As the Irish economy absorbed the news that a further 500 jobs hung in the balance, this time at Pfizer in Cork, there was at least one positive development in that mobile retailer Carphone Warehouse has revealed plans to create 150 jobs nationwide as part of a store expansion plan.
After the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey TD opened a new 150,000 sq ft support centre at the Omni Park Shopping Centre in Santry, Dublin, that would employ 100 people it subsequently emerged that the company was to open a further 20 stores across Ireland.
Carphone Warehouse now has 54 outlets across Ireland and employs 450 people.
The company said that as well as the store expansion it would be investing in its Talk Talk brand in the Republic as well as investing in online channels and customer care.
The company, which has 2,000 stores in 11 countries, started in Ireland from its first Irish store in Grafton St, Dublin in 1996. There is now an outlet in each major Irish town.
The chief executive of the Carphone Warehouse in Ireland, Stephen Mackarel said “I am particularly proud that despite growing to be the world’s largest mobile phone retailer we have kept the entrepreneurial spirit, fight and ambition that was true of the company when we first opened our doors.
“The answer lies in our core business and one of our founding principles which still rings true today – to offer independent, impartial advice to our customers,” Mackarel said.
By John Kennedy
