UK outlets in a rush to set up shop

THE year of 1996 will be remembered as the time when the British high street multiples firmly put their stamp on Irish shopping.

Names such as Debenhams, Boots and electrical giant Dixons, lined up to join Marks & Spencer in Dublin's new Jervis Shopping Centre in what promises to be the first step in a nationwide assault.

Marks & Spencer also took up prime position in Grafton Street, opening its flagship shop in the former Brown Thomas building.

Having kept a close eye on the Irish market for many years, Debenhams and Boots finally took the plunge, signing up early in the year as key tenants in the Jervis Centre.

After many years of speculation, the Debenhams department store, opened for business in Dublin in December. Similarly, the Boots chemist chain decided it was time to throw its doors open to Irish shoppers and quickly let it be known it had other ambitions. Unveiling plans for four more shops in the Dublin area by next spring, to be followed by new shops in other cities, Boots, it seems, clearly means business here.

Dixons also took, what it said is a first step into the Irish market with the opening of its shop in the Jervis Centre.

For Marks & Spencer, 1996 was also busy. Linking up with the Jervis Centre through a new shopping mall opening into its Mary Street shop, it also completed a £3 million expansion at it's city centre store in Cork.

Its main focus, however, was the £40 million revamp of the old Brown Thomas building. With 67,000 sq ft of retail space on four floors, the new store became its flagship outlet in Europe.

The group's next move will be to new out of town locations. There are plans for a store at the new Quarryvale centre in west Dublin and another on the south side. It is also looking out for suitable sites in Galway and Limerick as part of a £65 million expansion.

The British furniture superstore group Courts also set up its stall in the Republic, with a new 43,000 sq ft superstore on the Naas Road. Selling furniture, carpets and electrical products the store is the largest of its kind in Ireland. The group has also clearly expressed, plans to open further outlets here.

Up against stiff competition on its doorstep, Arnotts began work on a huge expansion plan which will more than double the size of its existing store on Henry Street. Plans include adding an extra 160,000 sq ft of retail and office space in Liffey Street and Middle Abbey Street, together with a multi storey car park in a £34 million development programme.

Outside of Dublin, the new £100 million; Blanchardstown shopping centre opened in October, attracting record crowds. A £8 million expansion plan for The Square shopping centre in Tallaght, was also announced.

Dunnes was rarely out of the news this year, with the resumption of strikes and renewed squabbles between family member hitting the headlines. A strike at the end of August running into September closed all of the group's 74 branches, with staff looking for better terms of employment. The two week strike is estimated to have cost Dunnes up to £2.5 million while further undermining its share of the market.

The matter was resolved through the adoption of a formal agreement between the company and its unions on workers pay and conditions, the first such agreement in the firm's 50 year history.

Shoppers were also introduced to a new concept, virtual shopping, with a range of goods being made available on the Internet.

In a new departure, Bank of Ireland together with Microsoft and Trintech launched the new ShopIreland Mall in November. The service, which is open to anyone with access to the Internet and a credit card, allows consumers to buy goods from Clerys, the House of Ireland and the Guinness Shop.

With the economy growing strongly throughout the year, the retailers are reporting healthy growth in business this year. 1997, they hope, will be equally prosperous.