Eason unveils flagship new store in Cork
Eason announces €1.1 million investment in new Cork store store as part of the chain's overall €20 million retail development programme
Print9 July 2012
Eason franchisee Pacelli Lynch and Conor Whelan, managing director, Eason officially opening Pacelli Lynch’s new Eason franchise in Pearce Street, Mullingar last July. The Mullingar store was the first in a series of four Eason franchises that opened last year in Balbriggan, Carlow and Kilkenny
Eason & Son, Ireland’s largest retailer of books, stationery, news and magazines, has invested over €1.1 million in a major upgrade of its store on Patrick Street, Cork, offering customers an entire new retail environment and shopping experience.
The 12,500 square foot Cork store, which employs 49 people, is the first store in the republic of Ireland to receive this significant renovation as part of an overall €20 million investment programme by the company.
The result – a new concept store with a complete new ‘look and feel’ – was unveiled to Cork customers, this week on 9 July 2012. It incorporates a number of exciting new initiatives across the entire Eason product range.
Features in the new store include a creative children’s department where parents and children can read books together and a gift department where gift ideas and cards are presented in a novel way. In addition across the book offering there are new feature zones such as Readers Room, Body & Soul, Home and That’s Entertainment. There are also attractive recreational and refreshment areas with an Insomnia coffee shop with seating for up to 50 customers on the first floor.
David Field, head of marketing and retail development, Eason said that the opening of the refurbished Patrick Street store represented a major milestone in the roll-out of Eason’s new retail strategy.
“We have been working on the development of our new retail strategy behind the scenes over the last two years and this imaginative and contemporary new Cork store is the first opportunity the Irish consumer will have to experience the new look Eason retail environment," said Field.
“An important element of the refurbished Cork store is our new ‘eStore’, a key part of our multichannel offering where consumers can download eBooks to their eReaders in store. Eason currently sells a range of eReaders and we have plans to launch our own eReader later this year.
“Our strategy for the development of the stores is based on extensive consumer research and a close understanding of successful international retailing initiatives. We are confident that the Eason Patrick Street store will become a destination that delivers a reinvigorated shopping environment and demonstrates expertise across all categories of the Eason range” he added.
Research undertaken as part of the new store design included a number of focus groups with Cork based consumers who expressed strong preferences for stores that are inviting, engaging and filled with lots of varied and interesting experiences.
The design team for the project included Jennings Design Studio (architect), Dynamo (graphic design) and Mc Cues (shop fitters).
Eason’s other stores in Cork are located in Mahon Shopping Centre, Ballincollig and Cork airport.
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