop and for leisure purposes, and for public transport.
As we have previously stated there is no conflict between public transport, bus lanes, cycle lanes, park and ride and the Galway City Outer Bypass. Funding for the GCOB will be through Public Private Partnership non-tolled, and will not have a detrimental effect on funding for any other transport initiatives in the city. It will in fact inject about €200 million plus in capital infrastructure into the area with all the attendant employment that such a large project brings.
N7 Limerick Tunnel, N8 Mitchelstown Relief Road, N9/N10 Carlow Bypass, N11 Arklow Gorey Bypass, N11 Enniscorthy Bypass, N11 Rathnew / Ashford Bypass, N15 Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bypass, N15 Ballyshannon / Bundoran Bypass, N16 Manorhamilton Bypass, N17 Collooney to Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass, N17 Tobercurry Bypass to Knock Bypass, N18 Ennis Bypass, N21 Adare Bypass, N21 Castleisland Bypass, N22 Ballincollig Bypass, N22 Cork Northern Ring Road, N22 Tralee Bypass, N24 Carrick on Suir Bypass, N24 Clonmel / Cahir Bypass, N24 Clonmel Bypass, N24 Mooncoin Bypass, N25 Dungarvan Bypass, N25 Kinsalebeg to Youghal Bypass, N25 New Ross Bypass, N25 Waterford City Bypass, N51 Navan Inner Relief Road, N52 Ardee Bypass, N52 Mullingar Bypass, N52 Tullamore Bypass, N56 Letterkenny Relief Road, N59 Moycullen Bypass, N59 South Westport Relief Road, N61 Boyle Town Bypass, N61 Roscommon Town Bypass, N62 Horse and Jockey / Thurles Bypass, N62 Roscrea Bypass,
N62 Thurles Bypass, N69 Listowel Bypass, N81 Tallaght Bypass Extension, N83 Ballyhaunis Outer Distributor Road, N84 Ballinrobe Relief Road…
The above, non-exhaustive list, does not include all of the hundreds of villages and smaller towns that have been bypassed by the motorway construction of recent times. The towns in the above list have either been bypassed or are in the process of being bypassed. The aim of a bypass is to reduce accidents, remove long distance traffic from local roads and improve the local environment. A bypass aims to act as a lifeline to commercial and tourist activity and make the bypassed village, town or city a better place in which to shop, work and live. Think back the few short years to when all of the above had to be traversed on any journey, anywhere….Also on the above list is the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass.
While the legal issues regarding the GCOB are ongoing, the need for the bypass has not changed. The news this week that the Supreme Court ruled that the legal issues relating to the Bypass and its compliance with the EU Habitats Directive, should be referred to the European Court of Justice, is welcome in that it will bring finality and clarification to the issue.
We hope that there will be an early determination from Europe but we believe that while Europe is deliberating there is work to be done here. We would like to see agreement from all parties that preparatory works begin right away. It’s worrying to think that further delays will involve significantly increased costs.
Galway Chamber has publicly welcomed the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway and looks forward to increased business for Galway as a result. As part of our lobbying on all matters infrastructural, Galway Chamber lobbied on the M6 and as part of that process we also lobbied for the Galway City Outer Bypass which we see as integral to the M6 motorway.
It makes complete sense that the Galway City Outer Bypass be part of the M6. There is no logic in a motorway finishing on the outskirts of Galway with its traffic having to cross the city via the city centre regardless of its destination. This is as true for a visitor from Dublin going to Clifden as it is for someone living in Knocknacarra going to work in Parkmore. Galway Chamber will continue, with our lobbying partners, to meet with those involved in this process. Our position has always been that the Galway City Outer Bypass will take traffic out of the city that doesn’t need or want to be there, thus freeing space for those who wish to visit the city centre to shop and for leisure purposes, and for public transport.
As we have previously stated there is no conflict between public transport, bus lanes, cycle lanes, park and ride and the Galway City Outer Bypass. Funding for the GCOB will be through Public Private Partnership non-tolled, and will not have a detrimental effect on funding for any other transport initiatives in the city. It will in fact inject about €200 million plus in capital infrastructure into the area with all the attendant employment that such a large project brings.
Galway Independent Column - June 2nd 2010
‘To interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support’ is one of the definitions of the verb ‘to network’. It’s an example of a word that has become part of our lexicon without us even realizing it. While we twitter, facebook, poke, defriend, friendsource, rescue call, we’re networking, albeit by computer, but there’s still a lot to be said for the old fashioned face to face networking, the non-digital form of social networking which began circa the mid-70s, the earliest use of the phrase social network dates to 1976.
Like all good things face to face networking has evolved and grown and the latest incarnation is Speed Networking (not to be confused with Speed Dating where you don’t end up trying to have a relationship with everyone in the room!) If anyone remembers that good old wedding favourite the Paul Jones, then that’s what speed networking is all about…an inner and outer circle of people facing each other in pairs, one circle moving on each time a bell rings. It’s basically a number of short, scheduled meetings with new business contacts. You chat about your business for a couple of minutes and that of the other person, making notes about that new contact before moving onto your next meeting.
Meetings are structured and scheduled so you have time to see as many people as possible. As networkers themselves would say… successful people get ahead in the time that other people waste. Essentially you have 5 minutes to work out if the person sitting opposite you is a potential new client, supplier or business partner for your future. The advantage of speed networking over traditional forms of networking is the high turnover and the guarantee that you will to meet lots of like-minded individuals in a session. It is also a good opportunity for you to distill your unique selling point into a short, sharp message suitable to impress in a brief encounter.
Galway Chamber is pleased to bring our members and guests the opportunity to Speed Network on Tuesday June 15th at the biggest Speed Networking Event of the year in Galway. The event will begin at 6 pm and conclude at 8.30 pm in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. The evening will be professionally facilitated by Tricia Murphy known as The Networking Queen. We’re very pleased that Tricia will be joining us as part of a successful Speed Networking event is an experienced facilitator.
This is Galway Chamber’s first Speed Networking event and it follows our very successful Business After Hours monthly networking events. We started our BAHs in 2004 based on a US model where Chamber members had the opportunity to host a networking event in their own premises for fellow Chamber members and guests. From our first BAH in Baron’s Self Storage in March 2004 to our most recent BAH on board the Corrib Princess with hosts Go West Event Management last week, the formula has proved successful. Our next BAH will be in the premises of RDJ Glynn Solicitors, Aengus House, Long Walk on Wednesday 23rd of June at 6 p.m.
For both the Speed Networking and Business After Hours please register with Elaine Murphy [emurphy@galwaychamber.com]. Fees for the Speed Networking event are €20 for members and €25 for non-members to include refreshments.
Like all good things face to face networking has evolved and grown and the latest incarnation is Speed Networking (not to be confused with Speed Dating where you don’t end up trying to have a relationship with everyone in the room!) If anyone remembers that good old wedding favourite the Paul Jones, then that’s what speed networking is all about…an inner and outer circle of people facing each other in pairs, one circle moving on each time a bell rings. It’s basically a number of short, scheduled meetings with new business contacts. You chat about your business for a couple of minutes and that of the other person, making notes about that new contact before moving onto your next meeting.
Meetings are structured and scheduled so you have time to see as many people as possible. As networkers themselves would say… successful people get ahead in the time that other people waste. Essentially you have 5 minutes to work out if the person sitting opposite you is a potential new client, supplier or business partner for your future. The advantage of speed networking over traditional forms of networking is the high turnover and the guarantee that you will to meet lots of like-minded individuals in a session. It is also a good opportunity for you to distill your unique selling point into a short, sharp message suitable to impress in a brief encounter.
Galway Chamber is pleased to bring our members and guests the opportunity to Speed Network on Tuesday June 15th at the biggest Speed Networking Event of the year in Galway. The event will begin at 6 pm and conclude at 8.30 pm in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. The evening will be professionally facilitated by Tricia Murphy known as The Networking Queen. We’re very pleased that Tricia will be joining us as part of a successful Speed Networking event is an experienced facilitator.
This is Galway Chamber’s first Speed Networking event and it follows our very successful Business After Hours monthly networking events. We started our BAHs in 2004 based on a US model where Chamber members had the opportunity to host a networking event in their own premises for fellow Chamber members and guests. From our first BAH in Baron’s Self Storage in March 2004 to our most recent BAH on board the Corrib Princess with hosts Go West Event Management last week, the formula has proved successful. Our next BAH will be in the premises of RDJ Glynn Solicitors, Aengus House, Long Walk on Wednesday 23rd of June at 6 p.m.
For both the Speed Networking and Business After Hours please register with Elaine Murphy [emurphy@galwaychamber.com]. Fees for the Speed Networking event are €20 for members and €25 for non-members to include refreshments.
Galway Independent Column - May 26th 2010
25 degrees and sunny…over the weekend we thought we were, well, somewhere else where there are cloudless blue skies and the outlook is always sunny. Beaches were busy, shops were running out of ice cream and there was a definite summer feeling from the smell of the barbecues to the glow of the sun worshippers who will never learn that it’s not ok to go out in the sun without protection.
As the now famous Baz Luhrmann monologue has it ‘If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience’.
Experience, however meandering, is one of the most valuable tools in our arsenal in these difficult times and when a group like Retail Ireland publish a survey on the retail sector we must take notice. Galway Chamber as advertised over the last few weeks is this week offering classes and seminars free to the public on matters of importance to all SMEs which includes the retail sector.
Among its findings the Retail Ireland survey results said that jobs are under threat and that landlords who have continued to reap unsustainably high rents have to cut rental costs without delay as the sector struggles. As a result of the survey they called on commercial landlords to reverse rent hikes in keeping with price reductions on the High Street, housing and day to day bills.
Rent coupled with Commercial Rates is crippling the retail sector and needs to be addressed before we lose our indigenous business on the High Street altogether. When you add the issue of access to credit into the mix, it’s obvious that something has to give, and sooner rather than later. The retail sector, and particularly its small family businesses, need to be encouraged to prosper and create employment, not encounter the brick walls of local taxation, difficult credit and impossibly high, upward only rents at every turn.
As part of SME week the Bank of Ireland will hold a seminar tomorrow evening, Thursday May 27th in the Ardilaun Hotel from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm entitled ‘Managing your Business through Recession’ covering such topics as cash flow management, enterprise building and business diagnostics. As with all of the other events during SME week it is free to the public.
The weather forecast for the rest of the week isn’t as hot as last weekend but the sunscreen advice stands as does the advice provide free to the public during the week by Dr. Aidan Daly; Enterprise Ireland and WESTBIC; Vodafone, Bank of Ireland and Sheehan & Co. Solicitors.
As the now famous Baz Luhrmann monologue has it ‘If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience’.
Experience, however meandering, is one of the most valuable tools in our arsenal in these difficult times and when a group like Retail Ireland publish a survey on the retail sector we must take notice. Galway Chamber as advertised over the last few weeks is this week offering classes and seminars free to the public on matters of importance to all SMEs which includes the retail sector.
Among its findings the Retail Ireland survey results said that jobs are under threat and that landlords who have continued to reap unsustainably high rents have to cut rental costs without delay as the sector struggles. As a result of the survey they called on commercial landlords to reverse rent hikes in keeping with price reductions on the High Street, housing and day to day bills.
Rent coupled with Commercial Rates is crippling the retail sector and needs to be addressed before we lose our indigenous business on the High Street altogether. When you add the issue of access to credit into the mix, it’s obvious that something has to give, and sooner rather than later. The retail sector, and particularly its small family businesses, need to be encouraged to prosper and create employment, not encounter the brick walls of local taxation, difficult credit and impossibly high, upward only rents at every turn.
As part of SME week the Bank of Ireland will hold a seminar tomorrow evening, Thursday May 27th in the Ardilaun Hotel from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm entitled ‘Managing your Business through Recession’ covering such topics as cash flow management, enterprise building and business diagnostics. As with all of the other events during SME week it is free to the public.
The weather forecast for the rest of the week isn’t as hot as last weekend but the sunscreen advice stands as does the advice provide free to the public during the week by Dr. Aidan Daly; Enterprise Ireland and WESTBIC; Vodafone, Bank of Ireland and Sheehan & Co. Solicitors.
Galway Independent Column - May 19th 2010
At a time when business is under unprecedented pressure our minds must turn to ways in which business can actually save money. One of these ways is to lessen or eliminate crimes against business. These crimes include shoplifting, vandalism, thefts, fraud, anti social behaviour or any of the other crimes that either cost business in terms of time or revenue.
Galway Business Watch is a crime prevention programme designed by the Gardaí and is based on the same principals as the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. On Monday a Galway Business Watch forum was held in the offices of Galway Chamber on Merchant’s Road where the business community met with members of the Gardai to discuss ways in which we can join together and be instrumental in preventing crime in our own community.
This can be done through awareness, observation and commitment to action, people at work can become extra 'eyes and ears' of the Gardaí and act as a 'watchman' to their own and their neighbour’s premises, in the prevention of crime. Business Watch is based on a series of ‘Street Coordinators’ who take on a liaison role with Gardai on behalf of all the businesses on their particular street. This has proven in the past to work really well and acts as an important link between Gardai and businesses.
The Gardaí themselves play a significant role in terms of specialist crime prevention advice through liaison with the Business Watch Committee to address crime and crime related issues for business. Galway Business Watch is one tangible way that business can take ownership of their own protection from shoplifters, anti-social behaviour etc. This benefits all of us as well as visitors and tourists to our city in the coming months and thereafter.
This week also saw a meeting of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee which has been set up in each local authority administrative area as part of the local government structures. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. Piloted in 2006 the Committees were put in train in 2008.
Both Galway Business Watch and the Galway City Joint Policing Committee are based on consultation with the Gardaí and the relevant local organisations. Inclusion and consultation on pertinent, relevant issues are at their core. We hope that Galway Business Watch will be supported by the local business community who will seize the opportunity to have their voices heard on matters of importance with regard to their special issues of concern. People often say that there’s a lack of consultation on matters concerning business, this is an opportunity to debunk that perception, to get involved and to make a difference.
Galway Business Watch is a crime prevention programme designed by the Gardaí and is based on the same principals as the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. On Monday a Galway Business Watch forum was held in the offices of Galway Chamber on Merchant’s Road where the business community met with members of the Gardai to discuss ways in which we can join together and be instrumental in preventing crime in our own community.
This can be done through awareness, observation and commitment to action, people at work can become extra 'eyes and ears' of the Gardaí and act as a 'watchman' to their own and their neighbour’s premises, in the prevention of crime. Business Watch is based on a series of ‘Street Coordinators’ who take on a liaison role with Gardai on behalf of all the businesses on their particular street. This has proven in the past to work really well and acts as an important link between Gardai and businesses.
The Gardaí themselves play a significant role in terms of specialist crime prevention advice through liaison with the Business Watch Committee to address crime and crime related issues for business. Galway Business Watch is one tangible way that business can take ownership of their own protection from shoplifters, anti-social behaviour etc. This benefits all of us as well as visitors and tourists to our city in the coming months and thereafter.
This week also saw a meeting of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee which has been set up in each local authority administrative area as part of the local government structures. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. Piloted in 2006 the Committees were put in train in 2008.
Both Galway Business Watch and the Galway City Joint Policing Committee are based on consultation with the Gardaí and the relevant local organisations. Inclusion and consultation on pertinent, relevant issues are at their core. We hope that Galway Business Watch will be supported by the local business community who will seize the opportunity to have their voices heard on matters of importance with regard to their special issues of concern. People often say that there’s a lack of consultation on matters concerning business, this is an opportunity to debunk that perception, to get involved and to make a difference.
Galway Independent Column - May 12th 2010
It’s that time of year again, the tourist season is upon us and we hope its going to be a good one. Like in the old days when we whitewashed before the Stations, businesses in the city are getting spruced up and the flower boxes are beginning to bloom. The retail sector in particular is getting ready for its busiest time of the year. It’s a time to think about the Galway experience for visitors and Galwegians alike. What makes the visitors return and the Galwegians stay loyal?
Customer service is one reason. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. To make a business profitable, customers must come back. Good customer service is about sending customers away happy and then bringing them back. Satisfied customers tell others. In the retail circle the customer is at the centre. With this in mind and as part of Galway Chamber’s ongoing efforts to offer business enhancing events to members and their guests we are running a full programme of events for SME (small and medium enterprises) week this year from May 24 to 28.
As part of SME week on Monday May 24th from 8.30 am to 10.30 am in the Chamber offices we are hosting a Customer Service Seminar. This event, free to attend, will feature Dr. Aidan Daly of NUIG, an authority on Customer Service whose background in business before joining the Marketing Department in NUIG in 1982 places him in an ideal position to share his ‘Five Step Approach to Managing Consistent Customer Service’ with attendees. This event will also feature Galway Chamber’s three female ambassadors, Judy Greene of Judy Greene Pottery; Liz Cassidy of Irish Time Design and Audrey Kinahan of University Pharmacy who will share their experiences related to customer service. This is an ideal opportunity for all businesses dealing with the public especially in the retail sector to add value to their customer service offering before the summer season. Contact Elaine on 091 563536 to reserve a place.
And still speaking of retail, GMIT offer a Bachelor of Business Degree in Retail and Customer Service Management which is a particularly relevant and innovative idea. The course aims to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for a management career in a retail organisation and subjects include everything from customer care to management and finance to communications and marketing and everything in between. The interesting part of this degree course is that there is a full module of work placement for three months in the retail industry during semester 5 of the degree programme. This is a really good example of an academic institution educating for the real world. For further details contact Cáit Noone at the School of Hotel and Catering Studies at GMIT.
And finally, on the subject of Customer Service, if your business fits any of the categories in Galway’s Best Awards, why not enter the awards. Launched by the Central Park Group, in association with Heineken, Galway’s Best Awards 2010 aim to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County.
The initiative is supported by Fáilte Ireland and Galway Chamber. The awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. Businesses that fall under any of the named categories are invited to log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com and enter their business; which then will be put to a public vote over the summer period in order to find the ‘best’ in each group. The closing date for entries is Monday 24th May at 5pm.
Customer service is one reason. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. To make a business profitable, customers must come back. Good customer service is about sending customers away happy and then bringing them back. Satisfied customers tell others. In the retail circle the customer is at the centre. With this in mind and as part of Galway Chamber’s ongoing efforts to offer business enhancing events to members and their guests we are running a full programme of events for SME (small and medium enterprises) week this year from May 24 to 28.
As part of SME week on Monday May 24th from 8.30 am to 10.30 am in the Chamber offices we are hosting a Customer Service Seminar. This event, free to attend, will feature Dr. Aidan Daly of NUIG, an authority on Customer Service whose background in business before joining the Marketing Department in NUIG in 1982 places him in an ideal position to share his ‘Five Step Approach to Managing Consistent Customer Service’ with attendees. This event will also feature Galway Chamber’s three female ambassadors, Judy Greene of Judy Greene Pottery; Liz Cassidy of Irish Time Design and Audrey Kinahan of University Pharmacy who will share their experiences related to customer service. This is an ideal opportunity for all businesses dealing with the public especially in the retail sector to add value to their customer service offering before the summer season. Contact Elaine on 091 563536 to reserve a place.
And still speaking of retail, GMIT offer a Bachelor of Business Degree in Retail and Customer Service Management which is a particularly relevant and innovative idea. The course aims to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for a management career in a retail organisation and subjects include everything from customer care to management and finance to communications and marketing and everything in between. The interesting part of this degree course is that there is a full module of work placement for three months in the retail industry during semester 5 of the degree programme. This is a really good example of an academic institution educating for the real world. For further details contact Cáit Noone at the School of Hotel and Catering Studies at GMIT.
And finally, on the subject of Customer Service, if your business fits any of the categories in Galway’s Best Awards, why not enter the awards. Launched by the Central Park Group, in association with Heineken, Galway’s Best Awards 2010 aim to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County.
The initiative is supported by Fáilte Ireland and Galway Chamber. The awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. Businesses that fall under any of the named categories are invited to log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com and enter their business; which then will be put to a public vote over the summer period in order to find the ‘best’ in each group. The closing date for entries is Monday 24th May at 5pm.
Galway Independent Column - May 5th 2010
In Galway Chamber’s Pre-Budget Submission to Government prior to the last Budget, we stated that Government needs to reform its system of funding for Local Government. There are many reasons for this, not just the decline in construction activity and its effect on revenues derived by local authorities from development contributions.
We proposed some specific measures including a more broadly based sectorally inclusive system of funding for Local Government, Rates increases must be reduced or at the very least capped at current levels. Commercial Rates, as a tax on business, are a tax on job creation and entrepreneurship.
There must be value for taxes paid at a local level (€32 million to be levied in rates in Galway City in 2010), for example, a direct tax credit against actual rates paid and inequity in location must be addressed in terms of Commercial Rates where centres of critical mass are being penalized.
One of our proposals in the document was to cut the Local Authority paybill through a ‘back office’ rationalisation plan for activities such as HR, IT and Finance Administration ie both City and County Councils using the same back office function. This occurs every day in the private sector as business struggle to survive.
This has come to the fore again recently where the Galway City Manager recently referred to the problem of Rates collection as being paramount to the difficulties the City Council is experiencing in balancing its books. As a business organisation, whose members are struggling to pay rates (particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors), an extra tax on the business community for which many people feel they get nothing in return, Galway Chamber would again encourage the City Council to examine the possibility of amalgamating certain functions with the County Council. Costs as well as revenues must be examined as arguably, the City Council has more control over costs. This would appear to be worthy of consideration before threatening legal action.
This idea is currently getting a lot of airplay in Limerick where the Boundary Commission Report instigated by Minister Gormley has generated responses such as ‘not an inch’ from at least one local elected representative on its proposal to extend the Limerick City boundary into Clare.
An Taisce in Limerick has gone so far as to propose a regional authority or a region with a unified authority involving Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary County Councils. This view of amalgamation to promote cost saving is not the preserve of local government…this week there appears to be emerging consensus in ongoing discussions on the future of the Irish Catholic Church that there are too many dioceses with four archbishops and 25 bishops. It appears that the diocesan structures in Ireland were established in 1111 and if that tradition is being examined then perhaps Local Government should be too.
We proposed some specific measures including a more broadly based sectorally inclusive system of funding for Local Government, Rates increases must be reduced or at the very least capped at current levels. Commercial Rates, as a tax on business, are a tax on job creation and entrepreneurship.
There must be value for taxes paid at a local level (€32 million to be levied in rates in Galway City in 2010), for example, a direct tax credit against actual rates paid and inequity in location must be addressed in terms of Commercial Rates where centres of critical mass are being penalized.
One of our proposals in the document was to cut the Local Authority paybill through a ‘back office’ rationalisation plan for activities such as HR, IT and Finance Administration ie both City and County Councils using the same back office function. This occurs every day in the private sector as business struggle to survive.
This has come to the fore again recently where the Galway City Manager recently referred to the problem of Rates collection as being paramount to the difficulties the City Council is experiencing in balancing its books. As a business organisation, whose members are struggling to pay rates (particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors), an extra tax on the business community for which many people feel they get nothing in return, Galway Chamber would again encourage the City Council to examine the possibility of amalgamating certain functions with the County Council. Costs as well as revenues must be examined as arguably, the City Council has more control over costs. This would appear to be worthy of consideration before threatening legal action.
This idea is currently getting a lot of airplay in Limerick where the Boundary Commission Report instigated by Minister Gormley has generated responses such as ‘not an inch’ from at least one local elected representative on its proposal to extend the Limerick City boundary into Clare.
An Taisce in Limerick has gone so far as to propose a regional authority or a region with a unified authority involving Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary County Councils. This view of amalgamation to promote cost saving is not the preserve of local government…this week there appears to be emerging consensus in ongoing discussions on the future of the Irish Catholic Church that there are too many dioceses with four archbishops and 25 bishops. It appears that the diocesan structures in Ireland were established in 1111 and if that tradition is being examined then perhaps Local Government should be too.
Welcome the Green Shoots
It was a pleasure to attend Thermo King’s celebrations last week A tour of the plant was followed by a mini-expo featuring energy efficient products and services from the facility and other local companies. The award winning Thermo King Galway site, at the leading edge of environmentally friendly design and manufacture of transport refrigeration equipment, has been part of the Galway business community since 1976.
As part of the Galway celebration, Transitions Optical was presented with the Trane Energy Efficiency Leader Award in honor of its demonstrated commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. The plant in Tuam recently completed upgrades to its buildings that are generating €144,000 in annual energy savings and reduced the energy required to produce each lens by 50 percent.
The new Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand (CEES) was also announced by the company. Thermo King are former winners of the Galway Chamber Business Awards Environmental Category in 2005 and 2009.
Tim Folan, Environmental Officer at the Mervue Plant does incredible work with his team and the buy in to the environmental programme at the plant is palpable. Also very good news for Thermo King is that the 450 workers in Mervue are back to a five day week having been working a three day week since January 2009.
These good signs, now universally known as ‘green shoots’ have made a welcome appearance in Galway recently. It’s great to hear that Cisco have now increased their workforce to 140 employees while Avaya have advertised in the local press for 73 people. This is all positive and we welcome it. We also welcome next weekend’s International Association of Language Centres (IALC) Conference and Workshop which, as the biggest EFL conference to be held in Ireland, will bring 200 visitors to Galway and will generate over €400,000 for the local economy. We wish Celestine Rowland and David Niland of the Galway Cultural Institute and the Galway Business School every success with the event. Our conference business not only creates revenue for Galway but it showcases our city both nationally and internationally.
More good stories…Galway Chamber is pleased to partner with the recently launched Galway’s Best Awards. Central Park Group, in association with Heineken, has launched Galway’s Best Awards 2010 in a quest to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County.
The initiative is supported by Fáilte Ireland and the Galway Chamber. The awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. Businesses that fall under any of the named categories are invited to log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com and enter their business; which then will be put to a public vote over the summer period in order to find the ‘best’ in each group.
The closing date for entries is Monday 24th May at 5pm. To enter your business or for more information, log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com.
As part of the Galway celebration, Transitions Optical was presented with the Trane Energy Efficiency Leader Award in honor of its demonstrated commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. The plant in Tuam recently completed upgrades to its buildings that are generating €144,000 in annual energy savings and reduced the energy required to produce each lens by 50 percent.
The new Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand (CEES) was also announced by the company. Thermo King are former winners of the Galway Chamber Business Awards Environmental Category in 2005 and 2009.
Tim Folan, Environmental Officer at the Mervue Plant does incredible work with his team and the buy in to the environmental programme at the plant is palpable. Also very good news for Thermo King is that the 450 workers in Mervue are back to a five day week having been working a three day week since January 2009.
These good signs, now universally known as ‘green shoots’ have made a welcome appearance in Galway recently. It’s great to hear that Cisco have now increased their workforce to 140 employees while Avaya have advertised in the local press for 73 people. This is all positive and we welcome it. We also welcome next weekend’s International Association of Language Centres (IALC) Conference and Workshop which, as the biggest EFL conference to be held in Ireland, will bring 200 visitors to Galway and will generate over €400,000 for the local economy. We wish Celestine Rowland and David Niland of the Galway Cultural Institute and the Galway Business School every success with the event. Our conference business not only creates revenue for Galway but it showcases our city both nationally and internationally.
More good stories…Galway Chamber is pleased to partner with the recently launched Galway’s Best Awards. Central Park Group, in association with Heineken, has launched Galway’s Best Awards 2010 in a quest to find and recognise customer service excellence in the service industry in Galway City and County.
The initiative is supported by Fáilte Ireland and the Galway Chamber. The awards have developed from the very simple concept of recognising and celebrating the hard work put in on a daily basis in the service sector, by Galway businesses and their staff. Categories in the awards include best Hotel, Café, Restaurant, Pub, Fashion Retailer and Festival / Event. Businesses that fall under any of the named categories are invited to log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com and enter their business; which then will be put to a public vote over the summer period in order to find the ‘best’ in each group.
The closing date for entries is Monday 24th May at 5pm. To enter your business or for more information, log onto www.GalwaysBestAwards.com.
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