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CHAMBER | Network News

chamber | Network News

clonmel chamber punches above its weight

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News from Chambers around the country.

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CLONMEL CHAMBER, an organisation with a long history, has never been as active. In the last twelve months the organisation has been the driving force behind ‘Brand Clonmel’ and the Style Festival, increased membership at a difficult time in the economy, and recruited a new CEO.

The organisation has continued to build on the momentum from its win at the Chamber of the Year Awards in 2008. Since then the Chamber has embarked on a number of projects, most notably the roll out of Brand Clonmel. “The idea came from a number of focus groups that we had held with members and their employers,” explains Clonmel Chamber President, Tina Mulhearne. “We decided to look at a town wide brand and to raise levels of customer service and visitor experience. Almost every initiative since has been underpinned by the principles of Brand Clonmel.” In early 2009 the Chamber began rolling out training for participating businesses in the area. They also hired branding and marketing consultants to manage the project throughout the year.

“This was a phenomenal undertaking for an organisation like ours. However, the appetite was there for such a venture from our members and we were delighted with the buy-in from businesses,” explains Chamber Vice President, Peter O’Donnell who headed up the initial project groups. The entire project has been self funding and has generated significant interest from other Chambers throughout Ireland. As part of the branding exercise the Chamber launched the Style Clonmel Festival. The October 2009 festival was a sell out and generated major media coverage on RTE news and Morning Ireland.

“Events like Style Clonmel have brought Clonmel Chamber to a new audience,” says Chamber Chief Executive, Brian Cleary. “It also demonstrated the vast array of companies that we have as members. Many people have

74 InBusiness May 10

looked at Clonmel before and only seen the large manufacturing companies, but this area is also home to over 600 SMEs. Clonmel definitely punches above its weight when it comes to industry. Companies like Abbott, Boston Scientific, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Stada and Pinewood all have significant operations here. More so this area is home to world famous companies like Bulmers and Kentz,” he adds.

“cloNmel chamber

is the key

local busiNess

represeNtative

aNd a major voice

of busiNess iN the

south east.”

– aN taoiseach, briaN coweN td.

Brian Cleary, Chief Executive, Clonmel Chamber.

SUCCESS STORY

THE CLONMEL CHAMBER success story is continuing with President, Tina Mulhearne and Chief Executive, Brian Cleary. Along with the board, they have developed new offerings for members including a series of events exploring export opportunities with embassies and a free monthly networking event.

“Policy-wise we are working very closely with local and regional authorities to ensure the maintenance of a pro-business environment for members,” says Cleary.

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, TD, described the Clonmel Chamber as ‘the key local business representative and a major voice of business in the south east’ whilst addressing the Chambers economic conference in January. The conference, which also featured Jim Power from Friends First and Graham O’Donnell from Spirit of Ireland, was a sell-out and the Chamber already has a programme of speakers lined up for its next major conference in November.

“Our high profile nationally has enabled us to secure some excellent speakers for events and November conference already has an interesting panel of guests,” says Mulhearne. The board of the Chamber is truly representative of the business sector locally. Companies from Clonmel’s well regarded manufacturing cluster sit alongside directors from dynamic SMEs. Clonmel Chamber Chief Executive, Brian Cleary told InBusiness that the next 12 months are set to be hectic. “We are launching a technology competition, introducing a mentoring scheme for members, and playing an active part in augmenting the business environment locally and regionally.”

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