Brendan Cullen is Managing Director of SurveryGuru, a market research company based in Kilkenny. Through his work with SurveryGuru, he found that small business owners needed help with becoming more productive which prompted him to write his short book "Get Off The Hamster Wheel: The Smart Small Business Owner's Productivity Bible - How to Calmly achieve more, despite overwhelming demands on your time, a competitive marketplace and a tough economy.”  Brendan joined John to chat about the power of being focused and how it can lead to greater productivity.

With the tourism and hospitality sector being one of the biggest economic drivers for Carlow and Kilkenny, John spoke with Brian O ‘Flynn, Head of Irelands Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland about the organisations priorities for 2022, the challenges of staff shortages and retention, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

To take a look at some of the business news stories from the week as well as to discuss the issues facing business and the economy, John was joined by Garrett Harte, Managing Director of Harte Media.

With the tourism and hospitality sector being one of the biggest economic drivers for the region, John spoke with Brian O ‘Flynn, Head of Irelands Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland about the organisations priorities for 2022, the challenges of staff shortages and retention and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Twenty Questions our monthly(ish) feature where we literally ask our guest twenty questions that have been designed to give you an insight into the person outside of their role in business. Our latest guest was Marion Acreman, Centre Manager of MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre.

Brendan Cullen is a local business owner who runs SurveyGuru a market research company. He also works with small business owners on ways in which they can increase their productivity and as part of this, Brendan has written a short book “Get Off the Hamster Wheel, the Smart Small Business Owners Productivity Bible” aimed at helping small business owners to become more productive. Brendan joined John in studio to discuss the book and to provide some practical tips on becoming more productive.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

Over the last two years Health and Safety has been at the fore, with masks, hand sanitiser, contact tracing, social distancing, screens, and temperature checking forming part of the daily routine for almost every business that has kept its doors open. Since the lifting of Covid restrictions, the guidance around health and safety has now changed. Margaret Kirby of Health and Safety Review spoke with John to discuss the changes and what we need to know about the recently released transitional protocol.

Rita Shanahan owner of Lorimat Jewellers chatted to John about business over the last two years, how lockdowns prompted her to offer their Home Try-on Service, a new concept to their business which allowed customers to try on engagement rings at home. Rita also chats about the changing retail landscape and laboratory grown diamonds.

Laura Slattery, Media Correspondent with The Irish Times, joined John to chat through some of the business stories that were making the headlines this week.

Over the last two years Health and Safety has been at the fore, with masks, hand sanitiser, contact tracing, social distancing, screens, and temperature checking forming part of the daily routine for almost every business that has kept its doors open. Since the lifting of Covid restrictions, the guidance around health and safety has now changed. Margaret Kirby of Health and Safety Review spoke with John to discuss the changes and what we need to know about the recently released transitional protocol.

After months in the studio due to Covid we decided it was time to get out and about to chat with some of the local businesses so, during the week John visited Lorimat Jewellers in the heart of Kilkenny city to talk retail, pivoting and environmentally friendly lab grown diamonds with Rita Shanahan.

Colin Rea, Director of Rea’s Department Store in Bagenalstown chatted to John about business throughout the pandemic; the future of retail and shopping local post pandemic as well as the everyday impacts of inflation on business.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

Michael O Boyle, Chief Executive of Cycling Solutions Ireland spoke with John about his mission to make business and society more cycle friendly and in the process unlock the huge potential with new ways of thinking about this popular and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Economist Jim Power spoke with John about how January 2022 has been going so far from the removal of Covid restrictions; recently released retail sales data to the topic of Inflation & interest rates.

Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME spoke with John about the SME sector and what the post lockdown future looks like. Neil also spoke with John about the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 which was published last week.

Michael O Boyle, Chief Executive of Cycling Solutions Ireland spoke with John about his mission to make business and society more cycle friendly and in the process unlock the huge potential of new ways of thinking about this hugely popular and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce CEO, John Hurley chatted to John about the upcoming Kilkenny Chamber Business Awards with the new date of the 12th March 2022 having been announced late last week. John also spoke about the business community in Kilkenny and how their members have been feeling since the lifting of restrictions.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]

The Central Bank of Ireland is the State Institution charged with maintaining price and financial stability in the Irish economy. As a part of the ECB it also inputs into decisions about interest rates and other important economic policy matters. Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank who also sits on the Board of the European Central Bank, spoke with John about meeting with the local business community & students in Kilkenny, the impact of Covid on the economy; inflation and interest rates.
 

This week on the Bottom Line on KCLR, John Purcell was joined by Morwenna Coniam, Dublin Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News to chat through some of the big business stories. The big story of the week came from the announcement by Government on Friday evening that almost all Covid restrictions would be lifted from 6am on Saturday morning.
 
The Central Bank of Ireland is the State Institution charged with maintaining price and financial stability in the Irish economy. As a part of the European Central Bank, it also inputs into decisions about interest rates and other important economic policy matters. Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank who also sits on the Board of the European Central Bank spoke with John about meeting with the local business community & students in Kilkenny, the impact of the pandemic on the economy; inflation and interest rates.
 
Over the last two years businesses have faced huge challenges due to the pandemic, however, the business community have remained resilient with many businesses pivoting and others starting up new business ventures. During the week, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar announced figures for Local Enterprises Offices across the country, highlighting their role in supporting small businesses and job creation. Fiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise at Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office and Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development and Enterprise at Carlow Local Enterprise Office joined John to discuss the figures from a local perspective.

With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.

To contact the show, email: [email protected]