Hanly's showcase Nenagh on worldwide stage

One of Nenagh's oldest companies, John Hanly & Co Ltd, Ballyartella, has this week embarked on an exciting new chapter by launching a fresh brand image to its buyers from all over the world – a chapter that showcases the magnificent scenery of Lough Derg and its heather-carpeted uplands to a worldwide audience in film and photographs.
The company - renowned for its strong tradition of recruiting workers from the Nenagh area over its 125 years in the textile business - has adhered to form with its new marketing venture, by bringing on board local models and featuring the locality's breathtaking rural landscape to show off its  wonderful range of products on a worldwide stage.
Hanly's new website includes a short video featuring the former Miss Ireland and Miss World contestant, Niamh Kennedy from Portroe, and male model Paddy O' Rourke, from Toomevara, wearing some of the company's signature fashion pieces as they stroll on the rustic slopes of Tountinna, overlooking the Graves of the Leinster Men in a shoot embellished by panoramic views of Lough Derg and the surrounding countryside.
These breathtaking views are what customers from all over the world have the opportunity to view when they visit the website in a launch that also sees the rollout of a new company logo and a new 2020 colour catalogue featuring a wide range of Hanly's craftmanship that again features Kennedy and O' Rourke on Tountinna on the front cover.
The back cover of the cataloge features a vintage Ford Cortina Mark 2, loaned by Nenagh garage owner Donie Comerford, as it meanders a mountain lane that winds through the burgandy-brown hills near Portroe overlooking a spectacular view of the lake.
Among others whose expertise was called upon  by Hanly's to help with the shoots and marketing initiative were fashionista Donna Cummins from the Zip Yard shop in Nenagh; Roisín Malone, from Portroe, who has worked as a hair and makeup artist on the TV series, The Vikings; Trisha Purcell of the North Tipperary Development Company, and Ballycommon native Mary McCullough of Source Photography.
The video also features a drone shoot at the company's location on the banks of the Nenagh River by Simon Fitzpatrick of Kilig Productions in Dublin – the waterway from which Hanly's generates much of its own electricity –  while the photography is by Taine King, a Monaghan native living in Dublin and who is described by Hanly's as "a rising star in the photographic world".
John Hanly & Co Ltd, has been operating in Ballyartella since 1893 where its 32 staff are employed making fully Irish-designed and woven scarves, throws, headwear and fabrics in wool, cashmere, lambswool, mohair and natural fibres.
The firm has retail customers for its design quality products throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US and Japan, but its Managing Director Brian Hanly says the firm cannot afford to just rest on their laurels in an increasingly competitive market. 
Explaining the reasons for the new brand launch, Mr Hanly said: "We needed to safeguard the future of the company that employs over 30 people by opening up new markets across the world. To do this we need to look at the John Hanly story with fresh eyes and a new perspective."
Mr Hanly said that key to the new marketing campaign was to respect and embody the traditional values that enabled the company to  survive and thrive for the past century and a quarter. 
He added: "We have looked at the principles of positioning, branding, communicaton and marketing where digital marketing will be key to expanding our market share."
Sales and Marketing Manager, Andrew Mawhinney, revealed that the company brought consultants from the Limerick firm, Southern  Marketing Design Media, to provide advice on its new strategy. "We had a very positive and interesting experience looking at the John Hanly brand and what it stood for," said Andrew. "We came to the conclusion that the John Hanly brand can be seen as a 'keeper of memories' – memories of the past and, importantly, memories of the future. A customer who purchases a John Hanly throw, scarf or headwear is buying an instant memory and treasure. Many childhood memories are of holidays at the seaside, where the wool rug covered in sand and jam sandwiches is thrown in the back of the boot of the car – these are the type of memories that John Hanly is able to give in abundance – today we have a memory."
John Hanly  launched its new look and brand on Monday last at Showcase Ireland in the RDS, Dublin – the annual exhibition that displays the best of Irish design.
The European launch of the new brand takes place at next week's Maison&Objet trade show in Paris, featuring Hanly's new logo, 2020 catalogue, new website and accompanying video. The new range also incorporates a selection of gift packaging and accompanying labels and hang tags. 
As well as having its own shop at Ballyartella, the Hanly range can be purchased online.