Byrne's World of Wonder in receivership?

Judgement Day

I'm sorry for the staff but in my opinion it was a ramshackle operation that grew too big for its own boots. Their handling of job applications was without parallel. :rolleyes:

McLoughlin

The recession isn't to blame for the failure of Byrnes its there own fault they failed to give the customer what the wanted I seen it myself at christmas time the didn't get brand name toys in instead they would get cheap imitation versions that maybe ok for them but parents know there child would be fooled and there book department is laughable look at Alien 8 Bookstore in wexford town they notice what consumers wanted and were not getting and filled a hole in the market the same the the Book Centre does with certain newspapers, magazinesn and books they give the consumer what they want. Byrnes had an attitude that they knew best and people will shop with them regardless and there high turnover of staff goes made them a laughing stock and there treatment of staff caused allot of people not to shop there.

UBd

Maxer.... I doubt i need to answer your post considering the other replies, but since you had the gall to brand my post as typical and question my comments.....

It was not because of the recession otherwise everything would be closed.... Recission and high rent added to the speed of their demise which was always gonna happen because of bad business decisions... giving the top jobs to family members rather than experienced and trained retailers... very bad buying decisions... not being nice to their wonderful staff and suppliers... and plenty more in-house behaviour that wouldn't be found in top retailers.

Yes... I have seen their flash cars.... cars that their staff would never be able to afford without winning lotto! Jim earned his money, fair play to him. He "retired" from the business, gave the good jobs to his offspring, they have flash cars and had huge salaries, now the business is gone. Books still sell, toys still sell, greetings cards still sell, Playstation games etc. still sell, stationery still sells, nursery items still sell..(the bith rate in this small country has gone through the roof during the recession)... albeit in smaller quantities that businesses would have to monitor and react to.


As for Hughes and Hughes or other such businesses... no, i wouldn't say the same. I'm not aware of how they are run but successful businesses in general can adapt to meet the demand placed on them by recession. Badly run businesses and greedy retailers will struggle. Hughes and Hughes still trade and are doing well because an examiner was brought in. I assume he fixed the problems and didn't close it down because it had potential once the problems were sorted.

Sundula: Easons may be shedding some workforce but that is probaly a wise decision made by a company that is reacting to the recession in order to ensure it stays in business for the long run. I believe they are opening 4 new stores this year?

Judgement Day

UBd - Hughes & Hughes is another example of a bookseller loosing the run of themselves and they are closing down for a second time in some places (Dundalk) http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055840173&page=2 Easons too, once a family business run along very tight lines lost the run of themselves in the boom and now look ripe for a takeover by somebody like WH Smiths. The wheel will have turned full circle then as Eason & Son started off when they took over the WH Smith operation back in the 19th century.

Zhane

Hughes and Hughes was again a total mismanaged operation. They plunged millions into a system that just didnt work, with a central warehouse that just ordered stock and took all ordering away from booksellers. It was flawed from the start, it also took ages to get books in because it had to go through the warehouse.

I do hear one of the Byrnes is actually working as a manager in the Opera House now. That was quick.

sundula

UBd wrote: »

Maxer.... I doubt i need to answer your post considering the other replies, but since you had the gall to brand my post as typical and question my comments.....

It was not because of the recession otherwise everything would be closed.... Recission and high rent added to the speed of their demise which was always gonna happen because of bad business decisions... giving the top jobs to family members rather than experienced and trained retailers... very bad buying decisions... not being nice to their wonderful staff and suppliers... and plenty more in-house behaviour that wouldn't be found in top retailers.

Yes... I have seen their flash cars.... cars that their staff would never be able to afford without winning lotto! Jim earned his money, fair play to him. He "retired" from the business, gave the good jobs to his offspring, they have flash cars and had huge salaries, now the business is gone. Books still sell, toys still sell, greetings cards still sell, Playstation games etc. still sell, stationery still sells, nursery items still sell..(the bith rate in this small country has gone through the roof during the recession)... albeit in smaller quantities that businesses would have to monitor and react to.


As for Hughes and Hughes or other such businesses... no, i wouldn't say the same. I'm not aware of how they are run but successful businesses in general can adapt to meet the demand placed on them by recession. Badly run businesses and greedy retailers will struggle. Hughes and Hughes still trade and are doing well because an examiner was brought in. I assume he fixed the problems and didn't close it down because it had potential once the problems were sorted.

Sundula: Easons may be shedding some workforce but that is probaly a wise decision made by a company that is reacting to the recession in order to ensure it stays in business for the long run. I believe they are opening 4 new stores this year?

Why Byrnes collapsed ? I dont know and I doubt you have the exact answer either. I only commented on the 'flashiness' of Jim. The salaries etc. of his children I dont anything about. Its interesting that you believe Easons decision to start cutting staff as been as wise one yet when Byrnes started to scale back and close stores two years ago it was ?

UBd

I don't like Easons cutting jobs either, but along with the fact that they are opening 4 new stores this year, it must be a business decision, made by competent people, to make sure that they don't follow the likes of Byrne's down that rocky road.

2 years ago Byrnes cut jobs, and stores, because they had mismanaged themselves into a hole.... that was their own doing. Big difference.:(

sundula

UBd wrote: »

I don't like Easons cutting jobs either, but along with the fact that they are opening 4 new stores this year, it must be a business decision, made by competent people, to make sure that they don't follow the likes of Byrne's down that rocky road.

2 years ago Byrnes cut jobs, and stores, because they had mismanaged themselves into a hole.... that was their own doing. Big difference.:(

I hope Easons do open new stores, easy to say it but hard to do it. Time will bear it out. I gather your basic point is that Easons are smart business people and the management of Byrnes are idiots and hence they are closed. Thats your view and your entitled to in. I havent seen details to prove how Byrnes business empire collapsed and there was no significant reporting into the debts of the business or if there was I havent seen it. I do think its a bit unfair to brand the family a bunch of idiots who ran the business into the ground.

UBd

Ack! Sure I didn't brand them a "bunch of idiots who ran the business into the ground"............. but i would not completely disagree with the phrase. :P

I have spoken with some of the family and some of their employees and know a lot of what went on. Not everything, but enough to make an informed opinion. That you reap what you sow, what goes around comes around and Karma truly exists!

There is now a fantastic opportunity for whoever takes over to run a very profitable business with careful buying and qualified / experienced management. If only I had the cash myself!

McLoughlin

Anyone that I know that worked for them knows that they ran the business into the ground.

Zhane

And it was pretty obvious for ages. It was a never a case of 'if' it went under. It was 'when'.

sundula

UBd wrote: »

Ack! Sure I didn't brand them a "bunch of idiots who ran the business into the ground"............. but i would not completely disagree with the phrase. :P

I have spoken with some of the family and some of their employees and know a lot of what went on. Not everything, but enough to make an informed opinion. That you reap what you sow, what goes around comes around and Karma truly exists!

There is now a fantastic opportunity for whoever takes over to run a very profitable business with careful buying and qualified / experienced management. If only I had the cash myself!

I concede that you would have greater knowledge than me on the operation if you have contact with the family. To shift the discussion to something different - do you thing anyone would be interested in taking over the balance of the business as it is?
Surely if you were in the market - like Easons - you would avoid this business and look for higher profile vacant properties in these locations ? Who could you see buying out Byrnes or will it end up closed?

Judgement Day

Just back from Byrne's (Enniscorthy) and in my opinion, despite the report in this week's Guardian, I think closure is imminent here too. Even the new stock in the book section has now been marked down by 20% and there's preciously little stock of any sort left in the shop. The office/stationery section and the toddler's toy section are empty and closed off. Anybody hear anything reliable?

McLoughlin

Judgement Day wrote: »

Just back from Byrne's (Enniscorthy) and in my opinion, despite the report in this week's Guardian, I think closure is imminent here too. Even the new stock in the book section has now been marked down by 20% and there's preciously little stock of any sort left in the shop. The office/stationery section and the toddler's toy section are empty and closed off. Anybody hear anything reliable?

People are saying there doing the best to stay open for the christmas market but November has been mentioned in unconfirmed conversations

maxer68

didn't the new discount chain Dealz say they were opening in Wexford, enniscorthy, gorey & carlow.

I have no knowledge of their exact locations, but these are all towns that Byrnes have shops in. Possibly they have taken new leases on the stores?

trevr

Judgement Day wrote: »

Just back from Byrne's (Enniscorthy) and in my opinion, despite the report in this week's Guardian, I think closure is imminent here too. Even the new stock in the book section has now been marked down by 20% and there's preciously little stock of any sort left in the shop. The office/stationery section and the toddler's toy section are empty and closed off. Anybody hear anything reliable?

Going to be under new ownership in 4 weeks so it wouldn't be very prudent for the receiver to buy in new stock.......

Zhane

Gorey closed down today, not sure about KK, Carlow but Wexford staying open for the time being. For Sale signs on all buildings (including clonard)

sundula

Cant them selling as a going concern, buildings will be sold individual with other assets I would think. Nothing special about the 'brand' for some one to keep in alive -

Judgement Day

According to today's Guardian the Enniscorthy and Wexford shops are to remain open having been sold to Jim Byrne's brother. Don't know what the Friday 'clearance sale' referred to is about, as when I passed this morning the same tired, old rubbish was still marked down inside the door. Someone needs to pull their finger out big time to rebrand Byrnes or it is only shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic stuff.

maxer68

Judgement Day wrote: »

According to today's Guardian the Enniscorthy and Wexford shops are to remain open having been sold to Jim Byrne's brother. Don't know what the Friday 'clearance sale' referred to is about, as when I passed this morning the same tired, old rubbish was still marked down inside the door. Someone needs to pull their finger out big time to rebrand Byrnes or it is only shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic stuff.

The clear off would have been done by the receiver who would then pass over an empty / near empty unit to the new owners.

Byrnes problem would have been that they were stuck for cash / investment over the past 3/4 years and riddled with debt - so no hope in that period of moving with the times. Now with new owners and still part fo the byrne family, we will hopefully see a resurgent company and the jobs that go with it.

Zhane

I give it 2 months. Same people in charge...not gonna work.

McLoughlin

Zhane wrote: »

I give it 2 months. Same people in charge...not gonna work.

Agree he will more than likely put the same people back in charge.

Zhane

McLoughlin wrote: »

Agree he will more than likely put the same people back in charge.

They already are McLoughlin.

maxer68

Zhane wrote: »

I give it 2 months. Same people in charge...not gonna work.

McLoughlin wrote: »

Agree he will more than likely put the same people back in charge.

The wonderful Irish negativity :rolleyes: - or is it begrudgery.

If this was the USA, everyone would be cheering for them and wishing them the very very besta nd giving them as much support as possible.

But this is Ireland - the land of effin begrudgers.

McLoughlin

maxer68 wrote: »

The wonderful Irish negativity :rolleyes: - or is it begrudgery.

If this was the USA, everyone would be cheering for them and wishing them the very very besta nd giving them as much support as possible.

But this is Ireland - the land of effin begrudgers.

Do you think its a good idea to put/keep the same people in charge that caused this business to go downhill so much over the past several years the same people that cost allot of jobs and sent people to the dole queue ?

maxer68

McLoughlin wrote: »

Do you think its a good idea to put/keep the same people in charge that caused this business to go downhill so much over the past several years the same people that cost allot of jobs and sent people to the dole queue ?

I didn't know Byrnes were responsibl;e for both the irish and international recession. They made one error - they expanded too quickly and when the recession came, they got hit hard.

IMO - when that happens, you learn an awful lot and rarel;y make the same errors again.

As I said, in the USA they would be treated as heros, but in Begrudgery World Capital here in Ireland, people can only find fault.

Judgement Day

maxer68 wrote: »

I didn't know Byrnes were responsibl;e for both the irish and international recession. They made one error - they expanded too quickly and when the recession came, they got hit hard.

IMO - when that happens, you learn an awful lot and rarel;y make the same errors again.

As I said, in the USA they would be treated as heros, but in Begrudgery World Capital here in Ireland, people can only find fault.

They lost the run of themselves and instead of running a small number of shops properly they ran a large number of shops badly. Incidentally, the sale continues in Enniscorthy with lots of children's books reduced to €1 - I bought 'Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend' marked down from €14.99 - my first book purchase in an Irish bookshop in years.

maxer68

Judgement Day wrote: »

They lost the run of themselves and instead of running a small number of shops properly they ran a large number of shops badly. Incidentally, the sale continues in Enniscorthy with lots of children's books reduced to €1 - I bought 'Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend' marked down from €14.99 - my first book purchase in an Irish bookshop in years.

absolutely and there was one particular person who pushed it to the limit and I doubt if that person will be involved in the new set-up.

also, they would have had supply issues for the past couple of years which meant poor stocks.

a new small neat set-up will see them go back to their roots of being good decent book/toy/gift retailers for a local market, just like they used to be.

LLU

Judgement Day wrote: »

They lost the run of themselves and instead of running a small number of shops properly they ran a large number of shops badly. Incidentally, the sale continues in Enniscorthy with lots of children's books reduced to €1 - I bought 'Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend' marked down from €14.99 - my first book purchase in an Irish bookshop in years.

glad to see you making such a contribution to the local economy in between sneering at the people trying to make it work.

Judgement Day

I'm not sneering at anybody but I think that Byrne's was badly run long before the recession and I doubt whether things are going to change. As for my contribution to the local economy, I try to buy locally when affordable, or possible, but realistically I'm not going to pay over the odds for books, or shoddy Chinese toys, in Byrne's or similar establishments.

arseagon

Judgement Day wrote: »

I'm not sneering at anybody but I think that Byrne's was badly run long before the recession and I doubt whether things are going to change. As for my contribution to the local economy, I try to buy locally when affordable, or possible, but realistically I'm not going to pay over the odds for books, or shoddy Chinese toys, in Byrne's or similar establishments.

But you sell over the odds for "irish" tat? isn't that what shops do? earn a margin for their products?

Judgement Day

arseagon wrote: »

But you sell over the odds for "irish" tat? isn't that what shops do? earn a margin for their products?

TheChevron

arseagon wrote: »

But you shell out over the odds for "Irish" tat? Isn't that what shops do; earn a margin for their products?

I have attempted to fix his comment, I could be wrong though.

Judgement Day

Thanks but still makes little sense.

sundula

Ken Blacks opens in Byrnes old unit in Clonard today. Thats the type of setup Byrnes should have had and the type of store the county has been crying out for. The new KB store will do the toy business in the county and the remaining shops bought by Tom Byrne will be glorified newsagents with a small range of expensive books as before. Best of luck to both business's at least there wont be more closed units/shops.

Mocrie14

sundula wrote: »

Ken Blacks opens in Byrnes old unit in Clonard today. Thats the type of setup Byrnes should have had and the type of store the county has been crying out for. The new KB store will do the toy business in the county and the remaining shops bought by Tom Byrne will be glorified newsagents with a small range of expensive books as before. Best of luck to both business's at least there wont be more closed units/shops.

Are Ken Blacks owned by Smyths? Was in there this morning and their brouchure is identical to Smyths apart from the name

sundula

There is some form of connection. Ken Blacks probably part of some form of toy buying group under the Smyths umbrella or prehaps Smyths own Ken Blacks and keep the name as its established in Carlow and Portlaoise.

maxer68

Bazbu wrote: »

Are Ken Blacks owned by Smyths? Was in there this morning and their brouchure is identical to Smyths apart from the name

Its a friendship that goes back years and they did some joint buying directly from factories. Even though Smyths have got extremely big (70+ shops incl over 35 in UK), the deal between them & ken blacks still remain.

So despite Ken Blacks only having 3 or 4 stores, the customer gets the benifit of huge buying power.

Mocrie14

maxer68 wrote: »

Its a friendship that goes back years and they did some joint buying directly from factories. Even though Smyths have got extremely big (70+ shops incl over 35 in UK), the deal between them & ken blacks still remain.

So despite Ken Blacks only having 3 or 4 stores, the customer gets the benifit of huge buying power.

Strange arrangement....I presume they're getting a slice of the profits too

maxer68

Bazbu wrote: »

Strange arrangement....I presume they're getting a slice of the profits too

I doubt it. They're very good friends and the Smyths guys and very very decent people and extremely well regarded in the Toy industry (I used to be in it, but long gone from it). - Brilliant business people and real decent types at the same time. Its not that long ago that they had just one store themselves in Mayo.

Mocrie14

maxer68 wrote: »

I doubt it. They're very good friends and the Smyths guys and very very decent people and extremely well regarded in the Toy industry (I used to be in it, but long gone from it). - Brilliant business people and real decent types at the same time. Its not that long ago that they had just one store themselves in Mayo.

hmmm.

maxer68

Bazbu wrote: »

hmmm.

I can assure you i ahve zero connection with any of the companies in this thread, but the toy industry is very small and the industry nights outs are very well attended and great friendships are made - very unlike the fashion industry where bitchiness rules the roost

Judgement Day

Is that the Chinese toy industry you're talking about. :rolleyes:

maxer68

Judgement Day wrote: »

Is that the Chinese toy industry you're talking about. :rolleyes:

You'd be very surprised at what's made in Ireland - even locally in Waterford at the Hasbro factory which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Judgement Day

maxer68 wrote: »

You'd be very surprised at what's made in Ireland - even locally in Waterford at the Hasbro factory which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I would, any links - apart from Hasbro - as my experience is that almost everything now comes from China.

klong

Judgement Day wrote: »

I would, any links - apart from Hasbro - as my experience is that almost everything now comes from China.

I know it's not Irish made- but the below toys are made in Germany. Irish agents are based in Wexford and travel all over the country to fairs and heritage events

http://www.spielzeugmanufaktur.com/en/index.htm

RadioRetro

Byrne's WoW Facebook page says they're back with the Wexford and Enniscorthy branches back to full business and taking deposits on Christmas presents.

klong

klong wrote: »

I know it's not Irish made- but the below toys are made in Germany. Irish agents are based in Wexford and travel all over the country to fairs and heritage events

http://www.spielzeugmanufaktur.com/en/index.htm

Have a stall up and running in the Bull Ring, Wexford Town at the moment

Lola92

RadioRetro wrote: »

Byrne's WoW Facebook page says they're back with the Wexford and Enniscorthy branches back to full business and taking deposits on Christmas presents.

I was down the town on Saturday and saw it open, couldn't believe it! Didn't go in as I was a little short on time but I wonder are they back on full stock etc? The place looked awful the few months before they shut.

Cantona's Collars

Lola92 wrote: »

I was down the town on Saturday and saw it open, couldn't believe it! Didn't go in as I was a little short on time but I wonder are they back on full stock etc? The place looked awful the few months before they shut.

Was in the Enniscorthy store and it's fully stocked with all the big brand toys so I assume Wexford is the same,seems somebody from Byrnes was reading this thread and took notes.