40 Years of Excellence: Hennessy Hair & Beauty with Positive Retail

Positive Retail is excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our long-standing client, Hennessy Hair & Beauty.

Hennessy Hair & Beauty is the leading supplier of professional hair and beauty products, equipment and furniture to Hair and Beauty Salons, Nail bars, Spas and Training Academies and Colleges in Ireland.

Positive Retail have been proud partners of Hennessy Hair & Beauty for nearly 15 years, and it’s been a pleasure to support their growth by onboarding them with Retail Management Hero (RMH). RMH has helped them streamline their operations and boost efficiency within their business processes.

Over the past four decades, Hennessy Hair & Beauty has expertly combined tradition with cutting edge technology, setting a high standard in their industry. As they reach this landmark anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on their journey and the innovative strides they’ve made over the years. In a recent interview with the Hennessy team, we explored key moments in their history, the crucial role technology has played in shaping their business, the impact of adopting Retail Management Hero on their sales & back-office operations, and what the future holds for this dynamic company.

Join us in celebrating 40 years of excellence and innovation with Hennessy Hair & Beauty, a journey we at Positive Retail are incredibly proud to be a part of.

1. Can you share the story behind the founding of Hennessy Hair & Beauty? What inspired its inception 40 years ago?

Our founder, Patrick Hennessy, know lovingly to many as Paddy, grew up in St. Luke’s in Cork City.

As the third eldest child, Patrick grew up in a household of business entrepreneurs. Patrick started his career in the hair industry, working for the leading haircare company Wella. He built up great knowledge in the industry for 16 years as a sales rep and regional manager. He then saw an opening to deliver a cash-and-carry service in Cork.

2. What were some of the key milestones in Hennessy’s Hair & Beauty’s journey?

1980s

In the early 1980s, Paddy and his wife, Kathleen, founded Hennessy Hair & Beauty and delivered cash & carry services to their customers from their home across Munster. Paddy rented his first premises on Oliver Plunkett Street in the heart of Cork City, and a few years later, he moved to the existing premises on Pembroke Street. An opportunity arose to provide training in a new on-site training room, and the business went from strength to strength, hosting training and educational days. Paddy and Kathleen poured their heart and soul into establishing and growing the cash & carry business to support their customers.

2000s

In 2003 Hennessy Hair & Beauty purchased their first warehouse in Wilton, Cork. This new spacious and more efficient cash and carry aimed to provide a one stop shop for all their business needs. Strong connections were continuing to be built within the industry and the end goal was to help customers achieve their dreams of running their own salons. During this period of transition into a larger wholesaler, Hennessy’s continued to grow their product range and began to expand into the beauty sector during the mid-2000’s. Hennessy went from one to four Hair & Beauty Sales Representatives servicing the country nationwide. This unique offering enabled the business to offer the customer a regular ordering and delivering service.

2010

In 2010, the online e-commerce website was launched, which became another platform for customers to shop. Hennessy aims to always move with the times and by developing our website, it was another area to improve the shopping experience. The website was able to showcase the full stock listing and availability, so customers can shop for their favourite products and have them delivered right to their doorstep, with next day delivery. During this period, Hennessy recognised the need to develop a marketing department, which married together nicely with the launch of the website.

2014

In 2014, Susan McCarthy, daughter of Paddy and Kathleen Hennessy, began to transition into the role of Managing Director. Susan’s great relationship with her staff and customers alike enables her to continue to provide the level of excellence within the hair and beauty sector that has been long established. Together with her husband Brian McCarthy, they expanded the business nationally and secured Hennessy Hair & Beauty as the well-established “go to” cash and carry for all hair & beauty requirements. Both Susan and Brian continue to focus on customer support and loyalty as they drive the business forward.

2018

In 2018, the company expanded its warehouse to facilitate a better shopping experience and to deal with the growth in customer demands for its top-quality product range. The Hennessy family purchased Unit 27 to connect to Unit 28 in Doughcloyne Industrial Estate, which became the stock warehouse and dispatch area.

2020

Following this latest transition for the business, 

the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred, causing issues for many businesses.

Hennessy helped its customers with the latest PPE so that its customers could provide their hair and beauty services when allowed safely to do so.

After the pandemic, Hennessy was able to get back to full business, seeing their customers walk in the doors of the cash and carry stores, putting smiles on their faces.

2023

To bring us up to date, 2023 saw the revamp of the cash and carry, which improved the in-house shopping experience and enabled us to display and market brands more efficiently.

3.  How do you balance honouring the legacy of the business while also embracing innovation and change to meet the needs of modern customers?

The needs and demands of customers will always influence the direction the company moves in. We always try to remember our core values but as a 2nd generation business, it is also very important to recognise change and adapt when needed. 4. How has technology played a role in shaping Hennessy Hair & Beauty over the past four decades?

4. How has technology played a role in shaping Hennessy Hair & Beauty over the past four decades?

Technology has transformed the company enormously

over the past four decades.

We went from selling products out of the back of a van to distributing nationwide.

Investment in our website, POS and stock control system has greatly shaped how the company has grown and how the company operates.

Customers can order products via our website, through sales reps, over the phone or shop in our Doughcloyne and Pembroke Street stores.

5. In what ways has Retail Management Hero improved your point of sale and back-office activities compared to traditional methods?

Retail Management Hero helps us manage our two stores and our ecommerce website all under one umbrella. It provides the full package for operating multiple locations.

6. What specific features or functionalities of Retail Management Hero software have proven most beneficial for optimising your business processes?

Some of the features of Retail Management Hero that we have found most beneficial within our business processes include:

• Emailing invoices and statements.

• Provides live information.

• Inter store transfers.

• Stock control.

7. How has your experience been with Positive Retail? Would you recommend Positive Retail to other retailers?

Positive Retail’s support team is amazing! They are always on hand to help with queries, and they go above and beyond for us.

8. What does it mean to Hennessy Hair & Beauty to be recognised as Guaranteed Irish?

We are delighted to be recognised as Guaranteed Irish.

We are a proud Irish SME Hair and Beauty Wholesaler that supports local businesses across Ireland. We strive to support local jobs and businesses to continue our part in the Irish economy.

9. As you celebrate this significant milestone, what do you hope the next chapter holds for Hennessy, both in terms of preserving its legacy and embracing opportunities?

Our relationship with our customers is our number one priority. As they grow, we need to grow with them, so we can meet their needs. We hope to continue to expand the business and maybe venture into new areas. We will keep working hard to ensure the next generation has a solid foundation to grow from.

As we look back on Hennessy Hair & Beauty’s remarkable 40-year journey, it is clear that their dedication to their customers and innovation has set them apart in the industry. At Positive Retail we’re proud to have supported their growth and success, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and success.

To learn more about Hennessy Hair & Beauty’s incredible journey and innovative products & services, visit their website at https://www.hennessyhb.ie/store/ If you’re interested in how Positive Retail can help your business achieve its own success story, visit our webpage to explore our services and see how we can support your growth with the latest in retail technology. Are you a retailer looking for assistance with government supports and grants? Join Positive Retail & Sandyford Business District on September 25th for The Retail Support Summit, an exclusive event designed for retailers to connect directly with the experts who can help you succeed! Learn More