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MENARYS DENY RUMOURS OF CLOSURE

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster with Stephen McCammon, Managing Director of Menarys.

DUNGANNON-based independent retailer Menarys have denied closure rumours and has told the Courier that the business is weathering the economic storm.
Managing Director of the retail group Stephen McCammon told this newspaper he had met with the Enterprise Minster to discuss how retail can play their part in the Northern Ireland economy.
The meeting enabled Menarys Group, who employ over 450 people in Tyrone, to discuss key issues affecting everyday trade from plastic bag levying, Invest Northern Ireland initiatives, barriers to employment, counterfeit goods and challenges from internet retailers.
Stephen McCammon, Managing Director of Menarys Group, welcomed the opportunity to speak with the Minster.
He told the Courier: "It is of utmost importance that local employers get the opportunity to engage with government. This meeting has been a perfect opportunity for me to outline how high street retail, and more specifically Menarys, can provide vital employment for the area and be part of the economic solution for Northern Ireland moving forward."
To address the changing expectations of their customers Menarys invested in a complete rebrand and television advertising campaign which launched in September.
Speaking on the investment Stephen said: "That campaign helped us to reshape the public explanation of what Menarys is about. We cater for a much wider age of customers than people thought we did.
“We are investing in our online business, as well as our Reward Me cards, which are now held by around 70,000 people across Northern Ireland."
“We have been through a World War and a recession, as well as the Troubles in Northern Ireland," Mr McCammon added. "We truly are a Tyrone company and we are going into our 90th year. Menarys will be treating 2012 in a special way by doing many exciting things on local communities. People can look out for these events in-store, probably towards the end of the year.
“The local retail sector, like many other industries, has and continues to be affected by the economic downturn. However Menarys and Tempest are committed to growing the product offering across its stores in Northern Ireland.
“We've delivered a lot of change in our product and our store environments in 2011 and that will continue in 2012. While consumer confidence is understandably low, we are more focused than ever on delivering change within our stores.
"However the tax burden on business is a serious issue. With VAT at an all-time high, all other tax issues, from the devolution of corporation tax, to business rates, National Insurance and the plastic bag levy, become very significant factors in the future of the retail sector. It is important that these pressures are fully understood by those in Government."
Dungannon-based Menarys Group employs 1,500 staff in total across 20 Menarys department stores and 11 stores under the 'Tempest' brand and through its online offering, Menarys.com. 1,000 employees are Menarys staff and 500 members are made up from its concession partners.
The Minister welcomed the contribution they have made to the local economy and commended the company on their recent revamp aimed at modernising their brand.
Established in 1923 as a draper shop, the Menarys brand has adapted and changed to emerge in its current existence with multiple stores on both sides of the border offering fashion, accessories, household goods, cookware, luggage and cosmetics.
The Group also owns the trendy high-street brand Tempest which stocks fashion aimed at younger women in their 20s and 30s.

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