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STORE PROFILE
In the hills of Donegal Opened on 8 October 2021, Nearby Glenties is already impressing locals with its range and service
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he duo running Nearby Glenties, owner Salindar Kumar and manager Roisin Harkin are relatively new to the world of convenience retail but already seem to have a keen understanding of what is needed to make this store a success. Having the support of a wholesaler like S&W Wholesale is a huge advantage and something they don’t take for granted. The store officially opened its doors on 8 October 2021 during a challenging time with the ongoing pandemic. It had previously been another symbol brand after changing hands before closing down. Kumar made the decision to open in March but it took until October to have the shop fully functional. With the help of his manager Roisin Harkin, Kumar has had a busy few months but already the store has become a familiar part of the streetscape and has already amassed a strong repeat custom base. Kumar comes from New Delhi in India. He had studied in the UK before moving to Ireland to pursue various business ventures. He saw potential in the shop in Glenties and decided to engage with S&W who agreed also that it was a promising site and could see the bigger picture for both the retailer and the local community. There are already a number of retail outlets in this small Donegal town including close
STORE PROFILE
Retailer: Nearby Glenties, Co. Donegal Owner: Salindar Kumar Manager: Roisin Harkin Staff: Four staff members Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 8am - 9pm; Sundays: 8am - 6pm competition. However they remain unfazed by the competition and already have a point of difference in that they have longer opening hours than any of the other shops. The shop is open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sundays.
Staff At the moment they are managing with four staff but are keen to recruit at least two more as soon as possible to cover the long hours that the shop is open. However, as is the story the length and breadth of the country, staff are hard to come by especially in rural towns where a lot of people are still availing of the Covid unemployment payment. “It’s hard to find people who want to work in retail at the moment because of the government supports. Hopefully in the new year, things will change there,” says Harkin.
Nearby Glenties has a wide ambient range and plans to introduce more toys to its offering in the future
ShelfLife January 2022 | www.shelflife.ie
The Nearby store in Glenties, Co. Donegal has only been open a short time but has ambitions to offer unrivalled service to the local community. Fionnuala Carolan spoke to manager Roisin Harkin about her experience so far and their plans for the future of the business While they never knew what it was like to operate outside of Covid, they are thankful that they have had no issues with customers refusing to wear masks or keeping their distances so far. Opening during Covid has had its challenges though. These include looking to implement certain services in the shop like the Lotto or in obtaining a wine licence. “We have been waiting months for the Lotto licence. Because people are working from home, often there is no one physically in offices to collect post and process it. This has been our experience. It’s the same with the wine licence,” says Harkin. Glenties is a small town that is generally quiet in the winter but has become ever-more quiet since the onset of Covid. They are hoping that the store will really come into its own in the summer as they are in a prime location to benefit from tourists, being located between a number of popular beaches and well-known Burtonport Pier.
Range While they are still refining their offering, confectionery and household cleaning products are their best categories at present. Firewood and kindling are also popular. There is a strong ambient line but they don’t currently have a deli and are waiting a little while before they look to implement one as it would involve
Nearby Glenties has an important point of difference from rivals in that the store has longer opening hours
