26 STORE PROFILE
Oonagh Hannon manages Nearby LMS, Finisklin Road, Sligo and endeavours to see the shop through the eyes of the customer at all times. Fionnuala Carolan spoke to her about this dynamic business
Customer is king in Nearby Sligo
The team at Nearby LMS are “a very loyal and hard-working bunch,” says store manager Oonagh Hannon
because you had lost staff and then it was busy in bursts. I don’t know how people coped with having to sit at home every day. It was awful for young people.” On a personal note, Hannon feels that she became more empathic during this time. While she didn’t feel afraid herself during Covid she could understand the fears of others. “I think for me it gave me a bit more empathy,” she says. “I started to understand why people were afraid. We said to staff that if you are scared, you’re welcome to go home and come back when you’re ready and they did come back.”
It’s funny how a name can stick. The obvious question about Nearby LMS is what does the LMS stand for? Manager Oonagh Hannon tells ShelfLife that it goes back 40 years and was named after the three people who launched the original business on the site who were from Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo but the name has stuck with subsequent owners and everyone referring to it as Nearby LMS now. This site itself was originally an oil distribution company and Finisklin is still a busy industrial area with a number of builders’ merchants and other oil distribution companies in the area. Hannon explains how the current business came about. “The previous owners went into liquidation unfortunately,” she says. “It was bought up by Damien and Carmel McPartland and then turned into a 12-pump forecourt shop, diner and deli. They really had the vision to see it take off in this area and it really has.” The deli is the star of the show here, renowned for its local quality food. According to Hannon, it’s a destination that offers really good quality homemade fare. “We buy a lot of
the meat from Sherlock’s Butchers and we have fully trained chefs now,” she explains. “The deli is the best performing area of the store and did extremely well during Covid too.” The store first opened in February 2018 and according to Hannon it is going from strength to strength. During the past two years they were kept busy due to the strong deli trade but they also felt the pinch due to the lack of cars on the road during the Covid lockdowns. “The deli benefited as people knew we were open, but the forecourt was hit as cars weren’t on the road,” she says. “Work wise, it was busy
Originally from Gorteen, Co. Sligo, Hannon moved to London aged just 17 and found work in a pub. She subsequently worked in a bailiff’s office, a tough job but one she excelled at. “It involved buying debt from various companies and then turning it around and making a profit. We had standards and watched our margins and targets. From an early age I fell in love with targets – they motivated me,” she explains. “I spent 15 years in England and then I moved back to Ireland
“The deli is the best performing area of the store and did extremely well during Covid too,” says store manager Oonagh Hannon
The Cuppa coffee concept is ideal when customers need a quality coffee, easy, quick and on the go
‘Always Fresh’ is the cornerstone of Nearby LMS, which is renowned for its quality food offering
ShelfLife July 2022 | www.shelflife.ie
STORE PROFILE
store owner: Damien and Carmel McPartland manager: Oonagh Hannon address: Nearby LMS, Finisklin Road, Sligo staff: 15 (four part-time) opening hours: 7-8 pm and 9-5 on Sunday and bank holidays
Customer service
