In June 1996, the local community in Carryduff witnessed a revolution in
retailing with the opening of Brackenvale Retail Centre. At that time
improvements seemed unnecessary, even impossible, but in the five years since
then Brackenvale has evolved beyond all expectations. The local community and
indeed daily commuters from the East Down area cannot fail to be enticed by
our impressive presence on the Saintfield Road.
Situated in suburban Belfast, Brackenvale can be found approximately 7
miles from the city centre. Although the local community is served by the
larger Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer's stores, as well as the local shopping
centre and various independent retailers, they have found that only
Brackenvale can meet their most demanding needs.
Five years on, we have a superb staff team comprising a general manager,
three duty managers, an accountant, managers residing over the hot-food bar,
the fresh food, the post office and the forecourt as well as an extremely
competent team of 18 full-time general assistants and 38 part-time members of
staff. Duty managers carry out continuous training in customer service and
health and safety, enabling us to offer a first class service, twenty four
hours a day.
Our list of services is the envy of many. Covering an area of 4500 sq ft,
we can proudly offer a Post Office, National Lottery, Bakery, and Fresh
Produce Department, Office Supplies, Greeting Cards, Mobile Phones and Top-up
Cards. The forecourt has 40 pumps, with ample parking and also boast a car
wash and 2 jet-wash bays, car vacuum, household fuel and Garden Centre (summer
months only). The complex is also served by an Indian Restaurant and a
McDonalds Franchise.
In recent months, we have proudly launched Brackenvale into the 21st
Century, with a major investment into the appearance of the Retail Centre.
This impressive refit is viewed by us, not only as a way of attracting more
business but, as a way of thanking our loyal customers, by making their
shopping environment more attractive. New millennium signage now adorns both
the interior and exterior of the shop and new shelving and refrigeration now
display our ever increasing range of products. The whole Brackenvale shopping
experience has been made even more enjoyable by the smart appearance of our
staff in their new uniforms, the newly designed checkouts and the upgrading of
out tills to the latest 1-7-8 software, thus speeding up customer
transactions.
Another major achievement for us is the installation of a new Retail
Control System. Via a computer link-up with major wholesalers, tasks such as
Electronic Invoicing, Price Changes, Stock Control, Price Checking, Stock
Ordering and merchandising can be done at the touch of a button. This system
also halves the administration involved in handling direct debits for fuel
accounts and controlling goods delivered into the warehouse, allowing us to
concentrate on other tasks.
Our ability to raise money for worthwhile causes was again a major
achievement for us in the years. Not only was Brackenvale the main sponsor of
the Action M.S. Gala Ball in September but as a part of our Birthday
celebrations we decided to give something back into the Community and proudly
became the main sponsors of the Carryduff Millennium Festival. Another Charity
that we have an ongoing association with is Mencap with a member of staff
participating in The Great Wall of China Hike, in March 2002 in which we are
attempting to raise in excess of £5000 for this very worthwhile cause. We have
an impressive list of accolades to our name, with Forecourt of the year 2000
in the Neighbourhood Retailing Awards, and we went a few stages further in
2001 winning the following prestigious awards
1. UK Forecourt Trader of the year 2001
A. Best Independent Dealer (NI) & (UK)
B. Best Newspapers and Magazines Outlet (UK)
2. Independent Retailer of the Year 2001
All of our awards are living testament to out Customers and also the
commitment of the Team of Management and Staff who have the commitment and
dedication to see that we succeed in all of our endeavours. We cannot forget
to mention here the award presented to us by Pierre's Foods, recognising our
achievement as No.1 Retailer in N. Ireland for hot food sales.
In recent months capital investment has made us more than capable of facing
up to this challenge. A more pleasant shopping environment and the cheapest
fuel prices in the area mean the we have a loyal band of customers who return
to us day after day.
On the business side of things, I feel a genuine sense of pride, each day,
when customers approach us, compliment our team on what Brackenvale has
achieved. At the risk of sounding biased, where else in the country would you
find a service station, boasting 40 pumps, Post Office, Maud's Ice Cream,
hot-food bar, a garden centre, an Indian Restaurant and a McDonalds outlet.
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