January 2024 ertonline.co.uk


ERT AWARDS 2023


Turning Point Award Winner


Donaghy Brothers Sponsored by


Electrical Safety First 20


Northern Ireland-based Donaghy Brothers is a 60-year-old family-run business. It now operates across two state-of-the-art showrooms totalling over 30,000sq ft plus a very successful website; online the retailer is currently servicing on


average 2,500 customers per month. Donaghy Brothers reported last year 18 per cent growth versus 2022, totalling £28 million revenue. Other highlights include a £2.3 million renovation of its Limavady showroom; it also launched a Miele Centre of Excellence at its Kilrea showroom, and recruited 13 new members of staff to bring the overall team up to 55. “It is just wonderful that these efforts are recognised through not just one but two ERT awards this year,” comments Managing Director, James Donaghy. [The retailer also picked up the trophy for Best Independent Domestic Appliances Retailer – Large.] “We are absolutely delighted! Our team are hardworking, dedicated and passionate and we have been fully focused on delivering an aggressive and proactive growth strategy to evolve the business in a number of key areas.” Donaghy Brothers significantly increased its stock holding in the past year so it was able to offer its customers quick and reliable access to products. Mr Donaghy says this gave him a strong competitive advantage. Regarding the new Limavady showroom, he added: “We wanted to


really focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. We have stylish displays and we use technology to help improve efficiency and service, plus we incorporated a coffee dock, a children’s play area and a private car park fitted with electric charging points. “We also spent time evaluating customer touchpoints across the


business and these findings resulted in improvements to our finance offerings, increased payment methods, changes to our sales function – with a focus on training and sales process implementation, and improvements to interdepartmental communications.”


L-R: ERT Editor, Jack Cheeseman, James Donaghy and James Mulholland from Donaghy Bros, ERT Awards host Shaun Williamson


L-R: Richard Stevenson, Quick Brown Fox PR, with Duncan Williams, David Edwards, Alison Taylor, and Mark Ortgiess, plus Shaun Williamson


AWE was awarded Highly Commended in this category


Best Industry Distributor Winner


Domestic Appliance Distributors (D.A.D)


“It is a real honour and privilege for the business to have this recognition,” comments Alison Taylor, Managing Director of D.A.D. “It’s even more special for me personally in my first year as MD, and in a year that has been such a challenge for the industry. “There are some great other distributors out there, so to be chosen for this award amongst them is a real credit to the business and we’re grateful to those that voted for us and supported the event.” D.A.D operates a 200,000+ sq ft site based in Tewkesbury, and it delivers over 55,000 products each month across the country, making over 340 deliveries a day. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Montpellier, Beko and Sharp, plus its own in-house brand, Iceking. Ms Taylor says the business puts retailers at the forefront of everything it does, and its heritage has earned retailers’ trust and respect over the years. She adds that in 2024 D.A.D will continue to increase its product ranges and make them even better value for money… The company is also developing its warehouse and logistics IT solutions to give customers better visibility on deliveries – and the option to go paperless. It’s also focused on continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, as well as supporting its customers to do the same as much as they can. “The ERT Awards is a prestigious event for all the winners and great acknowledgement of the achievements of individuals and companies,” continues Ms Taylor. “We all work very hard and who doesn’t like a pat on the back for that with friends and colleagues at the end of the year!”


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