A place where Sean knows their name
MEET THE FINALISTS: BEST IN RETAIL
SIMPLY known as ‘The Parlor Man’ by all the children of Ballinagh, Sean McDermot has never looked back since opening his sweet treat emporium in the village four years ago.
The Mullahoran man cut his retail teeth first with Quinnsworth then Tesco. It was on the commute to Navan every day that he first got the idea to start his own shop.
What sets Sean’s sweet shop apart is the personal service.
If you can ignore the temptation of the large jars of traditional sweets in the window and make your way to the counter, Sean will be waiting to take your order for muffins, milkshakes and smoothies or ice cream and crêpes.
Sean knows so many of his customers by name and taste and delights in going the extra mile particularly for shy children.
“I’ve noticed children with special needs wait in the car while their parent comes in to order for them so I’ve offered to open the shop a bit earlier or close the doors when they are in so that the child can come in just like any other kid and choose what they want.”
For the mums on the run there is Acai bowls and coffee, for the older person who doesn’t want a giant ice cream cone, Sean will scoop to measure and charge accordingly.
In the winter, the focus shifts to hot chocolate, warm chocolate fudge cake with ice cream on the side and gingerbread lattes.
The Parlor serves the people of Lacken, Kilnaleck, Crosserlough, Killykeen and Mullahoran with locally-made ice-cream and baked goods. The rest he bakes himself.
Sean makes school visits and sponsors underage football teams. In turn, the footballers go to Sean’s straight after training and matches for stacks of pancakes. “I sponsor them and they sponsor me,” is how Sean puts it.
“It’s like a social hang-out for them. You don’t get that in a filling station or supermarket.
“I think that is the difference in a small place – everything is community-based and done with the community in mind,” The Parlor Man said.
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FULL LIST OF FINALISTS
Read about the other three finalists in this category by visiting the stories below.
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