Laois Chamber CEO, Caroline Hofman, caught up with Laois Chamber Alliance member, Jenny Miller of Fifty Seven Boutique and Gift Emporium, with stores in Durrow and Athy. Fifty Seven is a family owned business which is owned and managed by mother-daughter pair Mary and Jenny Miller…
Tell us a bit about Fifty Seven Boutique and Gift Emporium and what you offer?
Fifty Seven Boutique and Gift Emporium is an independently owned and managed ladies boutique and gift store selling a vast range of products in the mid-high end category of the market. We are proud stockists of many of the leading ladies Irish and European fashion labels such as Kate Cooper, Naya, Ora, Rabe, Marble, Street One, Cecil, Fransa, Robell.
Alongside our fashion brands we are delighted to offer a beautiful range of gifts for all ages from nursery gifts right up through the age groups! We are proud to stock a large range of gifting products from fabulous Irish companies for example, Brooke and Shoal candles, Alphabet Jigsaws, Dublin Herbalists Skincare, Inis perfumes, so in truth our offering in very vast, if you are looking for a greeting card for €3 or an occasion wear dress for €300 our aim is to be able to serve you!
When was your first store opened, and how have you grown since then?
2023 is a massive year for us actually as we are celebrating 20 years in business. We opened our first store in September 2003 in Portarlington.
A lot of people will have fond memories of the summer of 2003 as Laois senior footballers won the Leinster final that year. The whole county was in celebratory mode that summer and it is actually from that that the name of our business was taken.
There was an awful lot of chat that time about the previous team that achieved a Leinster title for Laois which was in the year 1946. Fifty Seven years later, we were in the middle of preparations for opening the shop but we were still unsure of what to call it.
During a brainstorming session of sorts Fifty Seven and Forty Six were suggested and my Mam knew immediately that she had the name for her shop!
The name of the shop means a lot to us, as not only does it remind us of a very enjoyable and happy time for many Laois people, it is also a very unique business name that helps to set us apart and it is a discussion point with many customers on a daily basis still!
We have moved and grown up a lot in the past 20 years, but one thing that always came with us was our name!
Today we have three physical stores; two stores in Athy which we opened in Janurary 2017 and June 2022, and a store in Durrow which was opened in July 2019. We also have an online store which was born out of necessity during the covid lockdown of 2020!
What has been your business highlight?
I think we are going to have to say we are currently at a high point for the business. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, and we are reflecting on all that has happened over the past 20 years, we have to admit that we are currently in a good and very enjoyable stage of the business.
We have survived some very difficult times, notably the recession of 08/09 and then most recently the disruption that covid caused us is almost impossible to digest.
During some of those difficult times we had to make some hard decisions in order to survive and one of those decisions was when we decided to close our shop in Portarlington in August 2020.
It was hard to close the first shop we opened and walk away from all the hard work we had put in over the years in Portarlington, but sometimes in business you have to make those calls and leave emotion at the door.
It was a tough decision but it was the right decision and I believe we are in a better place now as a business having made that move at the time we did.
For any business considering locating in Laois, what would you say are the best things about being located here?
Without a doubt the physical location of Laois is the greatest advantage we have over our competitors. We are able to take a trip to our suppliers in Dublin and still be back to open our stores if we wish.
Any of our competitors from many other parts of the country are simply not able to do that. We also feel very fortunate to be a part of the brilliant community that is Durrow Co. Laois.
People of Durrow and the surrounding areas are very proud of Durrow and are very conscious to support everything that happens in Durrow and it is because of that pride and the work that goes on by so many that Durrow is such a fantastic place to live, to do business and to visit when in Laois.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
There have been many nuggets of good advice given to us over the years by many different business people but one little comment passed to us on the day we opened our Durrow store in 2019 still rings in our ears.
We had been preparing all morning to open the shop in Durrow on a Friday at 1pm. At around 12pm we said we would go across the road to Bowes Cafe and get some lunch.
As Sarah Bowe, owner of Bowes Foodhall, brought us to a table, she showed us to the first table in what they used as an overflow room. An area they use to seat guests when their main area is full. She asked were we all set for opening. Mam replied, ‘ yes, all set – the only thing we are missing now is your secret to success’ without a moment’s hesitation Sarah replied with a very honest two word answer – ‘Hard work’.
It seems obvious and simple and it is, but sometimes we all need to remember that without hard work, nothing will be achieved, but with it you stand a chance of doing something fairly good.
Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time with Fifty Seven Boutique and Gift Emporium?
In five years’ time we hope to be still here, continuing to offer our customers a great selection of quality products along with great customer service. We are at a size and scale now where we are carrying an extensive range of products and brands, while offering a personal service and an enjoyable in store shopping experience.
We now live in an era where shops are moving online and assistance is coming from a computer in the corner of the shop. Our aim is to avoid that approach to retail and to keep things personal for as long as possible.
Visit www.fiftyseven.ie to find out more.
Business News
EU Year Of Skills
Minister Simon Harris recently announced the launch of the EU Year Of Skills and the new Cultural and Creative Industries Skillnet.
The EU Year of Skills will run from May 2023 to May 2024, signalling the importance of skills and talent development throughout EU member states.
Find out more here: EU Year of Skills Launched by Minister Harris with Skillnet Ireland
Fior Bhia Farm
Congratulations to Laois Chamber Alliance member, Fior Bhia Farm Portlaoise, awarded the Special Commendation for Sustainable Farming 2023 Award at the RDS Spring Agricultural and Forestry Awards 2023.
Regional Tourism Development Strategies 2023-2027
Fáilte Ireland has launched four new Regional Tourism Development Strategies 2023-2027 which will provide a framework for sustainable tourism development across Ireland.
The Ireland’s Ancient East Strategy can be found here: Failte Ireland – Ireland’s Ancient East Regional Development Strategy | Regional Development Strategies | National Tourism Development Authority |
White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan 2023-2024
Minister Simon Coveney has published the White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan 2023-2024 which includes 40 initiatives that will support delivery of the policy objectives outlined in the White Paper published last December.
Read the full statement here: White Paper on Enterprise Implementation Plan 2023-2024 – DETE
Business Supports
Climate Toolkit 4 Business
With the Climate Toolkit 4 Business from the Government of Ireland, you can input information specific to your business and receive your estimated carbon footprint and a tailored action plan to get you started on your sustainability journey.
Find out more here: Climate Toolkit 4 Business | Zero Carbon Journey
Post-Brexit Market Growth and Diversification Grant
The new Post-Brexit Market Growth and Diversification Grant from Enterprise Ireland aims to help eligible Brexit-impacted Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia client companies develop a strategy to enter and grow in new markets outside the UK.
Find out more: https://rebrand.ly/Post-Brexit
Springboard+ or HCI 2023/2024 funding
Last week, Minister Simon Harris confirmed the programmes that will receive Springboard+ or HCI 2023/2024 funding.
Laois Chamber Alliance members, the University of Limerick and SETU, have a number of programmes available.
Find out more here: Springboard Courses SETU (itcarlow.ie) & Springboard+ and HCI Programmes | University of Limerick (ul.ie)
Upcoming Events and Training
Lunch and Learn
A Lunch and Learn Event in collaboration with Local Enterprise Office Laois and Laois Chamber Alliance will take place on Thursday, 15th June, from 12.30pm to 2pm in The Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise.
Dr. Diane Cooper PhD. will deliver a workshop on “S.E.L.F Care for Entrepreneurs” and how to care for a strong mind, body and business.
Book your free place here: Lunch & Learn – Strong Mind, Body and Business – SELF Care for Entrepreneurs – Local Enterprise Office – Laois
Facebook for Business
Get more out of Facebook with Local Enterprise Office Laois’ FREE “Facebook for Business -Advanced” online workshop on Monday, June 19th, from 10am to 1pm.
Maximise Facebook’s features for social selling and marketing your business. Set up, grow and upgrade your Facebook business page.
Book your free place at: https://bit.ly/LaoisFBadvJun
SEE ALSO – Check out previous interviews on our Business Briefing here
