From Ballinasloe To Dubai: Local Business Man Colm McLoughlin Shares his Insights on Building a multi Billion Dollar Business
As part of the Pulse Club Webinar series we welcomed special guest Mr. Colm McLoughlin, Vice Chair/CEO at Dubai Duty Free, on Wednesday 10th June @ 10am.
Since his days in Grellan’s and Garbally he has always given back to the place of his formative years and as part of the Pulse Webinar Series has kindly agreed to make some time available to chat about the patterns, shape and future trends for business post COVID from the command bridge of one of the world’s foremost Duty Free operations.
You may not be running a store with 6,000 staff that achieves $2 Billion in sales a year, but like Colm, you have to manage space, staff, suppliers, inventory, finance, regulations and market your business. Scale shouldn’t frighten if the structure is correct!
Brief Bio on Colm:
Colm McLoughlin began his retailing career in London in the 1960’s working for the popular high-street chain of Woolworths, before moving to Shannon Duty Free. As General Manager of Shannon Duty Free, Colm was one of a team of ten from Aer Rianta (the Irish Airport Authority) who moved to Dubai in 1983 at the request of the Dubai Government, to set up Dubai Duty Free.
Following the successful opening of Dubai Duty Free in 1983, Colm was asked to remain as General Manager of the start-up operation, which in its opening year had a turnover of US$20 million. Colm later became the Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, and is the driving force behind his growth to be the single largest airport retailer in the world with sales in excess of US$2 billion in 2019. Employing almost 6,000 staff, Dubai Duty Free is widely regarded for having set the benchmark for the duty free industry in the region.
Colm has now spent over 50 years in the Duty Free industry, has received numerous awards, Honorary Degrees and has been a pivotal player in establishing the Irish Community and it’s network in the Emirates and Middle East.
Video of the session available below
Supporting You
In these extraordinary times, businesses have to pivot fast to respond to the challenges and make massive changes to get through these weeks and months ahead.
The Pulse Club are endeavouring to support all our members and all businesses in the area by hosting webinars and meeting to meet the specific needs of the local businesses through this unprecedented trading circumstances . For full details click here
The Pulse Club are endeavouring to support all our members and all businesses in the area by hosting webinars and meeting to meet the specific needs of the local businesses through this unprecedented trading circumstances . For full details click here
BALLINASLOE PULSE CLUB HOSTS SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS INSIDER TIPS EVENT
The Pulse Club Ballinasloe in conjunction with LEO Galway hosted a very successful business networking event on Wednesday, 4 March at the Shearwater Hotel Ballinasloe.
Special guest speakers, Pamela Finn (PR Pam), Eoin Barry, ARV Excellence and John Mee, Sidero provided insights on developing your business and shared their own inspiring stories on their journey of entrepreneurship.
The evening was facilitated by Eoghan Kenny, The Compliance Team who highlighted all the great progress and entrepreneurship taking place in Ballinasloe. Eoghan stated, “the event was a fantastic platform for attendees to hear from successful entrepreneurs who have been there and done it”.
The evening concluded with questions and answers from the audience, where business enthusiasts took the opportunity to question and gain valuable insights from our speakers that they could take away and apply to their own business.
Special guest speakers, Pamela Finn (PR Pam), Eoin Barry, ARV Excellence and John Mee, Sidero provided insights on developing your business and shared their own inspiring stories on their journey of entrepreneurship.
The evening was facilitated by Eoghan Kenny, The Compliance Team who highlighted all the great progress and entrepreneurship taking place in Ballinasloe. Eoghan stated, “the event was a fantastic platform for attendees to hear from successful entrepreneurs who have been there and done it”.
The evening concluded with questions and answers from the audience, where business enthusiasts took the opportunity to question and gain valuable insights from our speakers that they could take away and apply to their own business.
Back Row L – R: Seamus Duffy, Renate Kohlmann, Stephanie Colombani, Lyn Donnelly, Brian Leonard , Dorothy Scarry, Ana Victoria Mulcahy, Brian King, Honoria Mitchell Black
Front Row L – R: Eoghan Kenny, Eoin Barry, John Mee, Pamela Finn, Marie Lyons
Front Row L – R: Eoghan Kenny, Eoin Barry, John Mee, Pamela Finn, Marie Lyons
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The Pulse Club was officially launched on the 8th January 2019 and is an initiative of the Ballinasloe Area Community Development. The Club is open for membership with a subsidised €50 annual fee for the first year. The two key objectives of The Pulse Club are to:
The Club is a resource for entrepreneurs from all business types offering mentoring, support and a local network in the town centre of Ballinasloe. As part of The Pulse Club you will have access to a wide variety of targeted workshops. Becoming a member means you will have access to mentoring from experienced professionals to help you grow and succeed in your business by objectively supporting and advising you. Find out more by clicking here and registering your interest today! |
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First TuesdayThe First Tuesday Club is a resource for entrepreneurs from all business types - service, manufacturing, agri/horticultural, retail and much more, offering you mentoring, support and local network in the town centre of Ballinasloe.
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WorkshopsAs part of The Pulse Club you will have access to a wide variety of targeted workshops.
Topics will include digital marketing, finance, business planning, understanding tax returns and more. |
MentoringBecoming a member means you will have access to mentoring from experienced professionals to help you grow and succeed in your business by objectively supporting and advising you.
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