New store to turnover 100k on the first year
Patrick Keogh, from Rathwood, and Caitriona Kelly from Jack Murphy
Irish clothing and accessories label Jack Murphy has partnered with Rathwood to bring the Jack Murphy range of lifestyle and country fashion to the destination shopping and activity centre, located just outside Tullow, in the Wicklow/Carlow border.
The new Jack Murphy concession is the latest addition to Rathwood’s fashion range and is expected to reach a turnover of 100k on the first year.
Established in 1985, the Jack Murphy brand is known for fusing classic, timeless country styles with a refreshingly contemporary twist. Their dedicated design team inDublinstrive to enhance each and every style with thoughtful and luxurious finishing touches, making their range particularly unique and distinctively Irish. The company began as a small business in North County Dublin but is now a well-recognised International brand with over 1,000 stockists in Europe spread overIreland, theUK, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Germany and France.
Originally known for its garden centre and quality furniture store, Rathwood has, in recent years, diversified its offering to cover fashion and entertainment and activities, with a strong focus on local suppliers and quality. Rathwood also has a restaurant and a falconry centre, and seasonal activities include the Rathwood Halloween and Santa train, as well as cooking lessons for children.
Visitors to Rathwood numbered a quarter of a million in 2010, up 20percent on the previous year. New director and 24-year old son of the founder, James Keogh, explains Rathwood has developed into a completely new shopping experience:
“Local designer Deirdre Minogue and shoe fashionista Peig Moroney were the first shops we opened and we quickly saw these areas grow. We have since introduced other brands such as the organic Seasalt range, Portwest andLeeValleyall with excellent results,” he says. “We are constantly expanding our shopping experience with new events, foods and products. We are located in the heart of a rural community and we get many visitors from the city looking to escape to the countryside for the day. The Jack Murphy high quality country living fashion range is a perfect fit for Rathwood.”
“In recent years, the country look has been embraced by the fashion industry, from couture through to the high street, and is now popular with style conscious consumers from all walks of life, regardless of age group or background. Aspiring to the simplicity and affluence associated with the country way of life has become a prolific trend that seems set to stay,” says Caitriona Kelly, Marketing Manager with Jack Murphy.
“The Jack Murphy collection of country and lifestyle clothing and accessories caters for this demand perfectly. Whether your take on the country look is classic or contemporary; elegant or a little edgy; smart or casual chic, you are sure to find something in our collection that appeals to your individual sense of style and reflects your personality to perfection. Stylish and more affordable than many of its competitors the distinctively Irish designs give the range an element of uniqueness and make it stand out from the crowd”.