Eason unveils new flagship store as premises doubles

A MAJOR investment by Ireland’s largest book and stationery retailer Eason has resulted in its Dungarvan outlet being hailed a new flagship store.

Eason chief executive Conor Whelan will open the franchise shop in the west Waterford town today.

The store has almost doubled in size and has become one of the company’s larger shops in the country.

Pat Whyte, who holds the Dungarvan franchise, has seen his shop increase from 2,600 sq ft to 4,300 sq ft. It has been based in Dungarvan Shopping Centre for the past five-and-a-half years.

Mr Whyte said: “It is a major expansion for us. Our older shop was too small and this expansion had been in the pipeline for some time.

“We are reinvesting in the business, as remaining static isn’t an option. Such investment is important because, as in any walk of life, what you put in is what you get out.”

Describing the new store as a centre of excellence, he said that, in addition to a higher level of customer services, it will also cater for people with specialised demands and hobbies.

“The whole concept of the new store is that there is virtually no office space behind it. All our staff are on the floor working with the customers. It is all about customer service and value and our family orientated store provides that. The whole store has been designed to be user friendly,” Mr Whyte said.

The shop will have more than 10,000 book titles and have access via Eason and other Eason partners to more than one million titles.

The children’s book section in the Dungarvan shop has also doubled in size while there is a major art and hobby area and a section on electronic goods.

The revamped shop opens at 3pm with goodies, face painting, spot prizes and refreshments on offer.