Staying competitive the only way for business to survive
By giving customers what they want, The Gift and Art Gallery is managing to survive the recession. So says Eilish McQuillian who runs the family-owned business with her sister Jacqueline.
‘We’re lucky that we’re in a wee pocket of good well established shops and that helps to bring customers in,’ she says.
‘Our shop is 30 years in business. We’re 16 years in Clanbrassil Street and were in Park Street before that so we have been through recessions in the past.’
‘It’s all about reducing prices and stocking goods which customers want and can afford,’ she continues. ‘It’s not that people don’t want to shop in Dundalk, they like to keep business local, so we have to be very competitive. Our customer base is very very loyal and without them we wouldn’t be here.’
She says that the closure of the TSB branch was a big blow to the northern end of Clanbrassil Street as shoppers now have to go towards the Square for an ATM machine.
