SWORDS
women Sarah Coffey and Elaine O’Neill have made it to the final five for the
Manager of the Year Award in this year’s Irish Retail Awards.
Sarah
Coffey is manager of the flagship Champion Sports in the Dundrum Town Centre.
She is the team leader for 35 employees. Sarah has been with the company for
seven years and has been promoted five times over this period.
“I
am now in my third year managing the flagship store,
? said Sarah.
“I have
managed through the economic boom and also the recession. This has created in
me the ability to maintain my store’s success within the hugely competitive
environment that is retail.
“I have
a natural passion for retail and understand customer needs and wants.”
Elaine
O’Neill is manager of McCabe’s Pharmacy in the Pavilions Shopping Centre
Swords. She is responsible for a team of 40 in the store.
Sharen
McCabe, group managing director of McCabes Pharmacy, nominated Elaine for the
award.
“I
have worked for McCabe’s Pharmacy for 15 years and in that time I have gained
experience in many different roles,
? said Elaine.
“I
started as a sales assistant and have worked my way up the ladder so I have a
good understanding of the workings of the business from all angles – this
definitely helps me in my managerial role.
“I am
completely involved in every aspect of my store – from administration to staff,
to customer queries to shop fitting, I am aware of everything that goes on in
the store and this helps me to make clear and accurate decisions.”
The
awards are organised by Retail Excellence Ireland, the country’s largest retail
industry body.
The
award winners will be announced at the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards on
November 5 at the Radisson Hotel, Galway.
David
Fitzsimons, chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland, said this year’s
finalists are the cream of the crop when it comes to Irish retailing.
“They are
retail businesses that have responded to the challenges that they are currently
facing by upping their game significantly,
? he stated.
“We were
pleasantly surprised at the level of investment that retailers and their
employees are putting into their businesses.
“The
quality of this year’s finalists shows that, in spite of the unprecedented
challenges facing Ireland’s retail industry, it is in good hands.”