Sponsored by
This Limerick Life - with Tony Connolly
Tony has been in the menswear business in Limerick for 40 years now and says there is no great secret to his longevity, just simple principles which must be maintained
Initially when I started off in business, my ambition was to survive. I did feel there was a gap in the market there. Fashionable clothing only really started to happen in the 1960s, then the jean revolution began in the 1970s with brands like Levis. I was very au fait with that side of the business. I had to have a product that would pull people up to me.
I am possibly the longest tenant in the Crescent Shopping Centre. After five years of trading in the city centre, I recognised that there were things starting to happen in the Crescent. The Crescent opened in 1972 and it had things very difficult in the beginning. But I felt it was starting to develop, and take off. An opportunity arose where a menswear company - the Burton group - were leaving Ireland at the time. They had a nice site in the Crescent, and they were anxious to do a good deal.
I do remember signing the lease on a Saturday, moving stock in on a Sunday, and we were open on a Monday. You could not move stock at that speed these days with the rules and regulations that are there, but we were getting very near Christmas at the time, and we wanted to get as much pre-Christmas trade as possible.
Unfortunately I think Limerick does have a litter problem. It's something I think everybody in business has a feeling about. I am not quite sure whether we deserve to be called the worst in Ireland, but at the same time, I have seen a lot of litter. It's probably not on the main street, but it's probably in areas off the centre. This is where the litter problem develops.
Surviving in business is no big secret. Number one, you must have a quality product, you must give value for money, and give a very good service. I think that was the ambition, and the rule I started with, and it's still the same today. A lot of people went out of business in the Tiger years. To survive in business today, you must have everything right, and these are the three fundamental principles I have never diverted from. If we continue on this track, it will see us through.
I do love Limerick city, and try to promote it anywhere I go. A lot of my friends who are from outside Limerick really enjoy coming here. The image Limerick has I think is unfair, I think it is a fantastic weekend venue, particularly if you can combine it with a Munster game. It's unfair the image it has outside of the city.
We could certainly do with a theatre/concert venue in the city. The University Concert Hall is great and I love it, and go quite regularly. We should put other incentives in the city as well. If the Opera Centre is not going to be developed in the near future, I did suggest at one stage it might be better if the developer knocked what was there, and sell it as a car park until such time as they are ready to rebuild.
I like to meet as many people as I can when I am in the shop. But I am a nine-to-six man. I take a few more breaks than I used to do in the earlier days, but I am lucky to have a lot of my family involved in the business now. I certainly like to feel I can dictate the pace more now, than have it dictated to me.
I remember Bill Cullen saying to one of the contestants on the Apprentice, if I pay you X-amount, I own you. I don't think he is entitled to own anybody. I think there is more to life than work. To get the balance right is the main thing. It can be easily sidetracked. You can get on the merry-go-round, and think your business cannot survive without you, then you cannot take your holiday. That is a very stupid attitude. Whereas on the other hand, it can go the other way. People think they can play golf five days a week and still run a succesful company.
It was a nice feeling to be able to mend Rod Stewart's pants last year. He came across as a very ordinary type of man. He appreciated that we took the time out to do him a favour, and put the show on the road for him.
Interview: Nick Rabbitts
Email to a friend
Print this page- First drift karting facility in Europe is ready to take off on outskirts of Limerick
- Newport gun victim is mourned at funeral in Limerick city
- Man appears in court following County Limerick drugs seizure
- Protest march in Parteen over preferred route of relief road
- Luxury eight-bed home in Adare now on sale for €1.9m
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
