why go north when prices are going south?

2
SPECIAL REPORT A gent’s Santa suit for 3. A toddler’s first walker for 18. A 130 watch for only 8! Have we gone crazy? No, we’ve gone to Crazy Prices! Crazy Prices has been open in the Ilac Centre on Dublin’s Henry Street for almost a month now, and has already gained a reputa- tion as the ‘go-to’ store for all your Christmas needs and more. With 70 per cent discounts on the recom- mended retail prices of most items, it’s no wonder that customers are coming from Dublin and beyond to get their Christmas shopping sorted. There’s something for everyone here – from kids to grandparents! The aim of Crazy Prices is simple – give wholesale prices direct to retail cus- tomers. This means that cus- tomers can buy items that are, on average, 70 per cent cheaper than Dublin prices and 40 per cent cheaper than prices in Northern Ireland. According to Anthony Seery, manager at Crazy Prices, customers are amazed at the value on offer. “What I would say to peo- ple is: Why go north when our prices are going south? “The customers that walk in here are saying that they’re absolutely amazed by the prices that we’re giv- ing. They can’t believe it – they’ve never seen anything so cheap.” Although the shop has been open barely a month, trade has been incredible, picking up week after week, day on day. “Customers get a lot of variety – and every- thing here is priced 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on – there’s no 99 cent, no 45 cent. It’s all round numbers. “We have actually had wholesale people, traders coming in and buying from us to retail on. They asked me could I do them better prices and I said: this is whole- sale price, you’re not going to get it any cheaper anywhere.” According to Seery, people today are concerned with discounts and value whether it comes with brand names or non-brand names. Everyone is conscious of money and even Santa is on a budget! Crazy Prices has top brands and non-brands with 70 per cent off. At Crazy Prices, people are already starting to pick up some great value items for Christmas. The top seller is the 16” dancing musical Santa, the recommended retail price (RRP) of which is 22 – at only 6 here it’s a terrific bargain and would bring festive cheer to any household, without break- ing the bank! You can also get a 6ft luminous fibre- optic decorated Christmas tree for only 77, a saving of 200 on its RRP of 277! Have your tree sparkling this Christmas with 20 fes- tive lights for only 1, or 100 fairy lights for 5. Turn your house into a winter wonderland with the luminous 10m flexible colour outdoor rope light for only 15 (RRP 54). Add to this the rope light lamppost (37, RRP 133) and the rope light twin reindeer and sleigh (48, RRP 158) and you’ll really be the envy of all your neighbours. Why not pick up the four-way A couple of years ago there was nothing like this at all in Dublin. The last time I was in the Ilac Centre there was nothing like this! The prices are amaz- ing. This is my first time in the shop and I’ll be back again before Christmas. Lindsay We spoke to a range of shoppers at Crazy Prices, who all agreed there was amazing value to be had. It’s a very good place. This is our third time back! The prod- ucts are great quality as well. We always go up North to buy stuff, for our new baby and general shopping. Once you can get prices like that down here, why would you bother? These prices are unbelievable. Wayne, Elisabeth and baby Joshua Unbeatable value in the heart of Dublin Why go north when prices are going south? NUALA RYAN AND BEN MURNANE PAY A VISIT TO CRAZY PRICES IN THE ILAC CENTRE, WHERE THE INCREDIBLE VALUE IS DRAWING IN SHOPPERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

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Commercial feature in Herald AM, November 12 2009

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Why go north when prices are going south?

S P E C I A L R E P O R T

Agent’s Santa suitfor €3. A toddler’sfirst walker for€18. A €130 watchfor only €8! Have

we gone crazy? No, we’vegone to Crazy Prices!

Crazy Prices has beenopen in the Ilac Centre onDublin’s Henry Street foralmost a month now, andhas already gained a reputa-tion as the ‘go-to’ store forall your Christmas needsand more. With 70 per centdiscounts on the recom-mended retail prices of mostitems, it’s no wonder thatcustomers are coming fromDublin and beyond to gettheir Christmas shoppingsorted. There’s something

for everyone here – fromkids to grandparents!

The aim of Crazy Prices issimple – give wholesaleprices direct to retail cus-tomers. This means that cus-tomers can buy items thatare, on average, 70 per cent cheaper thanDublin prices and 40 percent cheaper than prices in Northern Ireland.According to Anthony Seery,manager at Crazy Prices,customers are amazed at thevalue on offer.

“What I would say to peo-ple is: Why go north whenour prices are going south?

“The customers that walkin here are saying thatthey’re absolutely amazed

by the prices that we’re giv-ing. They can’t believe it –they’ve never seen anythingso cheap.”

Although the shop hasbeen open barely a month,trade has been incredible,picking up week after week,day on day. “Customers get alot of variety – and every-thing here is priced €1, €2,€3, €4 and so on – there’s no99 cent, no 45 cent. It’s allround numbers.

“We have actually hadwholesale people, traderscoming in and buying from us to retail on. They asked me could I do them better prices and I said: this is whole-sale price, you’re not

going to get it any cheaper anywhere.”

According to Seery, peopletoday are concerned withdiscounts and value –whether it comes with brandnames or non-brand names.Everyone is conscious ofmoney and even Santa is ona budget! Crazy Prices hastop brands and non-brandswith 70 per cent off.

At Crazy Prices, people arealready starting to pick upsome great value items forChristmas. The top seller isthe 16” dancing musicalSanta, the recommendedretail price (RRP) of whichis €22 – at only €6 here it’s aterrific bargain and wouldbring festive cheer to any

household, without break-ing the bank! You can alsoget a 6ft luminous fibre-optic decorated Christmastree for only €77, a saving of€200 on its RRP of €277!Have your tree sparklingthis Christmas with 20 fes-tive lights for only €1, or 100fairy lights for €5.

Turn your house into awinter wonderland with theluminous 10m flexiblecolour outdoor rope light foronly €15 (RRP €54). Add tothis the rope light lamppost(€37, RRP €133) and therope light twin reindeer andsleigh (€48, RRP €158) andyou’ll really be the envy ofall your neighbours. Whynot pick up the four-way

A couple ofyears ago there

was nothing like this at allin Dublin. The last time Iwas in the Ilac Centrethere was nothing likethis! The prices are amaz-ing. This is my first time inthe shop and I’ll be backagain beforeChristmas. Lindsay

“We spoke to a range of shoppers at Crazy Prices, who all agreed there wasamazing value to be had.

It’s a very goodplace. This is our

third time back! The prod-ucts are great quality aswell. We always go upNorth to buy stuff, for ournew baby and generalshopping. Once you canget prices like that down here, why wouldyou bother? These prices areunbelievable. Wayne, Elisabeth and baby Joshua

““Unbeatable value in the heart of Dublin

Why go north when prices are

goingsouth?

NUALA RYAN AND BEN MURNANE PAY A VISIT TO CRAZY PRICES IN THE ILAC CENTRE, WHERETHE INCREDIBLE VALUE IS DRAWING IN SHOPPERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Page 2: Why go north when prices are going south?

S P E C I A L R E P O R T

extension lead, which isideal for Christmas lights,available in Crazy Prices for€3 (RRP €11)?

Fill your Christmas stock-ings with great value toysfor boys and girls, as well as

Crazy PricesUnit 20, Ilac Centre,Henry Street, Dublin 1

Tel: (01) 872 7776

For Mum

16” Dancing Musical Santa Crazy Price: €6RRP: €22You save: €16A fantastic novelty Christmas decoration – he comes with a candle, asaxophone, a violin or a lantern. Oneof the top sellers at the moment!

For Dad

Quartz Accuracy Wristwatch Crazy Price: €7RRP: €25You save: €18A quality and stylish watch that comeswith a 12-month guarantee. Dad willbe well impressed!

For The Boys

Set of Four Wrestlers in a Gift Box Crazy Price: €6RRP: €22You save: €16With moveable heads, arms and legsthese American wrestlers are sure togive your little man and his friendshours of fun.

For The Girls

Glitter Doll in a Gift Box Crazy Price: €4RRP: €14You save: €10These girls are never out of fashionand come in a range of stylish outfitsto delight your little girl.

For The Little One

Buggy Activity Centre Crazy Price: €7RRP: €25You save: €18Attach this to your little one’s buggyand keep him or her amused forhours!

For The Whole Family

Connect Four Crazy Price: €5RRP: €18You save: €13A terrific game that all the family canenjoy at an astonishingly good price.

DON’T LEAVE THE SHOP WITHOUT…CRAZY PRICES MANAGER ANTHONY SEERY PICKS HIS BEST-BUY PRESENTS FOR THEWHOLE FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS.

Overall Ireland isexpensive, but

Crazy Prices has bettervalue than anywhere elsewe’ve been. If you have asmall budget and aregoing out shopping forChristmas, for Christmasdecorations and so on,this is a goodplace to come. Lea and Dietlind, fromGermany

““It’s cheaperthan anywhere

else, I think. I’ve pickedout a few things for mygrandson today and theprices are brilliant. Ipicked up a baby playcentre for him for €5. I’ll be doing all my Christmasshopping here. Mary

““It’s very reasonably

priced – a kids’ Santa costume with hat for €1,or €3 for a gent’s Santacostume! We’d certainlycome back to getChristmas decorations andother stocking-fillers. It’sreally cheap. It’s betterand handier toshop here thanin the North . Natalie and Nora

“ “

some fun gifts for friendsand family. Treat Mum to‘the ultimate foot file’ withthe Ped Egg, as seen on TV,for only €2 (RRP €7), and getbaby’s cute first Christmasstocking for only €1.

Everything for Christmasrequires batteries and Crazy Prices won’t be beaten on price, no matter what battery it is.You can get Duracell batteries which normally

cost €6 for €3, a pack of four Philips batteries for€1 (RRP €4), or a 26-pack of assorted batteries whichnormally costs €25 for only €7.

Wrap up your trip to

Crazy Prices, and of courseyour presents, with thecheapest luxury Christ-mas wrapping paper inIreland. A 12m roll costs anincredible €1. That’sChristmas sorted!