Penneys celebrates turning 50!
Written by Ireland’s most loved retailer, Penneys, is celebrating 50 years of great fashion at even better prices!
On July 1st 1969, the first Penneys store opened on Mary Street, Dublin. Since then Penneys has become a much loved brand with Irish and international fashion fans alike. From one store to the company now operating 372 stores in 12 countries, with more than 75,000 employees and over 15 million sq. feet of retail space it has globally grown to bring ‘Amazing Fashion at Amazing Prices’ to everyone.
As Primark continues to grow, the Mary Street store remains an important landmark with the company’s international headquarters located above the store. Arthur Ryan House, named after Primark’s visionary Chairman and Founder, is HQ for more than 700 people. The vibrant and contemporary workspace is fully equipped with its own fitness and wellbeing studio, restaurant and café. The space showcases Primark’s dynamic brand and heritage and is designed to provide employees with a closer connection to the company’s retail stores.
Speaking about the 50-year milestone, Primark CEO, Paul Marchant said:
“The doors to the very first Penneys opened on Mary Street 50 years ago today (July 1st), and I am so proud of everything we have achieved together in that time – starting from humble beginnings with just one store to now serving over one million customers a day.
“Today we celebrate our visionary Chairman and Founder, Mr. Arthur Ryan, and the passion and commitment of our people, who are the heart of our business. I want to personally thank all our colleagues, both past and present, for their significant contribution and outstanding dedication.
I would also like to thank our customers for their loyalty over the past five decades. We look forward to providing them with an exceptional shopping experience into the future.”
Penneys, which operates as Primark outside of Ireland, has become an international success story over the last five decades. The company opened its first UK store in 1973, and began expanding into Europe in 2006 opening in Spain, followed by the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, the US and Italy. Last month saw the business open a store in Slovenia, marking its entry into Central Eastern Europe, with plans to open more new stores in Poland and the Czech Republic in the future.
It’s largest store opened earlier this year in Birmingham, spanning five floors and covering 160,000 sq. feet of retail space. This mammoth store features Primark’s biggest beauty studio to date, a barbers and 3 new dining experiences, including the hugely popular Primark Café with Disney.
Primark continues to innovate and evolve its product offering in line with its customers’ ever-changing needs. In addition to its womenswear, menswear and kidswear offerings, it now has extensive homeware and beauty ranges and was proud to have achieved Leaping Bunny certification from Cruelty Free International for all its own brand, Primark PS… products last year.
