Expansion & Investment

28 April 2014, 10:18 am
Speciality Bites by Paul Hargreaves

It’s been a busy 2-3 weeks since coming back from Italy, with a weekend away in Prague (not work), a 24 hour trip to Ireland and our residential Christmas Sales Meeting

More of that later, but the feeling I am getting from those I talk to increasingly is that business is good and set to become better during 2014 and into 2015.  Expansion plans for retailers are everywhere and suppliers are investing in new production facilities.

Take Ireland, for example.  Those I talked to last week were feeling that for the first time since the demise of the Celtic Tiger, the economy was growing and there was a new confidence.  This was from both food producers and the cab drivers who took me to and from the airport – and are much more talkative than their UK counterparts!  I have always found that hotel costs are indicative in Dublin of how the economy is faring.  At the peak of the Celtic Tiger, the hotel prices were similar to London.  After the crash you could stay in a really good hotel for around 65 Euros – the hotels were (and probably still are) largely owned by banks.  Now prices have crept back up to around 90 Euros.

Our Christmas sales meeting this year was sponsored by the Welsh Government as our number of welsh suppliers increases, and there were also a number of potential new suppliers there for us to sample.  A great two days away from the office and reminded me how much more can be achieved with meetings away from the normal working environment.  There are always too many distractions when large meetings are held at head office.  Moving the whole meetings away from the office and staying overnight not only allowed for increased focus and concentration, but also more opportunity for new members of the team to “bond” – all washed downs with some excellent welsh whisky!

Good results last week on selling tables for the ball – another few sold, so we are now 50% sold out – still plenty of room for those who haven’t replied yet!  One company that is coming is our favourite new brand:  Galvanina – stunning new fruit drinks from Italy in absolutely beautiful bottles.  It is the launch day tomorrow evening in Mayfair – should be fun with a tube strike planned!

Have a great week.

more from Speciality Bites

  • Generosity

    05 July 2021 Speciality Bites
    Generosity from leaders makes business better in all aspects, yet few businesses have discovered the benefits that accompany being generous of spirit.

  • We are now retailers too!

    21 June 2021 Speciality Bites
    So, the week has arrived at last when I become a retailer as well as a wholesaler. What a journey it has been.

  • We need leaders, not managers

    07 June 2021 Speciality Bites
    I’ve mentioned before that not many people can give me the name of someone when asked at interview who has inspired them most from their previous work life. This is because most people have only experienced management not leadership.