Latest News

What are the implications of social distancing going forward

As we start to rumble along into Spring 2021, my retail client's have had some lockdowns, trading periods and now time to fully review their estate of stores, having had nearly one year of covid-19 trading.

There are lots of issues to do with cost control and cash flow, however one that keeps coming up is "social...

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Cotswold renew lease in Belfast city centre

It is always a surprise when you get an email out of the blue to help an historic client with a property matter.

In 2009 I acquired premises for Outdoor and Cycle Concepts trading as Cotswold and a decade on, I have helped them renew their lease in Belfast's city centre, Castle Lane area.

They thought...

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Supermarket rent review agreed

Murphy Chartered Surveyors have concluded a recent rent review on the Home Bargains on the Dromore Road in Omagh.

This is the second rent review we have carried out on this asset on behalf of the private landlord.

This property is a stand alone supermarket, with its own dedicated car parking and service yard.

We...

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Flying Tiger close in Belfast city centre

It's always a sad day in Murphy when a client closes a store.

This week our client Flying Tiger has closed their store at 22 Castle lane Belfast, in the city centre and has left the Northern Ireland retail market.

The client had a break clause in their lease and decided to exercise this and stop trading in Northern...

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It can pay to appeal your rates

In 2018 I acquired a retail warehouse unit for my client O'Neills, in the marlborough retail park in Craigavon.

The space was in a split up of a former B&Q.

At the time of the acquisition I provided the client with an estimate of the likely NAV for the unit for budget purposes.

Following...

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charity shop closures

Northern Ireland charity shops are struggling with sales declines despite enjoying bumper stock levels following a surge in 

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The Covid crisis and now Brexit to come

The impact of coronavirus is one of the “hardest things” I have had to experience in business.

As a one person consultancy working mostly in the retail and leisure world everything went into defensive mode for 9 months.

It has been hard on all levels......however I have embraced the unknown and wait to see...

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Portadown High street mall transformation underway

Over the past few years the owners of High street mall have been working hard to transform the future of the towns centre main retail and parking hub.

Following the closure of the main supermarket anchor, they started planning the downsize and configure of the centre, into a more convenience lead retail and service location in the...

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Bravissimo not to reopen in Belfast

It's always a sad time when a client closes a store you have helped them open

Our client bravissimo, which was directed to close as a consequence of the pandemic, has led to the company re planning its business, so they have taken the decision not to reopen their Royal Avenue store and surrender their lease back to the landlord.

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Joules open in Banbridge

Murphy Chartered Surveyors and property consultants have helped Joules identify and acquire their third store in Northern Ireland.

The 2000 sqft store is located in The Boulevard Banbridge.

Joules is a British clothing company which sells clothing and homeware products inspired by British country lifestyles. Its founder...

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Hand sanitising station

A relative of mine who is a precision rapid response engineer had just closed down the business on the week of the 23 March 2020 when I spoke to him about what he could make.

I suggested he should make some foot activated hand hygiene sanitising stations ( mobile or fixed ) that some of my client could use.

Fast forward three...

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Hard Choices

As the economy reopens hard choices have to be made in Northern Ireland.

I had to make the hard choice to sell my horse when there was a market for him and take what the market would pay.

There may not be a market in a few months, with less money around and even further movement restrictions in the equine...

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The green light

I am starting to get calls from managing agents and landlords asking if I know when some of my non essential retail clients are opening.

It's great to get a call after three months of no activity.

However, I am sure like most multi site business that have been given the green light, they will open when they can, if they think...

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How to shop in-store has changed

As more businesses open up, the way we shop has changed.

We are now encouraged to be patient, queue and adopt a no touch common sense approach to only pick up items we really think we are going to buy.

We are seeing some businesses deciding to introduce quarantine procedures for clothes / books for between 48...

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We may have to live with covid-19 in retail

As the pandemic unfolds we are now getting a message that we may just have to live with the virus for the foreseeable future.

The economy has shown negative growth in the first quarter of 2020 and the lock down will push the UK into a recession which could last some time as the economy and society adjusts.

So what could be the...

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