INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH BY ARNOTTS’ FORMER DIRECTOR EDDIE SHANAHAN
Members of the Fermoy Business Association who attended the speech and workshop of former Arnotts director of marketing and merchandising, Eddie Shanahan, in the Grand Hotel late last week, found the speech quite inspirational in the ideas and suggestions it put forward.
Mr. Shanahan, now a branding, fashion and retail consultant, “has gotten everyone enthusiastic and fired up” about the new concept of branding Fermoy, says Donal O Lochlainn, chairman of the Fermoy Business Association.
Barry O’Neill, the association’s secretary found the evening to be “great food for thought” and hoped that those present on the night would come together soon to discuss the vision, “prioritise some key points” and then put them in place.
A vision of making Fermoy the best town in Ireland was a result of the workshop that involved everyone present. Essentially that means that Fermoy would be established locally, nationally and internationally as a unique and quality environment, an excellent place to do business, to enjoy leisure time, to live in a neighbourly community and to educate future generations.
In order to achieve this vision a number of brand values are important as highlighted by Mr. Shanahan: courtesy, innovation, importance of a good customer service, respect for the environment, ethics, accessibility and community spirit.
What came across from the meeting was that in order for Fermoy to become more attractive as a town, the standards have to be upped and a higher quality service has to be offered by businesses.
“The philosophy will permeate the whole town,” says Mr. O Lochlainn, adding that every business in town would be contacted and the new concept, vision and means to attain this goal would be presented to them.
“Hopefully people will come on board.” If people are receptive to the ideas, then Fermoy can only gain from the experiment.
Published:
Thursday 7th August 7:31pm
