Clodagh Hannon made the move from PR and advertising in Brown Thomas to running her own art gallery in Dalkey, writes Brian O'Connell
INITIALLY, CLODAGH Hannon had thoughts of combining her rural background with a love of animals and training to become a vet. "I was a terrible drifter in school," she says, "and hadn't a notion really."
Hannon left secondary school in the mid 1980s, at a time when many of her contemporaries travelled abroad to work or study. Having secured a place on an arts degree at University College Dublin, things didn't quite go according to plan.
"I did a few months of the course but hadn't made up my mind what I wanted to do. The course didn't interest or motivate me at all. I had more of a 'learn on the job' mentality and I was focused on getting out of college and finding something I could do. I had the attention span of a newt!"
A role was advertised in a national newspaper with Carr Communications, and Hannon applied, along with 23 others, for a basic PA role, which she got.
"The job was basically answering phones and preparing rooms for interviews. I loved the work and the company was still small at that time. Half the work had to do with corporate videos, while lots of people were coming in and out for the PR training side of things also.
"It was a very stimulating place to work, but two years in, the video side of the company was disbanded. I think I was the only person under 30 kept on."
The hours were long, according to Hannon, often starting at 7am and working until after midnight. She also found the dynamic of the company changed after the lay-offs.
"I was an absolute grafter," she says, "The work was hard but I got to meet people from all walks of life, tinged with a bit of glamour. I wasn't happy there after the staff reductions, and wanted the security of a larger, corporate company.
"A friend told me about a job in the PR and marketing department in Brown Thomas and I applied and got the job as assistant to the marketing and PR manager."
Over the following years Hannon worked her way up the ladder, becoming advertising manager and later, for the remaining two years of her employment, was made marketing manager. In all, she spent 10 years working at the store, working from 8am until 7pm.
One of her roles was to project manage the PR side of things during the takeover of the Switzer stores. "Our day began at 8am meetings with the rest of the management team, and then perhaps meet with advertising and PR about shows and launches."
One event, which Hannon was involved in, would lead to an unsuspecting career change, and allow her pursue a love of art which had been part of her life since her youth.
"We did an art event which was like an art supermarket on the top two floors, following a similar idea in London.
"Budding artists were invited to submit paintings, which were then set up in baskets unframed for the public to browse. It was about bringing people struggling artistically into the commercial world. I found something hugely rewarding in the whole experience for the six months it lasted. I had been doing a fine arts course at night and first painted when I was 18.
"Whenever I was away on holidays my first port of call in places was always art galleries. Doing the art supermarket event stirred something in me, and I felt that it was a venture that could work, so I decided to give it a go."
Hannon began researching the feasibility of opening an art gallery, applying her marketing and advertising skills to the idea. She located a building in Dalkey, which was available for a six-month lease, which would suit her needs for the time being.
She says she funded the career switch, "by not taking a salary for the first few years. If you're thinking of doing something like this you need to have a lot of savings, perhaps €100,000."
The lease on the building was later extended, and has proved an ideal location. So far the move has proved successful, and her gallery, The Tramyard, is now well established. She is even beginning to take a wage out of the business, she says.
"It's nothing like I used to be paid. But 10 years working in retail was enough. It is a hard graft, but I got good training in marketing and selling, which I use to good effect in my current work. I do miss a little of the glamour side of my previous career, but I keep in touch."
Running your own business can be all consuming though.
"My working hours are probably the same, but I work differently now. I would say I work a lot harder; often I can't sleep without thinking about the business. I have a small child now also so I don't physically put in as many hours behind a desk. But I regularly get e-mails from friends remarking that they got gallery notices from me at all hours. I don't think you can ever really shut down if you own your own business.
"In terms of the move I don't regret it at all and it has worked out very well. I have huge ambitions for the business. You don't see many gallery owners with second homes and big Bentleys in the drive! So while it may not be the most financially rewarding of careers, I get a huge sense of satisfaction from it, which is all important."