On a lighter note
"Hats off to everyone who puts up a good fight now because if doing business means doing battle for the next while, only those with the gumption will be coming out the other side"
Print9 March 2009
We thought it was high time we gave the negativity a rest and stopped joining in the chorus of doomsday callers. And seeing as there’s so much uncertainty before us, what could be more heartening right now than a trip down memory lane? (No smart answers please, that was a rhetorical question).
In truth though, as we discuss in our feature on the phenomenon of retro-ising (page 20), there is great value in reminiscing about the past. Not just because looking at old pictures is fun but because it makes us realise how far we’ve come; as a nation, as an industry, as people.
All of that experience will not be suddenly undone; it’s a big part of what makes us today, and it’s what we will call on to get through the difficult times. Especially now that many of us find we’re getting back to first principles of business.
In this issue we’re celebrating heroes of the Irish grocery trade. The most retro of supermarket men, Feargal Quinn shares his vision, past, present and future (page 16), and talks about a time when money was tight and the crimplene even tighter. Anyone with the gumption to set up shop at 23, on the cusp of supermarket revolution in Ireland and the mammoth price wars of the 60s and 70s, has our respect.
So too do the McCambridges of Galway, established in 1925. Founded thanks to a Black & Tans imposed exile, this is a business that sought to bring gourmet food and fine wines to the west of Ireland when the words were still foreign. Today, the third generation of McCambridges looks to the future of the business, eager to continue its tradition of bringing new things and adding an important dimension to the city.
As you can see, we give a special nod to Galway heroism this month, for showing incredible stamina and determination in standing up for their businesses. Hats off to everyone who puts up a good fight now because if doing business means doing battle for the next while, only those with the gumption will be coming out the other side.
Caroline Byrne
Editor
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