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Clare businesses scoop top awards

This article is from page 10 of the 2007-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG

TWO Clare businesses have been named among Ireland’s top retailers at the FBD Crest Retail Awards Ex- cellence Awards 2007.

Patrick Bourke’s Menswear and Collins Jewellers were both singled out for recognition at the awards cer- emony held in Dromoland Castle on Saturday.

Patrick Bourke’s Menswear, O’Connell Square, Ennis, was a final- ist in the Best Large Store Western Region category. Collins Jewellers, meanwhile, was a finalist in the Best Small Store Western Region category.

The first Patrick Bourke’s Mens- wear opened in Kilrush in 1928. The family-run business has since ex- panded with two stores now open in Ennis, the first opened in 1996 and the second and biggest store, opened 12 months ago. Proprietor Patrick Bourke had been keen to launch a more up-market store while the other two stores would still serve the busi- eSMAWLod 0B

Employing 22 people, Bourke has two in-house tailors running the al- teration services. He also holds many in-store promotions and charity fash- ion shows. The store caters for almost 300 weddings a year.

Collins Jewellers again performed

strongly in the competition, having previously won the FCD Crest Best Small Store in the Western Region in 2005. Collins’ was also ranked among the top 50 stores in Ireland in 2006.

A family business, Collins Jewel- lers has been in the trade for the past 35 years. Spanning 1,600 sq feet and with a 30 ft shop front, Collins Jew- ellers is one of the most recognisea- ble shop fronts in Ennis.

The high-value attached to the Col- lins brand, in particular the stores- own Collins diamond, has seen busi- ness develop a strong reputation and attract shoppers from all over the eer eleas

The FBD Crest Retail Excellence Awards were established in 1997 to promote best practice standards in the Irish retail industry. It is now the largest awards programme of its type boasting over 400 entries annually.

This year, 429 stores entered awards and the competition was as intense as ever. The ceremony was hosted by RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan. Minister of State and Chief Whip Tom Kitt TD, presented the awards which were sponsored for the sev- enth consecutive year by FBD.

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