Yes it's time to pack up and leave, as Style finally winds down in the Kilkenny People after 17 long months!
The editors in the paper have supported me tremenduously with this decision, as it wasn't an easy one, but as the Boss Man says, it's time for the chicks to leave the nest and go on to bigger things.
I know there are people who would love to think something bad or controversial went down, but it was a simple business decision that I made with my business partner Eoin. The Kilkenny People people and I still have a fantastic relationship, and I will always be grateful to them for my 'break' in fashion media.
I am still in the Kilkenny People Weekender, but I will be reviewing this in September. Until then, check back here for updates! And no we haven't abandoned our plans for the style fair etc, we just need to take a little time out for a while, and come back with fresh eyes! (Anyone know where you can buy fresh eyes...no?!)
Thanks to EVERYONE who loved and supported our page, we really did appreciate it. Please, give this support to the two new writers, the page is hard work, and I'm sure they will appreciate it.
xxx Blanaid
Friday, August 17, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Time flies!
So I have been a little busy since going onto bebo, and have completely neglected my own site....another reason is that the chap who did up this site has apparently lost the codes, so I can't change it. I'm going to get the problem sorted and have a much better site by this time next year.
Eoin and I are very busy as per usual, a lot of business ideas are finally coming to fruition and we are beginning to enjoy the rewards of our hard work. It is going to be a pretty hard three years but after that we should be able to sit back and enjoy ourselves!
As for the Kilkenny People, well, I still enjoy my page, but maybe it's time for something new and fresh? Who knows....
I'll be back soon with a fresh update!
Eoin and I are very busy as per usual, a lot of business ideas are finally coming to fruition and we are beginning to enjoy the rewards of our hard work. It is going to be a pretty hard three years but after that we should be able to sit back and enjoy ourselves!
As for the Kilkenny People, well, I still enjoy my page, but maybe it's time for something new and fresh? Who knows....
I'll be back soon with a fresh update!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
STYLEFAIR 2007
I know many of you are wondering when this shopping and style extravaganza is taking place, well, we have finalised a month: September. I had hoped to have it a little sooner, but after discussions and negotiations, I realised that September is the best time of year for a boost of style, and also gives me enough time to create a fantastic day, thoroughly organised.
Working on the Stylefair will certainly keep me occupied until then, as well as the expansion of Eoin Hennessy Photography, of which I am a partner. We will be pushing our website www.ehp.ie into a new realm, as well as restructuring our Studio.
I will also be announcing a new division of our company Hennessy Media shortly, which will involve a collaboration with one of the most stylish women in Kilkenny. Sorry to be so mysteeeerious, but you never know what could happen between here and finalisation of any plan.
Fingers crossed everything will work out. If any of you need any advice, if I can help at all with any career or business quandries, drop me a confidential email to blanaid@ehp.ie. If I can help, I will. If I can't...eh...I wont!!
B
Kelly Pages 2007
We are very pleased to be a part of the Kelly Pages this year. A free directory of contact details for services and businesses in Kilkenny, the Kelly Pages this year covered lifestyle, sport and more in detail, making it a mix between a Golden Pages and Lonely Planet guide for Kilkenny.We had six pages of style in this years edition, Women's Style for all Seasons, Men's Style for all Seasons, and Bridal Style.
Our models were Julie Muldowney, Alan Johnstone, and Roisin Hennessy.
Thanks to Michael Lennon for his layout skills!
Photography by Eoin Hennessy.
Above is a sample of the shot for the Women's style page, featuring Julie Muldowney.
The directories are available in garages and various outlets in Kilkenny City, and seeing, as they're free, you have no excuse not to pick one up!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Style with Blanaid Hennessy 2nd Feb
This is a first look at the style page for this Wednesday. It is, yes, you guessed it, a make up shoot!The three local models, Rebecca, Emma and new model, Laura, came straight from a hockey match for the shoot. Oh the dedication!
Emma also showed her skill as a budding make up artist, creating the look on Laura, second from left.
Full text and details in this Wednesday's paper.
INTERIORS TEXT FROM THE WEEKENDER FRI 26TH JAN
You should all be recieving your Weekenders on a more regular basis now as the distribution has been reallocated. I have style and interiors pages in this Friday free sheet, yet I very rarely publish any of the stuff from that here.
So, here is a piece from the interiors/ property page I had last week. I did have a little rant, but hopefully it will start some sort of debate on this topic.
I hope you enjoy it....or read it!!
FORGET LOCATION...TRY NEGOTIATION
Relocation, relocation, relocation…when commercial rent becomes too much.
Commercial rents in the city centre are, quite frankly, ridiculous. Rents are high here because of location, they say. That’s a given, considering the state of most of the buildings. But what happens when you are not keeping an eye on the market, and business people realise that the location factor is slowly slipping away form the allure of renting there. Let’s all have a little think, for a moment, on the future of our city centre.
1. Landlords, who roam unregulated, hike up prices to multinational company level, but can’t provide the storage or access a multinational company would require.
There is also little, if any, car parking for loading or unloading, which means customers and businesses alike head for the industrial estates.
This makes location null and void for businesses who need space.
2. High Street is renowned for it’s good looks and charm, but most buildings have only one access point, which is the shop’s front door. This restriction alone stifles cheaper rents for offices or services that don’t require shop frontage , and stops the ground floor business from easing it’s expenses through subletting.
3. Location location etc, but businesses don’t close because you try to charge too much rent, they just take themselves elsewhere. In an age of new media, location isn’t everything.
4. I understand if a landlord must cover their own mortgage, but, unfortunately, rents covering the mortgage amount will soon be a thing of the past. There is a slow down coming to the property market, investors will be dumping a lot of their holdings in the Summer, so all of you landlords with places sitting empty and idle because your rents are too high now, just imagine how long they will be sitting empty when surrounded by a deluge of competing properties.
5.You may think that people should pay for the privilege of a nice location, and charge accordingly, but remember, that businesses also need to pay rates, wages, suppliers and service providers, and still make somewhat of a living.
6. Recognise the reason why people continue to rent in the city centre, footfall. When those feet are spread out amongst the new shopping centres, and driven out to sprawling industrial estates, then all you are left with is sentimentality, and a business who pays extraordinary rent for the reason of a sentimental location, will not be a tenant for very long. They will not be a business for very long.
7. I’m all for survival of the fittest, I don’t think we should mollycoddle and massage little businesses that are then unprepared for the real world, and fold quick sharp. Don’t think I’m here asking for leniency, and a little helping hand etc. What I’m saying is this, you can’t attract the big boys to play on High Street, Rose Inn Street, William Street, John Street, James Street, Kieran Street, any street in the city, so stop charging like you can. Let them go and pay the exact same money for a unit four times as big , modern and equipped as the one you are offering, half a mile outside the city. You need to recognise that your market is changing, and ask yourself, are you ready to negotiate?
The fact is, unless something is done soon to entice good, strong, long term businesses to our city centre,
before the new shopping centres or expanding estates do so, Kilkenny City Centre is going to become a ghost town. It’s not up to me to try and fix it, I’m just here to point it out to the people who can......
(A little note to businesses who wish to rent, you would never offer the asking price on a house for sale without negotiating, so why accept whatever the landlord wants without trying to work on the price. The new rule of property, forget location, try negotiation.)
So, here is a piece from the interiors/ property page I had last week. I did have a little rant, but hopefully it will start some sort of debate on this topic.
I hope you enjoy it....or read it!!
FORGET LOCATION...TRY NEGOTIATION
Relocation, relocation, relocation…when commercial rent becomes too much.
Commercial rents in the city centre are, quite frankly, ridiculous. Rents are high here because of location, they say. That’s a given, considering the state of most of the buildings. But what happens when you are not keeping an eye on the market, and business people realise that the location factor is slowly slipping away form the allure of renting there. Let’s all have a little think, for a moment, on the future of our city centre.
1. Landlords, who roam unregulated, hike up prices to multinational company level, but can’t provide the storage or access a multinational company would require.
There is also little, if any, car parking for loading or unloading, which means customers and businesses alike head for the industrial estates.
This makes location null and void for businesses who need space.
2. High Street is renowned for it’s good looks and charm, but most buildings have only one access point, which is the shop’s front door. This restriction alone stifles cheaper rents for offices or services that don’t require shop frontage , and stops the ground floor business from easing it’s expenses through subletting.
3. Location location etc, but businesses don’t close because you try to charge too much rent, they just take themselves elsewhere. In an age of new media, location isn’t everything.
4. I understand if a landlord must cover their own mortgage, but, unfortunately, rents covering the mortgage amount will soon be a thing of the past. There is a slow down coming to the property market, investors will be dumping a lot of their holdings in the Summer, so all of you landlords with places sitting empty and idle because your rents are too high now, just imagine how long they will be sitting empty when surrounded by a deluge of competing properties.
5.You may think that people should pay for the privilege of a nice location, and charge accordingly, but remember, that businesses also need to pay rates, wages, suppliers and service providers, and still make somewhat of a living.
6. Recognise the reason why people continue to rent in the city centre, footfall. When those feet are spread out amongst the new shopping centres, and driven out to sprawling industrial estates, then all you are left with is sentimentality, and a business who pays extraordinary rent for the reason of a sentimental location, will not be a tenant for very long. They will not be a business for very long.
7. I’m all for survival of the fittest, I don’t think we should mollycoddle and massage little businesses that are then unprepared for the real world, and fold quick sharp. Don’t think I’m here asking for leniency, and a little helping hand etc. What I’m saying is this, you can’t attract the big boys to play on High Street, Rose Inn Street, William Street, John Street, James Street, Kieran Street, any street in the city, so stop charging like you can. Let them go and pay the exact same money for a unit four times as big , modern and equipped as the one you are offering, half a mile outside the city. You need to recognise that your market is changing, and ask yourself, are you ready to negotiate?
The fact is, unless something is done soon to entice good, strong, long term businesses to our city centre,
before the new shopping centres or expanding estates do so, Kilkenny City Centre is going to become a ghost town. It’s not up to me to try and fix it, I’m just here to point it out to the people who can......
(A little note to businesses who wish to rent, you would never offer the asking price on a house for sale without negotiating, so why accept whatever the landlord wants without trying to work on the price. The new rule of property, forget location, try negotiation.)
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