Sheila Clarke of Ballina has been named as a one to watch among Ireland’s Next Generation Retailers by RGDATA, the voice of independent shops in Ireland.
Fourteen young retailers nationwide were selected based on their new concepts, ambition and fresh enthusiasm for their family owned businesses by RGDATA, the representative association for Ireland’s family owned shops.
In 2000, Sheila returned from overseas in 2000 to help her parents, Seamus and Kathleen, with their family run store, Clarkes XL Convenience Store in Ballina. Sheila quickly set to work incorporating more digital ideas into the business. She updated all of the back office software, introduced a photo kiosk into the shop, and installed an ATM.
“RGDATA knows how hard it is during these challenging times to run a family owned shop. But the great thing about independent family owned shops is that they really don’t do doom and gloom. We are delighted to highlight a new, young, generation of retailers who are joining these businesses and working hard to ensure they survive and thrive,” said RGDATA director general Tara Buckley.
She added: “Sheila and this next generation of local retailers are the faces of the future. They demonstrate how a fresh perspective, a strong worth ethic learned from an early age, a strong competitive streak, and an optimistic outlook will ensure that independent, family owned, shops continue to have a strong future.”
