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THE HEAD OF Poundland, the UK company that trades as Dealz in Ireland, has insisted that the discount chain doesn’t plan on becoming the new Penneys with the rollout of a new fashion offering.
It was announced today that Dealz will open Pep&Co concession outlets in 30 Dealz stores by the middle of this year and open a new shop in Ballina next month.
Pep&Co is a high-street discount fashion brand owned by Poundland parent Pepkor. The company belongs to the embattled South Africa-based Steinhoff International group, which has come under fire in recent times following an accounting scandal.
Two years after its launch, Pep&Co operates in 175 UK locations, including more than 135 Poundland stores. That figure is due to more than double by year-end with the launch of concession stores in 150 Poundland-Dealz locations in Ireland, the UK and France.
In an interview with Fora, Poundland managing director Barry Williams said it was “blindingly obvious” that the brand should be introduced to Irish customers.
“It’s a well-proven proposition for customers that food, general merchandise and clothing, particularly in a value retail proposition, works well together. It’s something that customers are used to: shopping across all three categories,” he said.
However Williams dismissed the suggestion that Dealz is looking to become the new Penneys, which has dominated the discount fashion category in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe under the Primark banner.
“They’re a pure player in a way. We’ve got a much broader proposition,” he said. “We’re the leading fixed-price discount variety retailer in all of Europe. We don’t have ambition to be anybody but ourselves.”
New products
Although Pep&Co offers similar price points to Penneys – with most items costing €5 or less – Williams believes the brand will stand out in its own right.
“I don’t want you to misread that Pep&Co can succeed because it can ride on the back of the existing Dealz proposition,” he said.
“That brand is more than strong enough to compete with Penneys-Primark in its own right and does successfully in the UK already. All we’re doing is expanding it and bringing it to new markets.”
Although Williams didn’t disclose how many new Dealz stores will open in Ireland – the company has 60 locations at present – he said the company is actively looking for new sites here: “If the right units and the right locations become available, we’ll be there looking at them.”
Dealz has attracted attention in recent times with the launch of a number of quirky items, such as the triangle-shaped Twin Peaks chocolate bar – much to the ire of Toberlone’s makers – and a range of discount sex toys called ‘Nooky’.
Williams claimed that the Poundland group has got “a bigger new product development innovation lab than most retailers of our size”.
“We’re constantly landing new products, new categories just to keep the offer evolving. Our customers encourage us to go wherever we can,” he said.
Williams said the chain finds new ideas by “spending more time with customers” – and by nicking ideas from its competitors.
“There’s nothing wrong with stealing a bit of best practice and making it a bit better yourself,” he said.
“We’re a business that is and should be continuously brave. We’re supposed to have fun with this brand and fun with our colleagues and fun with our customers.”
Accounting scandal
Late last year, it was revealed that German authorities had hired PwC to probe Poundland-Dealz parent Steinhoff for alleged “accounting irregularities”.
The group’s long-time CEO Markus Jooste quit a day before the investigation was announced while chief financial officer Ben La Grange stepped down a fortnight ago.
Williams said the scandal will “absolutely not” affect Poundland’s future plans and that it’s “business as usual” for the outfit.
“The great news is, it’s not affected any of our colleagues or any of our customers,” he said.
“That’s testament to all of our colleagues, in fairness. The way that they’ve remained focused on the business and not allowed themselves to be distracted with whatever the challenges may be with our parent has been pretty phenomenal.”
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Written by Conor McMahon and posted on Fora.ie
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Lift up the carpet and get a big brush. Another cover up,ffs
@Tom Mc Bride:
The alternative being to lift up the toilet seat and throw a load of cash down it
@Tom Mc Bride: Do you understand the term “cover up”? I imagine you do, but you just like to shout it at everything.
@Tom Mc Bride:
Classically Irish!
The corruption is so wide spread and prevalent that we can’t afford to investigate it.
Grand so. There ya are now.
Fine Gaels answer to accountability.
@Nick Allen: so because of the cost, we should allow the perpetrators of one of the biggest crimes in the history of the state to walk free and continue in their job and find no one accountable……..that is not the way forward, that is the way backwards to the days when things like this were orchestrated against the citizens.
@scientia: he’s not shouting…just stating fact…i think you are aiming at the wrong person
@Nick Allen: Tom best comment in ages
Made my day with that hearty laugh
@Living The Laws:
It’s just like Father Ted – only in real life.
@Living The Laws: biggest crime in the state?! People in ireland don’t know what corruption is. They just love to whine and play the victim. We’re a nation of jealous begrudgers. It’s shaming.
@Living The Laws: hmm I agree but it’s hardly one of the biggest crime against the people now is it ? That was putting the bail out bill for bankers and developers into the Irish people for generations to come , put penalty points into perspective ffs
@scientia: you’ve lost me here if you think that Irish people looking for an explanation and someone to account for how this happened is actually in some way playing the victim card.
it is about confidence in the judiciary and the police. and without a valid explanation and even people being reprimanded in some way for this then the entire justice system is undermined and the police are viewed as “one law for us, one law for the rest of you”.
@Dave Hammond: you see, the crime you are comparing it to are financial sector crimes. this does not fall into that category. this was a systemic and purposeful failure of the system.
i stood in front of the judge for a car tax issue. i was summoned to court after not getting the fixed charge notification. i explained in court why I was driving the car – my Dad was seriously ill in hospital and my car was being changed the next day. the tax was up but under the circumstances I had no choice. I explained to the gardai involved including the local sergeant that I had not received a fixed charge prior to the summons. I repeatedly tried to talk to the garda involved. I was repeatedly told that I can explain that to the judge. I went to court. When called, I explained what had happened. I was fined 180 euro. I asked the judge if I could say something. He agreed – I told him that I did not receive the fixed charge notice and as such that I should not be fined. I also explained that I had asked for a copy of the fixed charge notice and no one could produce it. The judge looked down over at me over his glasses and asked me was I finished and proceeded to tell me that he had the right to double the fine if I wasn’t happy with it. And this in front of a court of locals who I would know from all walks of life.
so a judge, without any evidence, and when presented with a situation that a citizen challenged the information the garda had, decided, without even knowing who I am, that the garda is right and I am guilty. And then we find that the case was invalid in the first place. and this happened to 14000 by their own admission and probably loads more without any admission. and you don’t think it s a huge crime?
clearly many people around here think the function of the police is protection of property and a little social control. clearly many people around here are wrong…..
@Living The Laws: aaaaaahh, there’s the blunt axe now.
@Living The Laws: it’s not a crime though. What you described isn’t a crime. It was system failure but no one gained from it.
@scientia: So people who are sick and tired of the neverending corruption in the State are simply “jealous begrudgers” ?
That says it all about FG and its supporters.
@Dave Doyle: your labels don’t apply to me. Irish people are perfectly happy when they benefit from this particular “corruption”. And I’m referring to the fcpn’s specifically in all my remarks.
@scientia: Yet you seem to think that those who are sick and tired of the corruption and unaccountability in the Gardai are to be labeled as “jealous begrudgers” and that’s ok.
You don’t have a clue do you? When you accept this sort of corruption in the Gardai, and the corruption in government, you end up with the killer of Mary Boyle being able to walk around the streets free and unaccountable for his actions. Knowing that corruption in the Gardai and government will keep him from ever being held to account for such a henious crime.
@Living The Laws: did you plead guilty?
@Michael Geraghty: Many gained from it.
Another FGer condoning corruption.
@Dave Doyle: who gained?
@Nick Allen: Well said Superintendant.
@scientia: so I take it you had a few tickets fixed? Or just love corrupt actions by people paid to solve crimes not perpetrate crime.
@Tom Mc Bride: spot on – when those charged with upholding the laws of the land are allowed to act above the law with impunity – then it is open season on whether or not average citizens do likewise.
Total FUBAR !
@Tom Mc Bride: Disgusting !!! If the Speed Vans can cost the Government €17 Million a year running at a loss, then surely the Government could have afforded €1 million to investigate this.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-speed-van-detection-million-10880370
@Tom Mc Bride: Disgusting !!! If the Speed Vans can cost the Government €17 Million a year running at a loss, then surely the Government could have afforded €1 million to investigate this.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-speed-van-detection-million-10880370
Looks like the wiping of penalty points for Martin callinan ex Garda Commisioner, newstalks breakfast presenter and Irish independent journalist Paul Williams, and Irish independent boss Steven Rae will not be investigated any further. Also it Looks like fianna fail TD robert troy won’t have to explain why Gardai very close to hes party fianna fail, did not serve summonses on him for very serious driving offences!
@John Dman: Shur what’s new. Accountability is for the little people
How much does it cost to prosecute and imprison someone for not having a TV licence?
@Sam Cairns: If you are going to use comparisons, the TV licence is a poor one. People are no longer sent to jail for the non payment of TV licence/fines etc.
@Reg: Actually, that’s incorrect. It is up to the Judge what sanction they apply and you can may not be jailed for non-payment but you will be jailed for defying the order to pay. The catch all, contempt of court.
1 officer identified removing 774 cancellations outside his jurisdiction
Why not start there they have a name and wouldn’t cost anything
@Miriam McEnteggart: I was just about to post the same thing!
€1m with a possible overspend?? Ok let’s say €2m. That’s still pittance in order to restore “public confidence in garda behaviour”. And even with “no guarantee that a criminal prosecution” would be achieved, I’d be happy to take a punt. Our money has been spent on far worse. GSOC…when you undertake a cost/benefit analysis you need to assess who it will benefit! Oh …… but I guess you already have.
More importantly why are retired Garda allowed to use their credentials?
@Me_a_monkey: other Gardai were using them?
@Me_a_monkey: You’d have to ask why the accounts are not suspended when someone retires.
@steve white: thats fraud!
Costs outweigh the benefits, I wonder will the same apply when I’m in court for not paying my TV licence?.
@Braonain Proinseas: the cost their talking about is their reputation.
Well we all know it was a systems failure and dysfunctional culture in the Gardai…..However is there any plan to repair the systems failure and make the culture function…
@John003: That’s the important part. Reads as though they will carry on at their discretion. If only they’d taken his observations on board and dealt with it promptly. Got to be said that these breaches are only all in the past because they never stopped making them.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: RTÉ news gave more details. Any changes to fcpn are covered by one central office and all changes are recorded.
What amazes me is that this is the fifth investigation into the same issue by the garda .were they going to keep checking until they got the answer that suited?
More like the investigation was getting to close to the boys at the top and very little to do with cost
What’s the return on investment in the Public Services Card?
@Father Hody Commody: and on e voting machines etc the list is endless
@Father Hody Commody: A lot for government, at huge cost to the privacy of the ordinary citizen, and the entitlement under law to data protection.
Multiple Millions and full department set up to prosecute water protestors.. Wasting thousands of vital garda man hours and much needed cash (now budget bust)
But can’t set an example that illegal acts will be punished.
Just like the breathalyser farce.
Message sent loud and clear. Do what you want you won’t be punished. How would you expect behaviour/culture to change.
Madness
@Shayno O’Donnchadha: what illegal acts? What laws were broken?
@Maxwell: Perverting the course of justice. No?
@Shayno O’Donnchadha: no. Absolutely not. Not even in the loosest of definitions does this come close to perverting the course of justice.
Sure we’ll be grand….that’s why I love Ireland. Best place in the world to live.
can thejournal not do their readers a favour and link to full documents so they can read them themsevles https://www.gardaombudsman.ie/news-room/archive/gsoc-investigation-fixed-charge-notice-cancellations-2009-2014/
@steve white:
A link away from the Journal’s site, I doubt they are permitted.
@Nick Allen: this is supposed to be a digital native news org!
“If deterrence of crime is a purpose of law enforcement, then crime by authorities should be treated as the greatest crime against society”
Am not surprised in the slightest….. a trustworthy Garda force is essential in a consenting democracy……
Obviously it’s to costly to those who benefit….. the rogues.
too big to fail
Ok that’s that sorted, we’re grand lads. Even when we’re caught they won’t do a thing. Merry Christmas
The same was said about the fake breathtests – too big to investigate. It’s fake, fake, fake and take, take take. Make everything look good on the outside to get overtime etc.. I can’t believe they are allowing the same Gardai to go out and continue doing checkpoints without being supervised by independent bodies like RSA – they cannot be trusted again going forward.
Turkeys won’t vote for Christmas.
The money is not the issue here – the issue is that there is no real accountability in An Garda and GSOC is another failed internal system….
That’s why we had to set up a tribunal to look into whistleblowing – why not put it in under their brief considering they already have to look at it in the Cavan Monaghan and Donegal districts ???
Illegal acts by those who are supposed to enforce the law not being prosecuted because its too hard!!! Sometimes doing the right thing is hard. No accountability and no responsibility. This truly is appalling. So lets see what politician or campaigning journalist does anything about it! I’m waiting…………………………………………………………………
@Bill O’Brien: RTÉ reported some were disciplined.
Civil servants & Accountability… never the Twain shall meet. Welcome to Ireland.. appalling
Shred EVERYTHING.
Nothing to see here
To be fair there is no benefit to any of the inquiries for anything because there is never any action as the result.
A Leopard never changes it’s spots – when this is all buried under the carpet – the same practices will continue on into the future. I think this is what people are forgetting. We need foolproof systems in place ASAP !
We are all in trouble when we see that the Garda really are gombeens.
Rotten to the core
Nice One Gsoc.
The usual forget about it. Not a big deal.
Scandalous. Forever more we cannot have confidence in our police force. The cost is public confidence, the cost to the force is what he means. The number of officers who broke the law is in a file in black and white as all have to use a password to enter or delete points. It’s disgusting, deaths have been caused because if guards letting off friends and family for years. Never again can we have faith in this current force or ombudsmen if they can’t name condom or convict a single gaurd.
Gda management letting speedsters off and then have the hard neck to talk about road safety. The public has lost all respect and confidence in this gda force.
GRA should be on tomorrow looking for reinstatement of overtime to get the Xmas box cash cow going. I wonder how much overtime was spent on fictitious breath tests and cancelling buddies’ fixed charge notices. To think that all of this money could have been spent on police work. Carry on, no accountability.
RTÉ News reporter a number of officers have been disciplined. To state there have been no consequences is false.
@Paul: retrained as in told not to do it again. The gravity of the offence does not match the consequence
Ha ha ha. What joke. Surely the same could be said for any so called petty crime. Shoplifter? Let them off. Too expensive to follow up. if you didn’t pay the tv licence you’d be jailed. Pure joke. The last Garda Pay agreement should be cancelled. How much over time did they claim while making up numbers & wiping points?That’s theft from the tax payer.
I’m sick reading about this.just move on
Move along now, there’s nothing to see here !
Yeah … of benefit to who ? It’s certainly not the public
Wonderful way to maintain public confidence in the Gardai by turning a blind eye to any of their nefarious activities.Nearly two million fictitious breathalyser tests,20,000 thousand people falsely required to appear in court to suffer fines and penalty points ,in addition to penalty points being cancelled for friends of. So the acting garda commissioner plus Gsoc. plus the Policing Authority chaired by Josephine Feehily have decided in their wisdom to let the whole matter drop using the spurious excuse that to pursue it would cost to much money.Now you know that the garda are above the law,that the law doesn’t apply to them . Remember Josephine Feehily as chairperson of the revenue had no difficulty in threatening people over the property tax before she retired on a pension of over 100,000 euro.
The bigger you are the softer the fall
Too many high ranking officers n Dailers involved n god forbid they might have to pay for their crimes.
Whats point in gsoc so if they cant afford run an investigation that’s ridiculous
When the new boss from the north comes he will tighten The Sh…..in them Too bad that someone has to be brought in to TRY and correct the corruption in the Garda I am sure he has his homework done and will not tolerate the political Sh…that has gone on here since time began.
have your say