The Business

There was a time when extravagant cakes were the preserve of brides and grooms but in recent years the growing appetite for statement cakes has opened up a whole new market. Armed with her rolling pin and piping bag, Siofra Mulqueen has been chatting to some of the people who make very fancy cakes for a living

My next guest set up her business in the teeth of a recession in the early 1980’s and has managed to thrive from her outlet in Dublin’s Westbury Mall through another recession, the financial crash and more recently, covid. With a brother in the Boomtown Rats, during a stint living in London, she rubbed shoulders with icons such as David Bowie. On her return to Dublin, she set up a shop selling punk clothes and accessories to, amongst others, members of an up-and-coming local band called U2. Her next retail endeavour was into the very different world of lingerie and that’s where she has remained ever since. Susan Moylett, owner of Susan Hunter Lingerie joins us in studio now.

Europe is pleading with China to reopen manufacturing plants to cope with demand. Sticking with demand, you couldn’t have missed the Black Friday sales yesterday, with mountains of ads and offers. But will we be spending as much in the run up to this Christmas and what happens when others are being cautious about their spending? Does it rub off on you? Deirdre Robertson, Research Officer in the Behavioural Unit at the ESRI has this on the psychology of spending.

From a real frontline to another very different type of battle - Gender wars in the boardroom. It looks like there was some good news on that front this week with the publication of a new report from the Balance for Better Business Review Group with research showing women now make up about 36 percent of executives at board level. But is it good news or just mediocre? Professor Christine Cross, Dean of The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University joins us to discuss.

Now what about monopoly that’s been inspired by a bit of this for Christmas? Metallica song With Black Friday purchases underway, have you bought anything that’s been a bit of a shock? TV and radio producer Eoin Sweeney has been looking into the world of the oddest things you can buy!

This man is someone who knows exactly all about spending wisely and making the best use out of the resources you have. From the age of seven, Eamon McCay of Frylite Solutions knew he wanted to be a businessman. Hailing from Sion Mills in Co. Tyrone, his company now has a 60 million euro turnover and employs almost 300 people. Founder and Managing Director of Frylite Solutions Eamon McCay joins us now.

Now let’s go to Ukraine where there are rolling blackouts across the country. The EU has recently pledged to help restore power and heating and Nato has offered more assistance too. Freelance journalist Norma Costello joins us from Kyiv.

Lockdowns have been imposed across China in the wake of rising Covid 19 infections. With businesses basically bolted shut once again, how does this fare for the darkening outlook of the world’s second largest economy? China Correspondent from the Irish Times Denis Staunton in Beijing joins us now.

Let’s go to the story of a Sligo man who is a leading player in the construction industry in the UK, in scaffolding in particular. Bernard Dwyer is the founder of PHD Access, a company with a turnover of over 60 million pounds. They operate all over the world. But Bernard started out in the UK where they’ve been involved in prestigious projects like renovating Big Ben and they’re now working on the HMS Victory. Joining us in studio is Bernard Dwyer to discuss his years as a child in Sligo and the growth of his successful business.

Finally to something completely different, as the nights come in early and the frost starts to arrive, many are still out in the elements braving the cold as they run their businesses. Ellen Leonard has been catching up with entrepreneurs who prefer the biting wind and cold water to water cooler moments.