Episode 50 That Great Business Show - Rachel Reidy, Allbright Ireland , Robbie Scanlan, Allied Imports - Orlaith Duff, Oonagh Whyte, Field Queens

That Great Business Show

Episode 50 That Great Business Show - 'Ireland's best business podcast' - posting on 3rd September 2021

2.00" Rachel Reidy, Head of Allbright Ireland, promoting women in business

She knew the Allbright organisation from her latter years spent in London. When she moved back to Ireland last November she thought there was an opportunity to found an Allbright location in Dublin.

Allbright in Ireland, (the organisation is named after Madeleine Albright) begins as a digital entity (www.AllbrightCollective.com) but is in discussions regarding a physical location in Dublin. Their app is available now, and she asks women to join the Women in Ireland group on the app.

Their programmes include one that will help with 'that difficult conversation', when women are looking for pay rises. That's the Allbright Accelerator.

And there's Elevator, the senior leadership programme - aimed at helping middle managers get to the next level in business.

LVMH has appointed Allbright their official 'learning partner', and the 'knowledge base' of Allbright will be made available to their women staff.

They have a 'sisterhood matching' tool on their app and next they'll be adding a mentor match to the app.

Her 'hire in a heartbeat', Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble

She's on [e-mail] waiting to hear from you.

24.00" Robbie Scanlan, CEO, of Allied Imports, owners of the Tipperary Crystal brand as well the Graham Knuttel and Orla Kiely brands.

The business was founded by Robbie's dad in 1973, but going further back his grandad owned the huge Hammond Lane foundry in Dublin, makers of most of the manhole covers in the city.

Allied Imports has raised funding from Renatus (an investment company featured on a previous episode of TGBS).

They tried to buy Links of London, but failed in their bid which Robbie says was a blessing in disguise. That's when the Orla Kiely opportunity came along. They have developed 110 new Orla Kiely product lines, just being launched, with Orla being hands-on herself. They already have a lot of pre-orders. He explains how Allied Imports ended up working with the Orla Kiely brand after they had run into trading difficulties.

Networking he says is so important to make sure he sees or hears of whatever opportunities are available. He learnt all about networking from horse-race owner JP McManus and Nóirín, his wife. He explains how one of Ireland's richest men operates.

The way that Graham Knuttel came into the Allied Imports fold makes for funny and fascinating listening about 'Victor', a billionaire who had decided to make Graham Knuttel the next Pablo Picasso!

They have hired John Herlihy, ex Google, Paul Duffy, ex Pernod Ricard and Anthony Davey who has just sold his Farrow and Ball business, for their board, to help with their European expansion.

His 'hire in a heartbeat', JP McManus !

50.00" Orlaith Duff, Oonagh Whyte, football rivals, national school teachers and co-founders of Field Queens

Despite their on-pitch rivalry they work very well together. They say there's a massive market because there are no women's GAA gloves, specifically made for women, on the market. They have kids sizes from 4 years old and up. They reckon that there could be up to 100,000 women playing GAA nowadays. They're starting with their GAA gloves only to establish their brand. It's a 'passion project' for them, aimed at empowering young women, recognising their commitment to the sport. The greater aim is to develop a full clothing line, but they still love their teaching roles. They want to be stocked in all sports stores in Ireland and they'll be looking at the US market where Ladies GAA Football is also strong. They'll be contacting LEO Meath shortly, to help develop their business.

Their 'hire in a heartbeat' - Anna Geary, Cork GAA star. Find out why.

That Great Business Show is sponsored by www.DeFactoShave.com - makers of the world's best shaving oil.

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