Outlook

31 LISNEY | REVIEW 2015 & OUTLOOK 2016 RETAIL
OF RETAIL
THERAPY
Key
S
Monthly movement - Increase or decrease
= Sentiment (KBC / ESRI Consumer Sentiment
Index)
RS = Retail Sales (CSO Volume Retail Sales,
excluding motor trades)
July
S
RS
Left
Avoca
on Suffolk Street
As part of the development plan
review, Dublin City Council established
a working group to examine the issue
of cafes and restaurants replacing city
centre shops. Brown Thomas began a
¤1.5m revamp of its Grafton Street store.
The well-known Brooks & Co curiosity
shop on Lower Baggot Street closed.
Easons announced plans to invest ¤3m
in its flagship store on O’Connell Street.
Best menswear and Mothercare Ireland
went into examinership.
OCTOBER
S
RS
November
S
RS
August
Poundland purchased discount store
rival 99p Stores. Retail Ireland sought
the scrappage of the private car ban
from parts of the city centre as it
said the proposal would have serious
implication for the future viability of
the city centre. In April, Toys “R” Us
announced plans to open up to six new
outlets in Ireland and in August took
stores in Blanchardstown and Limerick.
September
Jigsaw reopened in Dublin, eight
years after pulling out of the
market. It took a 10 year lease on
34 South Anne Street. Department
store Boyers announced its plan
to close in January 2016. Pandora
relocated from 35 to 87 Grafton
Street, the former O2 store beside
Brown Thomas.
S
S
RS
RS
Dublin City Council released its draft
scheme of special planning control for
O’Connell Street and surrounding areas,
the aim of which is to govern future use
and redevelopment of properties. Sports
Direct entered into an agreement to
purchase the other 50% stake in Heatons
department store. Retailers welcomed
the reduced cost of processing debit
card payments introduced in Budget
2016. Aéropostale opened its first Irish
Store in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.
The Selfridges Group, which already
owns Brown Thomas in Ireland, acquired
Arnotts from Fitzwilliam Finance
Partners. Retail Ireland predicted
the best Christmas for retailers since
2008. The Pratt family sold luxury
retail brand Avoca to Aramark (a US
catering group) for ¤60m. Aramark
plans to internationalise the brand. Black
Friday was questioned by retailers who
suffered poor sales in the run up to
the day. Flight Centre took 2 Dawson
Street as its flagship store in Dublin.
Best Menswear successfully exited
examinership, securing the jobs of 130
employees. Dealz leased its 50th store
with the discounter taking the former
Social Welfare office on Thomas Street in
Dublin 8.
December
Consumer confidence reached a ten
year high, the strongest reading since
January 2006. Noticeable increase
reported in Northern Ireland shoppers
in border towns taking advantage of the
weak euro. Plans announced to create
a new retail area at the Nassau Street /
Dawson Street junction. Iceland opened
its 10th Irish store on Talbot Street. A
stake in St Stephen’s Green Shopping
Centre was sold and a new development
director appointed, which is likely to see
the rejuvenation on the centre.
S
RS