TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Building his retail consortium – The Thomas Ennis Group, with an awareness it was a team effort
‘Asked’ to leave school at 15 years of age, Thomas started an apprenticeship with FX Buckley butchers in Moore Street in the heart of Dublin city
Willingness to learn when you enjoy the learning environment
Regales his story of rising up through the retail ranks while outlining the evolution of supermarket retailing in Ireland over the past 30 years
In the year 2001, came under the mentorship of the retail legend, Feargal Quinn of Superquinn, and Pat Kelly
The great debate – theory (academia) versus practice (doing the job!) when it comes to learning your trade!
Retail – fast-moving, dynamic environment where each day brings a new challenge and never boring
Only 2 things you can control in your business – waste & wages
Opened first retail store, SPAR Merrion Row in 2005 through a ‘creative’ negotiation with the banks in the Celtic Tiger years!
Last year their flagship store, SPAR Merrion Row won the prestigious IGD Global Award over 964 other stores globally
Key to retail: Listen to your customer, give them what they want
Detail in Retail is key – his key people in the retail team are women – better eye for detail
His biggest retail mistake was his best business lesson – didn’t listen to best advice and his gut
Follows the old retail adage: ‘Sales is vanity; Margin is sanity’ [also goes ‘turnover is vanity, profit is sanity’]
Work-life Balance: he realised he needed to get a better balance for his family and his own quality of life
Marathons & Ironman races – his distraction from the busyness of working life – we need personal goals
Mental health is key – quality working hours over quantity of hours
Energy creates energy – believes participation in sport is imperative for a healthy body/healthy mind
Advocate for sport – particularly champions boxing as a sport that builds character, discipline and stamina. Thomas was coached under two time Olympic boxer Mick Dowling in his teens at his local boxing club in Tallaght.
Sport – teaching skills for life
Importance of mentorship in life/sport/career. His closest mentor, Walter O’Hara Jr, an American philanthropist from the Bronx, NYC. O’Hara’s advice – build your team; don’t look down on anybody; give back
Management versus Leadership
SOME SOURCES & RESOURCES MENTIONED:
IGD Awards: https://www.igd.com/events/igd-awards/2019-winners
Feargal Quinn retail story, told by colleagues including his regional manager Pat Kelly:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0429/1046239-feargal-quinn-irelands-retail-legend/
About philanthropist Walter O'Hara Jr.:
https://thecurrency.news/articles/11465/walter-ohara-jr-a-quiet-hero-working-on-irelands-behalf/
Two time Olympic medalist Mick Dowling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Dowling
___________________________________
Subscribe to YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqa2toscxF6xiFPslXxUtZw?view_as=subscriber
Rate & review Journeying on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/journeying/id1529912826
Like Facebook Page: https://bit.ly/33kp4bU
