Set-up in 1977, Dolphin Electrical Wholesale is an independent Electrical Wholesaler based on the South Circular Road in Dublin city. Building Ireland learned more about the award-winning company recently from one of its two directors, Noeleen Rooney.
Since opening its doors on November 14th, 1977, Dolphin Electrical Wholesale has gone through both the good times and the bad, and today, as much as ever, it stands as a successfully run family business.
Having been founded by husband and wife Harry and Noeleen Rooney close to 41 years ago, the second generation of Rooneys has now become immersed in the company in the form of their son Colin, who came on board in July 2017.
For Noeleen, these past four decades have flown by in many respects and things are now at the point where she could even be pondering retirement a couple of years down the line.
This past May saw her excellent work in the electrical industry recognised on a national scale when she picked up the Special Recognition Award at Ireland’s National Electrical Awards.
At the same event, Dolphin Electrical Wholesale also topped a readers’ poll in Ireland’s Electrical Magazine for Preferred Wholesaler, so it certainly was a night to remember for the Rooneys and their highly-valued staff.
Looking back on it now, Noeleen points out that excellent staff down through the years has been a huge part of the company’s success since it first opened its doors in ’77.
“My husband and I started up the business the same year we got married and we did have a minor shareholder in with us, that parted ways in 1985,” explained Noeleen.
“Then in ’89, Harry had a bad accident and it took him out of the business, basically. To be honest, there was massive pressure at that time. Our four children were very young then, we had massive Bad Debts as a result of the 80’s recession. I have to thank the Electrical Industry, particularly our Suppliers who stood by me and helped us to build back up again. My Motto is, ‘you cut your cloth according to your measure’ and I think that also helped us stay afloat.
So what makes Dolphin Electrical Wholesale different from other competitors out there?
“We pride ourselves on giving a first class service to our customers. “I want to be able to stand over anything that we sell. Our customer may say they can buy an equivalent product cheaper elsewhere. If they have to go back to a job months later to replace a faulty product, then it becomes a very expensive item for them. Time is money to our customer. That’s why my philosophy has always been that if you buy cheap then you buy twice.
More than four decades in the electrical industry would suggest that they have stood toe-to-toe with the best at Dolphin Electrical Wholesale.
However, that doesn’t mean that Noeleen and Co are willing to rest on their laurels. In fact, it’s the exact opposite, as she pointed out that the demands from clients nowadays are increasing more and more as the weeks and months roll past.
“Everybody seems to want their materials now and you have to have it for them,” she stated plainly.
“Back in the 1970s – when Dublin was basically being built – guys rang you and ordered a month’s supply in one go. Now contractors want their stuff as they go because the margins are so tight.
“There’s no room for error in this day and age. I feel a grave error that’s made in business, is that people just look at their buying and selling prices when considering their margins, without factoring in ALL their overheads. “I’m very much old school when it comes to that kind of thing. You pay your own way and that’s it.”
The company supplies Electrical Wholesale, Retail, Lighting, Facility & Property Maintenance, Hospitality, Electrical Engineering and Construction sectors.
The business and trade counter at Dolphin Electrical Wholesale are easily accessed with loading bays and on street parking directly in front of the store on the South Circular Road.
They stock a vast range of premium brands and products and supply electrical goods to domestic, trade and commercial customers. We deliver nationwide, along with offering trade and commercial customers an express free delivery service around Dublin and the surrounding areas.
“We consider ourselves to be a small independent wholesale that will go that extra mile for anyone,” Noeleen stated.
I gained my knowledge of the trade while working for Tom O’Reilly Electrical Wholesaler. Both Tom and Mona were great mentors as the imparted their vast experience to me and the rest of their staff.
“In this business, you’ll never stop learning. There are so many products in the Electrical business, I’m not afraid to say that ‘I don’t know’ but I’ll find out.
No doubt it’s that attitude which has helped to grow the business into a success and, with the Rooneys’ experience and knowledge of the electrical industry, they seem to be always able to stay ahead of the curve on the latest manufacture updates, developments and products.
They are constantly evolving the business with current markets and to suit all customers’ needs and supply a vast range of recognised premium brands and products.
Reliability, quality and safety are at the forefront of all the products that Dolphin Electrical Wholesale supply to customers. They attribute their experience, customer satisfaction and service to their continuing success in the electrical industry.
As aforementioned, this superb summer started off in splendid fashion for Dolphin Electrical when the company scooped a pair of gongs at the National Electrical Awards at the Mansion House in Dublin.
For Noeleen, she felt the recognition was “a great honour” for her family’s company.
“The awards were in May and we were lucky enough to win two of them on the night,” she said.
“We won the Electrical Magazine Readers’ Poll for Preferred Wholesale, which we were absolutely delighted with. It’s nice that customers took the time to vote for us and then of course the special recognition for my dedication to the trade was a great honour as well.”
Perhaps even one or two more awards could be down the line for this busy firm, as Noeleen confirmed she’s in “no hurry to retire” yet.
Great to hear and keep up the good work!
Dolphin Electrical Wholesale
396 South Circular Road,
Rialto,
Dublin 8
Tel: (NI/RoI) 00353 (0)1 453 8076
E-mail: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, November 2018, Vol 4 No 10
