M&C Report talks to Conall Wolsey, managing director of Beannchor, the Northern Ireland-based leisure and hospitality group, about his best investment, his best business decision and the best piece of advice he’s ever received.
What is the most important action the industry can take to encourage the consumer? Engage with customers on every level, be it social media, marketing, welcoming a guest, gauging their trends and lifestyles. And, obviously, we need to constantly innovate.
What single action could Government make that would make a difference? In Northern Ireland our local assembly and government need to address our archaic drinking laws. Being constricted to serving alcohol to 1am as a maximum is ridiculous and tourists regularly feedback their astonishment. As a whole for the industry I believe our VAT rates should also drop.
What is your top priority? Giving our customers complete consistency.
What has been your best investment? Leaving the comfort of our family run business to open my own bar. It was more of a lesson than an investment and it taught me so much before I returned to our company a few years later.
What has been your best business decision? Investing in our staff at every opportunity.
How much has your business changed to combat the recession? Drastically. We’ve really focused on quality and value for the customer.
Who is doing something special in the industry? The Soho Group.
Most admired brand? BrewDog.
Who has been the most influential in your career? My father. Without him I would know nothing. He will hate that quote.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Don’t embark on an adventure unless you enjoy it. Otherwise the end product will be half-hearted.
