Pictured: Paul Foley, owner of The Corkscrew Wine Merchants.
Paul Foley, owner of The Corkscrew Wine Merchants.
Paul, along with his wife Fiona, owns The Corkscrew Wine Merchants on Chatham Street. The pair recently launched a new event space, Upstairs at No.4, above the wine shop, following a quarter of a million euro investment. The Corkscrew is truly a family affair with Paul’s father Peter Foley opening the first shop back in 1978, before Paul followed his father’s footsteps into the wine business.
What was your first job?
My first job was helping my dad Peter in our family off-licence, and from there I moved into Finance and Banking. I then took over the running of The Corkscrew in March 2004 alongside my wife Fiona and I haven’t looked back!
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Being able to take over and expand The Corkscrew and knowing I’ve a team of supporters behind me is a great feeling. Opening Upstairs at No.4, our new venue and event space above the wine shop, was such a huge achievement for both Fiona and me. My dad has stayed on as a consultant to the business and it’s great to have his knowledge and experience behind us.
In three words or less, how do you define success?
Happy, Supported, Safe.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Always strive to do your best, and nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
I always try to lead by example. I’ve found setting realistic goals and targets motivates the team – they always want to break them which is fantastic!
If you could step into the shoes of one business person for a day, who would it be?
JP McManus. He came from a humble upbringing. Learnt everything about horses from his father (mine is wine!). He is one of Ireland’s most successful and respected businessmen. He has often said that all he wants is that his wife Noreen, his children and grandchildren to be happy and healthy. He would like nothing more than to be able to spend a lot of quality time with all of them. He has also over the years given a lot back to society and, in particular his native Limerick.
How do you relax?
A nice glass of wine – owning a wine shop certainly helps with this. I also love spending time with my family.
What’s your motto?
Show respect and see the rewards.
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
I hope to continue to grow The Corkscrew brand, along with our event space Upstairs at No.4, and to showcase the amazing selection of wines we have.
Upstairs at No.4 – the new event space at The Corkscrew wine shop on Dublin’s Chatham St.
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