With its inception dating back nearly 45 years, Irwin Electrical in Co Donegal continues to be an expert in the field of electrical services. Building Ireland heard more from the company’s General Manager Jonny McKenna recently.
Irwin Electrical have been operating in Letterkenny, Co Donegal since 1980 and in that time they’ve grown a strong client base which have been very loyal down through the years.
Customer service has always been the number one priority of the business and for that reason it’s not difficult to understand why EWL took the decision to acquire them 12 years ago.
Since that time, it has been relatively smooth sailing for Irwin Electrical (even during a harsh economic downturn) and General Manager Jonny McKenna, who joined the company in September of last year, was happy to report that the first half of 2017 has started positive.
Today it operates with two bases in Letterkenny and Buncrana and between the two locations there are 12 staff members, including Jonny – a former customer of the previous management while he severed his own time as a qualified electrician.
“EWL acquired the business in 2005, originally it was set up by brothers Liam and Des Irwin in Newtowncunningham back in 1973,” Jonny explained.
“In 1980, they moved into Letterkenny and then set-up another base in Buncrana which helped to service the Inishowen Peninsula.
“The Irwin Electrical name has been held in high esteem in the industry for 40 years now and 12 years ago EWL Edmundson came in to drive the business on further. We still have Irwin Electrical over the door here though.”
And why wouldn’t they? Although born in Newtowncunningham, Irwin Electrical made its name after moving to Letterkenny, forging a bond with its customers and then opening up another branch in Buncrana.
Having acquired the electrical wholesaling business of GEC Ireland in 1998, EWL eventually took over Irwin Electrical in 2005 and strengthened it to the point where they can service their clients’ contracts wherever they are in the country.
Indeed EWL serve the country from 15 locations throughout Ireland, each carrying a comprehensive stock and run by friendly, experienced and highly motivated staff.
Jonny says he’s glad to be part of the team, having worked on his own trade abroad, and has been keen for the challenges it has brought him over the past nine months.
“Before joining the company, I served my time as an electrician. I moved into project and contracts managing most recently in London’s high end residential market. I also spent some time working for the NIE to broaden my knowledge,” he stated.
“I came on board here in September of last year and I’ve really enjoyed the challenge so far. Like every industry, it is a competitive market and we have to be on our game all the time.”
The sales staff at Irwin Electrical has more than 150 years’ experience between them, so it’s safe to say that they’re operating at quite a high standard in Letterkenny and Buncrana.
“Things are going good,” he beamed. “We’ve had a positive start to 2017 and with hard work and determination from us all, I am sure we will continue in a positive manner.
“I would hope with me coming on board with an electrician’s background has helped to bring something different to the business and overall, the signs are very positive so far this year.”
So what’s the secret? How does a firm set up in one location, move, split into two separate locations, get acquired and still continue to be a success after the best part of half a century?
The current General Manager feels it comes down to one particular quality.
“What I’m finding is it’s the interaction we have with our customers,” he said. “I find that there’s a great buzz in here at the trade counter and people enjoy that, so I’d have to say it’s down to our staff and customer service. When someone makes the decision to travel, park up at our door and give us the opportunity of their business, I believe the least we can do is be courteous and try and meet their requirements. I find at Irwin’s our customers are more like friends!
“Another part of it is that if you have an account here you can walk into our sister branch in Cork and it will be the exact same for you.”
With EWL servicing the country from 15 locations nationwide, there’s no shortage of options for customers and this, combined with a much improved industry, has been a huge part of the reason for Irwin Electrical’s continued success.
They also offer an excellent delivery service for their customers and endeavour to make sure that the products in which they carry are delivered in a timely manner. No order is too big or too small.
“We’re in a fantastic position where we have access to anything you want,” said Jonny.
“We have two good locations being in both Letterkenny and Buncrana with two vans on the road, servicing the county and further. We do our very best to get products out by the next day.”
He added: “My job is to try and make sure that we continue to enhance the services we give to our customers and I think we can do that very well here.”
All the evidence points to Irwin Electrical continuing to do exactly that and, as Jonny himself says: “Every day is a school day and as it is early days for myself, everything is a work in progress where we will continue to adapt and evolve to our customer’s needs.”
Irwin Electrical
Address: Port Road,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal
Tel: 074 912 4240 (ROI), 00353 74 912 4240 (NI)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ewl.ie
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, July 2017, Vol 3 No 6
