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Despite major opposition, B&Q has finally entered the Irish DIY market – a move anticipated by observers for at least the past ten years
The UK market leader already has seven stores in Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) – of which four are 10 000 m2 Warehouses, two of them opened during the past year – but the new store in the Liffey Valley retail park is the company’s first outlet in the Irish Republic.
As the Republic’s first Warehouse store it faced major opposition from the Irish Hardware Association, which represents independent retailers and claimed that the new B&Q would damage small traders.
The Irish Republic’s first B&Q opened in the Liffey Valley retail park in Dublin.
The opening however on 12 April was claimed by B&Q to be one of its most successful ever, attracting big crowds that formed queues several hundred yards long, and achieving the projected trading for a week in the first day. So busy was the store on opening day that company directors were out in the car park collecting trolleys! B&Q is now convinced that there is scope for further stores in Ireland, some of which will be warehouse-type outlets. Diarmuid Walsh, country manager for B&Q in Ireland, said that initial trading had exceeded even the company’s most optimistic projections.
Ultimately B&Q aims to open ten stores in Ireland, although no definite opening dates or locations have been fixed yet. The company is also lobbying the government to have its 6 000 m2 cap lifted, which was imposed after the Dublin store received planning permission and which in its present form would prevent the opening of further Warehouse stores.
Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy (right) during the store opening with Mary Harney, deputy prime minister, and Diarmuid Walsh.
The new B&Q outlet is 13 900 m2 in size, making it the largest single-storey retail outlet anywhere in Ireland. It carries 40 000 DIY and garden product lines and employs 220 people locally.
The company claims that its new Warehouse store will not necessarily wipe out local competition, but actually stimulate growth in the market by inspiring consumers to tackle jobs they might not otherwise consider.
The crowds on opening day exceeded all expectations.
Speaking at the opening of the Dublin store Geoffrey Mulcahy, chief executive of Kingfisher – the parent company of B&Q and Castorama – said, “We strongly believe that B&Q’s growth, including new store openings, will have a positive knock-on effect across the manufacturing sector and will grow the market significantly for home improvement products and services. Although the Liffey Valley store is the first to be opened in Ireland, we expect further job growth to flow from additional new openings in Dublin and in different parts of Ireland in the medium term.”
DIY in Europe 6-7/2002
As the Republic’s first Warehouse store it faced major opposition from the Irish Hardware Association, which represents independent retailers and claimed that the new B&Q would damage small traders.
The Irish Republic’s first B&Q opened in the Liffey Valley retail park in Dublin.
The opening however on 12 April was claimed by B&Q to be one of its most successful ever, attracting big crowds that formed queues several hundred yards long, and achieving the projected trading for a week in the first day. So busy was the store on opening day that company directors were out in the car park collecting trolleys! B&Q is now convinced that there is scope for further stores in Ireland, some of which will be warehouse-type outlets. Diarmuid Walsh, country manager for B&Q in Ireland, said that initial trading had exceeded even the company’s most optimistic projections.
Ultimately B&Q aims to open ten stores in Ireland, although no definite opening dates or locations have been fixed yet. The company is also lobbying the government to have its 6 000 m2 cap lifted, which was imposed after the Dublin store received planning permission and which in its present form would prevent the opening of further Warehouse stores.
Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy (right) during the store opening with Mary Harney, deputy prime minister, and Diarmuid Walsh.
The new B&Q outlet is 13 900 m2 in size, making it the largest single-storey retail outlet anywhere in Ireland. It carries 40 000 DIY and garden product lines and employs 220 people locally.
The company claims that its new Warehouse store will not necessarily wipe out local competition, but actually stimulate growth in the market by inspiring consumers to tackle jobs they might not otherwise consider.
The crowds on opening day exceeded all expectations.
Speaking at the opening of the Dublin store Geoffrey Mulcahy, chief executive of Kingfisher – the parent company of B&Q and Castorama – said, “We strongly believe that B&Q’s growth, including new store openings, will have a positive knock-on effect across the manufacturing sector and will grow the market significantly for home improvement products and services. Although the Liffey Valley store is the first to be opened in Ireland, we expect further job growth to flow from additional new openings in Dublin and in different parts of Ireland in the medium term.”
DIY in Europe 6-7/2002
