Month: November 2016

Uncertainty over Brexit leads Next to cut prices by 10%

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Next, the British clothing and homeware giant, have cut prices in their Irish stores by 10% today.

The UK’s Brexit vote saw a collapse in the value of sterling and Next has become the first British retailer to pass these savings on to Irish consumers. Since the UK voted to ‘Leave’, the value of sterling has dropped. This time last year £1 was worth €1.36, whereas now it is worth around €1.12, which is a decrease of nearly 20%. The price reductions will take effect both in-store and online.

Price discrepancies between the UK and Ireland, which have always been a source of conflict between Irish consumers and UK retailers have become harder to justify in recent weeks. The collapse of the sterling should mean that products coming from UK suppliers should be significantly cheaper in the Republic but Irish consumers are seeing little evidence of this in stores.In some cases, identical products can be over 40% more expensive in Ireland than in the U.K. In announcing a universal price reduction of 10 per cent, Next is likely to put pressure on other retailers to follow suit.

This could result in some significant price falls in the run-up to Christmas.

Important Skills for Seasonal Workers

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Temporary work, especially coming up to the Christmas season, can be a really exciting and fun experience. Not only can working during this busy period earn you extra cash for your Christmas presents but there are loads of other benefits such as networking, learning new skills and filling gaps in your C.V But this type of seasonal work is undoubtedly busy and will require you to have certain skills and personality traits.

Flexibility

While seasonal work offers you a lot of flexibility and control over your schedule, you also have to offer your potential employer flexibility in return. There is no point applying for positions in busy restaurants if you only want to work Friday mornings. The ability to adapt to your employers needs will get you noticed, in a good way.

Ability to work under pressure

It goes without saying that Christmas is a busy time, especially for those in hospitality and catering. The ability to work under pressure and roll with the punches will make temporary seasonal work not only easier but also far more enjoyable.

Quick learner

Again, Christmas is a hugely busy time for most in the hospitality industry. While most employers will offer temporary staff full training, the ability to pick up the basics and adapt quickly to the company’s culture and way of doing things will mean you settle into the job much quicker and be able to give it your best.

Friendly manner

Just because Christmas is a busy time doesn’t mean normal rules go out the window. Being friendly, courteous and engaged is vital in any job but especially within the hospitality industry.

Your ability to remain customer focused during particularly hectic parts of the day will definitely be noted, and appreciated, by the employers.

Positive Thinking

Although the focus at this time of year is on Christmas cheer and being merry, everybody knows it can be a stressful time. The ability to deal with issues and/or complaints without letting them affect the rest of your shift, or even your whole day will mean you will be even more successful in your temporary role.

The Perfect C.V- by the Excel experts

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Here at Excel, we see a lot of C.Vs. A lot. And our team of experienced recruiters are sharing their insider knowledge on what the look for, and what they avoid, when screening C.Vs. In most cases, your C.V is the first impression an employer has of you so make it count. The aim is to get across you have the skills and experience to get the job, and then go get the job. Presentation is key. The C.V and accompanying cover letter should be tailored to the particular job you are applying for. Focus on the skills and experience relevant to that job to avoid your C.V being overlong and make it stand out from the crowd.

Keeping the layout of the CV neat, clear and consistent along with correct grammar and spelling are CRUCIAL. Sarah Hurley, Buyer and Head Office recruiter, has a clear idea about what makes a good C.V “Keep it simple. My ideal CV has a personal profile that sums the candidate up and describes the main objective for their career, followed by career summary, education, IT skills and the relevant interests.” Sarah also adds a small important point for jobseekers, “put CVs in Word format, not PDF as they can be difficult to format if we need to”

However, there is no point having a great-looking C.V if the content isn’t solid. Head of Fashion and Non-Food, Aislinn Lea explains her number one turn-off when it comes to C.Vs. “ Not too many jumps on their C.V is the main thing I would be conscious of.” If you do have gaps or jumps on your C.V, be prepared to explain them, both positively and honestly.

Sean Thomas, from our grocery desk and Nikki Murran, head of our Grocery department look for similar things when screening C.Vs. Sean says “good longevity and career progression with good company brands names, that are leaders in their markets . Nikki also stresses the importance of longevity, “ I look for strong brand progression and longevity in each role.”

Quote concrete examples of your successes in previous roles such as to support your claims. For example, “This increased profit by 2%” or “This led to a reduction in overheads from £23,000 to £17,000 per year’.

Remember,you never get a second chance at a first impression so make your C.V the best it can be and give your job search the best possible start.

National Hospitality Awards 2016 – Winners

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The 11th annual National Hospitality Awards took place on November 7th in The Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge Dublin. A winner in the Best Business Hotel category, The Intercontinental was host to the best hospitality businesses across the country. The National Hospitality Awards, held in association with Hospitality Ireland magazine also featured speakers David O’Hare (Bru Brewery) Daragh Anglim (Head of Marketing for Fáilte Ireland) and Declan Maxwell (Luna).

Overall Winners

  • Best Boutique Hotel – Tankardstown
  • Best Business Hotel – InterContinental Dublin
  • Best Casual Dining – The Washerwoman
  • Best Catering Job – Aramark – PWC
  • Best Catering Suppliers – General – Pallas Foods
  • Best Catering Suppliers – Specialists – Keelings
  • Best City Hotel – Hayfield Manor
  • Best Cocktail Bar – Vintage Cocktail Club
  • Best Customer Service – The Dylan
  • Best Destination Hotel – Sheen Falls Lodge
  • Best Dining Experience – Mulberry Gardens
  • Best Drinks Supplier – Diageo
  • Best Hotel Bar – Ashford Castle – The Prince of Wales Bar
  • Best Hotel Restaurant – Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites
  • Best Local Restaurant – The Twelve MacNean House
  • Best New Establishment – Farrier & Draper
  • Best Nightclub – The Wright Venue
  • Best Overall Hotel – The Europe Hotel & Resort
  • Best Overall Restaurant – Loam
  • Best Pub – Stags Head
  • Best Pub with Food – The Oarsman
  • Best Resort Hotel – Ashford Castle
  • Best Seafood Restaurant – O’Grady on the Pier
  • Best Sporting Pub – The Back Page
  • Best Traditional Pub – Toner’s
  • Best Value Hotel – Garryvoe Hotel
  • Best Wine List – The Twelve Hotel
  • Best Hotel Group – Dalata Hotel Group

 

Retail Excellence Awards 2016 – Winners

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2016 took place in The Radisson Blu, Co Galway on November 5th. The largest awards programme of its type, boasting over 600 total entries annually, the REI awards recognise the best in Irish retail. The awards programme is the largest event of the retail calendar and recognises the professionalism and innovation of companies, stores, websites and individuals in the retail industry. Excel Recruitment were delighted to see so many of our Grocery, Fashion and Non-Food clients recognised as finalists, as well as many winners across the category range, with our full retail team in attendance. Established in 1995, REI has over 1,620 leading retail companies who operate more than 13,000 stores in Ireland and is the largest retail industry body in Ireland.

 

Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2016 – Winners

Rising of The Year – Emma Cooke – Springmount Garden Centre.

Best Website of The Year – Carroll’s Irish Gift Store.

Consumer Choice Awards – Scally SuperValu, Clonakilty.

Best Supermarket Award 2017 – Smiths SuperValu Kinsale.

National Store of The Year – Greenacres Co. Wexford.

Best Forecourt of The Year 2017 – Applegreen.

Garden/DIY Centre of The Year – Arboretum Garden Centre.

Specialist Food Store of The Year 2017 – Greenacres Co. Wexford.

Best New Website – Compu B.

Best Digital Campaign of the Year – Inglot Ireland.

Rising Star of the Year – Agata from IKEA Ireland.

Top 5 Store Status.

  • Arboretum Garden Centre.
  • Greenacres Co Wexford.
  • Kilkenny Shop.
  • Tile Style.
  • Matthew Stevens.

Supplier of The Year – StudioForty9.

Manager of The Year – Colin Curtis – Harvey Norman.

Friendliest Place – Navan, Co Meath.