Latest News

Thursday, 06 April 2023 News

New Belfast HQ

New Belfast HQ

After nearly 14 years on Arthur Street Belfast I have relocated.

I have now taken up residence within Clockwise serviced offices in River House, 48 - 60 High Street Belfast BT1 2BE.

Give me a call to arrange a wee chat on the balcony this spring.

READ MORE

Tuesday, 13 December 2022 News

Hench is getting bigger

Hench is getting bigger

Hench is getting bigger in Belfast.

It has been great to help this local business go from strength to strength over the last few years.

With the addition of the new space they will become one of Northern Ireland's largest strength training facilities.

Whatever your fitness goals are for 2023, maybe Rory and his team...

READ MORE

Friday, 29 April 2022 News

B & M Stores open large store in Portadown

B & M Stores open large store in Portadown

B & M Stores one of the UK's leading discount retail chain's has opened their latest new format store in Northern Ireland.

The new large format store of 33,000 sqft has opened in the reconfigured High Street Mall Portadown

The retailer has been trading in the town for over a decade and have upsized from 7,000...

READ MORE

Friday, 10 September 2021 News

Tony Kealys are on the move

Tony Kealys are on the move

Around 18 months ago I was introduced to Tony Kealys, to see if I could advise them on a new Northern Ireland strategy for their business going forward.

The location they had in the boucher shopping park, Belfast was just too expensive for them and the profile of their business had changed.

I advised them on a...

READ MORE

Thursday, 05 August 2021 News

What next for retail in Northern Ireland

What next for retail in Northern Ireland

As we move into August 2021 retail businesses I have been talking with are starting to get a sense of the retail landscape.

In Northern Ireland, since April 2020, on average, most have been closed for 50% of a 12 months period and been able to open/trade for the last three months.

As businesses review their store performance...

READ MORE

Friday, 02 July 2021 News

Its been a hard 15 months

Its been a hard 15 months

I can safely say that the last 15 months has been one of the hardest periods of my working life in property.

Uncertainty has been the biggest issue and still is.

As the majority of my current clients have started to reopen since 30th April 2021 after the third lock down in Northern Ireland both they and I can build for...

READ MORE

Friday, 18 December 2020 News

charity shop closures

charity shop closures

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

READ MORE

Wednesday, 16 December 2020 News

Portadown High street mall transformation underway

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...

READ MORE

Tuesday, 28 July 2020 News

Bravissimo not to reopen in Belfast

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.

...

READ MORE

Monday, 27 July 2020 News

Joules open in Banbridge

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...

READ MORE

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 News

Hand sanitising station

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...

READ MORE

Wednesday, 17 June 2020 News

Hard Choices

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...

READ MORE

Tuesday, 19 May 2020 News

How to shop in-store has changed

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...

READ MORE

Thursday, 14 May 2020 News

We may have to live with covid-19 in retail

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...

READ MORE

Monday, 11 May 2020 News

lease renewal in a pandemic

lease renewal in a pandemic

I have various clients who have lease renewals and rent reviews in Northern Ireland at the moment.

Some are historic from 2019 and some are coming up within what is the pandemic Covid-19 period.

It is amazing the views that different people are taking at this time, thinking that the past in any way will mirror the future in...

READ MORE