Prominent Athlone business honoured at Roscommon Enterprise Awards
A prominent feature within the Athlone business landscape, Cormican's Office Art School was honoured at the Roscommon County Enterprise Awards which took place recently in the Hodson Bay Hotel.
The family run business, located on Sean Costello Street, received the accolade in the 'Smart Business' category. Cormican's Office Art School has also been an integral part of Roscommon town business community for over forty years from its location on Abbey Street.
Represented at the awards by Fergal Cormican, who together with his sister Aisling runs the business, Cormican’s has been trading since 1981, ever since Fergal’s father Michael and mother Rita began the business.
“We are involved in office supplies but the business has evolved and expanded over the years since first becoming a school book supplies shop. We also stock art supplies, school books and school stationary and have a nationwide trade base with a strong online presence, which we’ve been doing for the past fifteen years.
Cormican’s employ five full-time staff and employ as many as 22 people during their busiest time of year, the summer months, ahead of the back to school period when demand is not surprisingly strongest for school books, stationary and art supplies.
Speaking prior to receiving his award, Fergal acknowledged the role of LEO in Cormican’s business story.
“LEO have been very good to us. I recently finished the Green for Business course and also did a ‘Lean for Business’ course. We’ve grown the office supplies side of the business considerably in recent years. Our immediate ambition is to develop a new website and to create a new buyer platform," Fergal said.
Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice stated that “flexibility and an ability to adapt and change their business model and practices” were the hallmarks of Cormican’s business success.
He said that ability to adapt and change “offers small businesses the opportunity to compete in markets and reach customers that would be out of reach for more traditional business models and to introduce efficiencies.”
Cllr Fitzmaurice said Cormican’s Office Art School began its journey as a traditional retail business and have availed of Local Enterprise Office supports such as a Trading Online Vouchers and other initiatives.
In turn, the business has optimised its website and social media reach, availed of Green for Business and Energy Efficiency grants to become more sustainable. In doing so, Cllr. Fitzmaurice said Cormican’s have “demonstrated a consistent will and drive to continuously change and grow their business.”