For more than four decades, Ennis Electrical Supplies Ltd. has been providing customers in County Clare and beyond with an unrivalled electrical wholesale (and retail) service. We travelled to the Banner County and caught up with proprietor Eric Flynn to find out more about this outstanding family-run operation.
Twenty-sixteen was a landmark year for Ennis Electrical Supplies Ltd. as the exceptional family business celebrated its 40th anniversary – quite an achievement considering the economic challenges that have been presented to Irish companies at various junctures over the past four decades.
Today, the long-serving electrical supplies specialist is going as strong as ever, with three branches in operation and direct gainful employment generated for a professional team of 23, providing excellent electrical products and services to domestic and commercial customers across Clare and other parts of Munster and beyond.
Electrical wholesaling has been a key part of the business since its inception and local contractors are duly and reliably supplied with a comprehensive range of high-quality products at extremely reasonable prices, with an outstanding level of customer care and a back-up service that’s quite simply second to none, ensuring a high volume of repeat trade from satisfied customers.
From branches on Quin Road and Parnell Street in Ennis – as well as a third retail outlet in Nenagh, County Tipperary (Expert Nenagh), Ennis Electrical Supplies offers a wide selection of electrical retail and wholesale goods. As part of the Expert Group – one of Ireland’s largest electrical retailers – they are completely orientated towards absolute customer care, including keen deliver and installation services if required.
“My father, Paul, saw an opportunity and set the business up in 1976,” reflects Eric Flynn. “We started out on Parnell Street in town and opened the Quin Road branch in 2000. We operate the three retail stores hand in hand now, as well as an electrical wholesale business from the Quin Road outlet.”
The electrical wholesale operation offers contractors everything an electrician could possibly need, from lighting, lamps and bulbs to cables and wiring products and accessories; encompassing distribution and control, security and safety, heating and ventilating products; plugs, switches and sockets, tools and fittings, showers, alarms, carbon monoxide detectors etc.
Ennis Electrical Supplies source the finest, proven, market-leading products from around the world to ensure that their customers receive the best items and value for money possible.
As part of the nationwide Irish Electrical Buying Group (IEBG), Ennis Electrical Supplies is perfectly positioned to service the electrical distribution market with a huge selection of high-quality products at competitive prices. “Being part of that wholesale group, which was established in 2000, gives us increased buying power and access to a wider selection of products. We joined the IEBG Group to be able to get the best price possible and to then be able to pass on the best prices to our customers, who include contractors both large and small as well as the DIY market.”
The three retail outlets stock a vast array of essential household appliances such as washing machines, dryers, fridge freezers, hobs, ovens, cookers, dishwashers, televisions, home entertainment equipment etc. as well as tablets, laptops and Sat Navs alongside smaller electrical appliances (kettles, toasters, microwaves, deep fat fryers, vacuum cleaners and steam cleaners etc.). Special deals are available to builders, developers, property owners, householders or electrical contractors for entire fit-outs of new homes or apartments.
With such a wide range of products and services available to both the retail and wholesale markets, it’s no surprise to learn that business is currently brisk at Ennis Electrical Supplies, who have very impressively weathered the storm of the severe economic downturn that followed the demise of the Celtic Tiger.
“After a challenging few years, we are going well, thankfully,” confirms Eric. “For any business to have come through what happened was certainly an achievement in itself. Those were worrying times and, in fairness, all the businesses that survived deserve a clap on the back. We still have the three outlets and we have 23 staff, who are a huge part of the business – they have been loyal to us and we have been loyal to them.”
As for the key to the success of the business down through the years and decades, Eric continues: “We have an excellent range of products from all the major manufacturers and suppliers. We deal with the best of the best – for example, Dimplex, Philips and ATC, which is a very good supplier of heating products and hand dryers. We sell a lot of Mira and Triton showers and also supply Robus and Ansell LED lighting. It’s all very high-quality products at competitive prices and we do everything we can to make things as convenient as possible for customers.
“We’re open for business from 8am until 6pm five days a week (and until 5:30 on Saturdays) and we offer a prompt delivery service to site, if needed. We have access to hundreds of thousands of product lines and we carry a vast amount of stock, priding ourselves on having anything that a customer might be looking for.”
Eric is joined in the day-to-day running of the family business by sisters Paula and Audrey, who work in the accounts department. “As a family business, people know exactly who they are dealing with and we also have a small turnover of staff and that consistency gives our customers peace of mind as they are coming in and dealing with the same experienced, knowledgeable and friendly people all the time,” he concludes.
“We deal with electrical contractors from all over County Clare – some of whom go into counties Limerick and Galway – and we’re looking forward to continuing to fulfil their electrical wholesaling needs to the highest possible standard for many more years to come.”
Ennis Electrical Supplies Ltd.,
Quin Road,
Ennis,
County Clare.
Tel: 065 6829684
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, September 2017, Vol 3 No 8
