Leading retail expert says sky’s the limit for NI businesses

by Ulster Life • February 29, 2016 • Business • Comments (1) • 1592

One of Northern Ireland’s leading retail experts, Hugh Black, has today launched two exciting new business ventures, Hugh Black Consulting and Black Marketing.

The Belfast-based businesses will offer strategic packages to enable any business in achieving their short, medium or long-term goals and help them compete with a global audience.

For more than 30 years, Hugh has played a significant role in Northern Ireland’s retail and commercial world, carrying out senior management roles within Dunnes Stores, Junction One and Victoria Square, and most recently in his role as Commercial Director of Age NI. During this time Hugh has mentored hundreds of businesses and worked alongside some of our best-known local, national and international brands, ranging from SMEs to large multinationals.

Hugh who is the current President of Belfast’s Chamber of Commerce, is excited about his new venture, he said: “I have a real passion and understanding of the retail and commercial world and I am delighted to be able to share my wealth of experience and knowledge with businesses across Northern Ireland and beyond.

“In today’s retail environment, businesses are competing not only with other local companies in their town or city, but with a global audience – that is something I want retailers to realise and to strive for. By making your business the absolute best it can be in terms of branding, customer service, marketing and product offering, any Northern Ireland business can compete with the best in the world. That kind of mentality will not only help your own business but will help the overall economy of Northern Ireland – something which I am very passionate about.”

Hugh Black Consulting will offer a wide range of services including retail consultancy, branding, asset management as well as training and mentoring. The team at Black Marketing will focus on design, website, digital, social media and public relations.

Hugh goes on to say;

“I’m looking forward to delivering successful strategies and plans to businesses of any size from any sector, whether it’s simply helping to identify the correct location for a store, creating a concept for a new brand, a three year marketing strategy or designing a website. The possibilities are endless – and myself and team are absolutely up for the challenge. My aim is to use my extensive knowledge and past experiences to help drive local companies to be the absolute best they can possibly be.”

One of the most interesting and fulfilling aspects of Hugh Black Consulting is the Mentoring element, Hugh says,

“My aim is to do what I can to better equip my clients and provide them with all the tools and confidences they will need to fully deliver their successful business objectives. In short, I hope to enable business owners to achieve their goals by helping to remove barriers to performance and releasing the true potential in their business and to realise nothing is impossible.”

For further information on Hugh Black Consulting & Black Marketing and the range of services offered please visit www.hughblackconsulting.co.uk / www.blackmarketing.co.uk or call 07972000043.