The Beacon Retail Programme, a programme designed to help retailers in the County Cork region, successfully launched this year with the pilot phase in Charleville opened in September, followed by Youghal in October. The experienced retail team are in place to help and advise retailers in the areas of sales, promotions, marketing, merchandising and organisational development. 

oth towns signed up 15 retailers each, which is the maximum number the programme can facilitate in each town.  Padraig O’ Sullivan, the successful entrepreneur behind the Beacon Initiative Retail Programme and The Beacon Initiative Grow Programme says the success and growth of the retail programme has exceeded his initial expectations: “The interest in the programme has been huge in both towns that we launched the programme in. Retailers need help in these tough economic times and simply can’t afford to invest big money into getting this help, and this is where The Beacon Initiative Retail Programme comes in.

”The project aims to help retailers revitalise and grow their business, by analysing all aspects of running a retail business, making expert recommendations and working on a long term strategic plan to sustain and take their business to the next level. The programme is run by an appointed team of leading retail experts and will be available to a number of other towns in 2014.

The pilot phase launched in Charleville and was totally funded and supported by Cork County Council. It was a huge success with a number of retailers from a range of industries signing up to the programme, including Charleville Plant Hire, Lee’s Centre and Phones made Easy.

Donagh Stack from Charleville Plant Hire (CPH) highly recommends the programme for retailers and said “Being involved in the Beacon Initiative Retail programme has been a very positive experience for CPH. It has been great to have a person come in from outside the company and share their knowledge and experience, particularly by discussing realistic ideas for improvement and helping to formulate a plan for future activities. Overall the programme has been beneficial for CPH and I would recommend the programme to any retail business.”

Damien Lenihan of Phones Made Easy in Charleville said “I have found the Beacon Initiative a huge benefit in developing and focusing our marketing plan in both our Charleville store and our store in the Parkway Shopping Centre. Sometimes a business needs a fresh pair of eyes looking in at it to give advice and help them out, and I think that Elmer and everyone involved in the Beacon Initiative have been excellent at this.

”Following on from its success in Charleville, the programme was then launched in Youghal as a joint initiative of Cork County Council and the South Cork Enterprise Board. The programme was funded by South Cork Enterprise Board and was once again a huge success signing up the maximum number of retailers including Ahernes Townhouse, Mac Donald Travel and Youghal Pharmacy, plus many more. 

David Fitzgibbon form Ahernes Townhouse said “It is great to get a helpful objective view of our business from somebody with such a vast range of knowledge and enthusiasm as Elmer, who is one of the experts on The Beacon Retail Programme Team.

”As the programmes are funded and supported by Cork County Council and County Enterprise Boards, retailers have access to some of the country’s leading retail consultants at a fraction of the actual cost.

For further information on the Beacon Retail Programme, the resources available and criteria to avail of the resources visit http://beaconinitiative.net.