Down To Business

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Colin Cunningham, Managing Director of Cellnex Ireland.

Bobby took a trip out to Cool Hand Coffee Roasters, the takeaway coffee shop that enables customers to hand-roast their chosen beans in-store!

We have some of the most abundant seafood stocks in the waters around Ireland but do we cherish and promote the beautiful bounty that surrounds us to the same degree as our Spanish, French or Italian counterparts do? For this week’s Industry Review Bobby is joined by three people looking to make that happen. - John Shine of Killybegs Catch Ltd & Shines Seafood - Liam Quinlan of Quinlan Seafoods in Kerry - Denis Good of The Good Fish Company

Economist, Colm McCarthy joined Bobby to chat about the complexities involved in addressing our carbon emission output, the increased pressures on the agriculture sector, and what will need to be done if we are to reach our goals by 2030.

Bobby was joined by Michelle Auerbach, author of 'Resilience: The Life-Saving Skill of Story'. Together they discuss the book and its aim to help people in any field and any walk of life to become better storytellers, helping them to unleash the power to teach, learn, change, and empower ourselves and the people around us.

Bobby spoke to Ryan O’Neill, Managing Director of Double R Media to chat about his business, 'Retro Drive-In' back in the summer of 2021 while businesses were grappling with the unprecedented disruption of the pandemic Thankfully they’ve made it out the other end and are expanding their offering with Retro+. Bobby spoke to Ryan to find out more.

Joining Bobby is comedian, and actor, Pat Shortt. Together they discuss Pat working with his daughter, Faye; the business side of putting on shows; as well as how certain roles help with his sense of creativity.

There was one holiday option that got a lot more attention from “staycationers” last year due to the pandemic - Glamping. So for this week’s Industry Review, Bobby thought he'd check in to see how this sector is doing now that things are back open again. Joining Bobby is: · Wendy Riordan, Owner of Pitched Perfect · Dick Ridge, Owner, and founder of Pod Umna Village · John Brennan, Managing Director of Dromquinna Manor resort in Co Kerry

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair this week is David Warrick, Vice President of Overhaul.

Bobby popped into Willie Duggan Lighting in Kilkenny to chat about all things lighting related. Together they discuss the unique challenges that commercial and residential lighting projects present, and the creative process behind lighting design in general.

There were a raft of bank results out this week with AIB still smarting from their U-turn on cashless branches. Bobby is joined by Joe Brennan, Markets Correspondent for the Irish Times to take a look at the state of the banks.

Mimi Nicklin, author of 'Softening the Edge: Empathy: How Humanity's Oldest Leadership Trait is Changing our World' joins Bobby to discuss the changing world of work, and how business leaders can adapt to make a more empathetic environment for all going forward.

Bobby spoke to Mark “Cokes” Colclough a few weeks ago when he was attempting to become the oldest person to swim the English Channel all for a very good cause. We check in with Mark to see how he got on.

Bobby is joined by legendary performers, Foster & Allen, where together they discuss managing without the ability to tour during the pandemic, getting back on the road, and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Adam and the Ants, Bob Geldoff and more!

Known to many of a certain vintage as Biddy Byrne from 'Glenroe', but to the rest of us, an actress with many, many more strings to her bow, Westmeath’s favourite daughter, Mary McEvoy, joins Bobby to chat about living the good life on her animal sanctuary & farm and becoming a certified Pilates Instructor.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Regina Bushell, Founder & MD of Grovelands Childcare.

Joining Bobby is Richie O’Hara, Founder & Director of ‘Baysports’, Miriam Mulrennan, Arts Officer with Westmeath County Council and former manager of Athlone Arts & Tourism & Katherine Kiveney- Founder of Hen.ie and Stag.ie to discuss their businesses as well as the state of the arts sector in the midlands region.

Athlone is home to some very old businesses in the country with Ireland’s oldest department store and also oldest pub. Joining Bobby is Rosie Boles of Burgess of Athlone & Declan Delaney, Manager of Seán’s Bar to talk about the businesses and the history behind them.

Bobby took a cruise up the River Shannon into the heartland of the country with Pearse Connell of Hidden Heartlands Tours where they took in the beauty of the area and chatted about the touring business in general. Bobby also stopped into the Wineport Lodge Hotel to chat to Ray Byrne where they recently celebrated 30 years in busniess.

Bobby is joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy who is also the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Together they discuss AIB scrapping their plan to remove cash services in 70 branches and what role the Post Office might play in the years to some when it comes to managing personal finances.

Bobby is joined by Michael Hassett, owner of Cork-based 'Hassett's Bakery' who has just secured a deal worth €6m to supply Lidl with a chilled cake and dessert range, available in 175 Lidl stores across Ireland.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Joe Queenan, Managing Director of Foxford Woollen Mills.

It is one of life’s fundamental truths that if we don’t push ourselves beyond what we think we’re capable of, to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, then we will never tap into the potential we have within us. Sue Stockdale, Business Transformational and Leadership Change Coach and author of ‘Explore: A Life of Adventure’ certainly knows a thing or two about high-pressure situations and living on the edge - she joins Bobby to discuss.

Tourism is a vital component of the Irish economy. So, now that things are back in full swing, Bobby thought he’d get the perspective of three tour guides who make it their business to showcase the natural beauty and historical richness that we have to offer. Joining Bobby is Lorcan Collins, Founder of 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour Derek Smith, Founder of Custom Irish Tours Tommy Graham, Founder of Historical Walking Tours of Dublin

Every leader, no matter whether they have several thousand people working with them or just one, has two main responsibilities: to create direction and clarity and to get out of the way. So says Paula Leach, Founder and Executive Coach of Vantage Points Consulting & author of ‘Vantage Points: How to Create a Culture Where Employees Thrive'. She joins Bobby to discuss.

Bobby stopped into the Celtic Whisky Shop on Dublin's Dawson Street to see how trade is going and to chat with Katie Gibson, Marketing Manager, Store Manager, Darren Maher, and Wholesale Manager, Colm O'Connor.

Paul Howard, creator of one of the most iconic literary fictional Irish characters of the last 20 years - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - joined Bobby to chat about the return of his smash hit musical, 'Copper Face Jacks: The Musical'.

Last week in our newspaper review Bobby highlighted the good news story of the PM Group who were expanding with a whole host of new jobs. So for this week's Executive Chair, Bobby was delighted to welcome the CEO of PM Group - David Murphy.

Almost half of adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland own a pet, and at the top of that list is dogs. But with all the love and joy they bring us comes a lot of grooming and TLC on our part as well. So, for this week's Industry Review Bobby is joined by three people who make it their business to make sure our dogs are looking their very best. Joining Bobby is - Dylan Brady of 'Barks and Bubbles' - Lisa Kearney of 'Muttugly' - Paul Abbott of 'Groming.Dog'

The biggest political story of the week, if not the year so far, has been the resignation of UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. John Downing, Irish Independent journalist, thought he saw the signs of his inevitable end when he first encountered him 30 years ago. He joined Bobby to discuss.

The Government's Summer Economic Statement published this week shows the forthcoming Budget will contain spending and tax measures equal to €6.7 billion. It has been described as a "temporary once-off increase," which breaches the Government’s own spending rule of 5% and as a result, economist, Jim Power, thinks political expediency is getting in the way of sound economic judgment. He joins Bobby to discuss.

An Post Commerce are proud to help SME’s to grow and succeed, with an innovative range of parcel solutions and direct mail advertising. One such business is A Sorted Affair by Kim & Lyn who found the An Post Commerce services - like their Advantage Card - a great help in the early days of setting up their business. They pay Bobby a visit to discuss.

There are plenty of candidates for the “toughest job” in business but sales has to be up there. It’s a thankless job and can be tough to stay positive if things aren’t going your way but Jeremy Cassell and Tom Bord the co-authors of ‘Brilliant Selling’ - first published in 2009 and now in its 3d edition - might be just the people to help you with that. They joined Bobby to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Enrico De Luca, Managing Director of Maxi Zoo.

There have been some pretty seismic changes in all of our lives over the past few years, and very few are as big as the way we work. From sudden shifts to working at home, to the delicate balance employers are now trying to find when dealing with their employees whose expectations have changed, the HR departments of companies all across the world have no doubt been pretty busy. Joining Bobby to chat about the area of HR is: - Sharon Vize, Group HR Director for CPL Resources - Liane O'Leary, HR Consultant with The HR Department - Damien McCarthy, CEO, and co-founder of HR Buddy

Cormac Lucey has said that he thinks that the clamour for national wage deals to tackle stagflation won’t pay off in the end. S, what can or should be be done? Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist with the Sunday Times joins Bobby to discuss.

POWERCUT - the Irish athleisure wear company - has been taking the Irish market by storm both online and in Dunnes Stores around the country. Bobby is joined by Craig and Bronagh Mulhall, co-founders of POWERCUT Clothing to chat about the origins of the business.

Over the course of the last few weeks one lucky business, in competition with two others, had the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning prize included: 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package, and €25k in marketing services from Marketing Network Group. Down to Business' has been delighted to be involved in with the competition which came to an end this week. Bobby is joined by the winner - James Redmond, CEO of Grab Same Day Delivery as well as Joe McGinley, CEO, and founder of Iconic Offices to discuss.

Icon Offices want to give back to the business community, therefore one lucky business will have the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning party will get the following in their 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package, and €25k in marketing services from the Marketing Network Group. 'Down to Business' has been profiling the three finalists of the Iconic Offices Business Bursary competition over the last few weeks and this week Jonathan Healy was joined by Roseanne Scally, Director of WestTech Technologies to chat about the business.

Jonathan was joined by Nick Connors, a CEO of TEKenable.

We humans are pretty good problem solvers - we probably wouldn’t have gotten to where we are now if we weren’t. But do we fully utilise this skill in the workplace and if not, how do we get better at doing it? Arnaud Chevallier, Professor of Strategy and Decision Making at IMD & co-author of ‘Solvable - A Simple Solution to Complex Problems’ joined Jonathan.

The tourism and travel sectors were hit harder than most during the course of the pandemic. But they’re nothing if not resourceful and have found new ways and means to bounce back despite all the adversity.

Irish households are facing the biggest drop in living standards since the 2008 the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned. To discuss this and the wider economic situation in Ireland Jonathan was joined by Declan Jordan, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Cork University Business School.

Irish consumers recycled a record number of electrical items last year. But is simply recycling enough to create a truly green and circular economy? What about the electronic products that might just need a bit of refurbishing? Kilian Kaminski, Co-Founder of Refurbed joined Jonathan today to discuss.

Joining Bobby in the Executive Chair is Anna Classon, RNLI Head of Ireland.

Energy sustainability and the safeguarding of our coastal regions has never been more important. To chat through what is being done here and elsewhere and how we can protect our coastal regions for future generations, Bobby is joined by Stephen Dunne, Editor of ReNews, Europe’s most prestigious renewable energy trade publication & Ciarán Farrell, COO at Aqualicense, a Wicklow-based company that provides consultation, planning, legal compliance, and project delivery services for firms in the aquaculture and offshore renewable energy industries.

Icon Offices want to give back to the business community, therefore one lucky business will have the opportunity to win a €100k value package known as The Iconic Business Bursary. The winning party will get the following in their 100k package: €50k worth of workspace at the stunning Iconic Offices, a €25k Newstalk media package, and €25k in marketing services from Marketing Network Group. Down to Business' is profiling the three finalists of the Iconic Offices Business Bursary competition on Down to Business. This week Bobby is joined by James Redmond, CEO of Grab Same Day Delivery

Wicklow is known as the garden of Ireland but of course, there are innumerable opportunities for entrepreneurs and business people alike and so Bobby wanted to take a look at what Wicklow as a town and a county has going for it. To find out more Bobby is joined by: - Matt Forkin who is the Wicklow Chamber of Commerce President - Brian Gleeson, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council - Pamela Walsh, Founder Wicklow Way Wines and Chairperson of Wicklow Naturally

For this week's 'Down to Business,' Bobby & co were in the garden of Ireland at Wicklow Sailing Club for the start of the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Yacht Race. There he spoke to some local business people to hear how they've been getting on. - Quincey Fennelly of Wicklow Wolf - Mark Van den Bergh of Max Benjamin

Legendary artist, naturalist, and all-round Irish TV legend Don Conroy stopped by to chat with Bobby about what he's been getting up to the past few years, what inspires him to paint and draw, and discuss the importance of keeping in touch with nature.