Sweetie P’s boutiques, Limerick and Killaloe

Pauline Hartigan has always been a dedicated follower of fashion and has now turned an interest in a successful business with two Sweetie Ps boutiques in Killaloe and Limerick.

The Castleconnell-native opened her first shop in Clare last October and has now added a second branch in Catherine Street in the city.

“The hardest thing is getting the labels because they usually grant exclusivity for different areas. It’s better buying for two shops. You get in touch with the headquarters and then an Irish rep to try to convince them to go with your shop. Sometimes they do tell you that you can’t have it because a shop nearby is stocking it too. It’s fairly competitive.”

Pauline said that Sweetie Ps stocks a huge range of the latest designer fashions.

We stock Fred Sun- who is a fantastic dress designer and great for occasions like weddings- in Killaloe and Limerick. Other brands we carry include Saint Tropez, Rene Derhy and Pink Soda Urban and Boutique, which range from casual to smart casual.

For occasions, we stock clothes by Penny Black and Nathalie Chaize, which are very exclusive,” she said.

“From July, we’ll have Clare DK and we have Paul Costello in Killaloe. We don’t do the tracksuit thing. I think if people are going to a boutique they are looking for something out of the ordinary and want to spend money. I go to Paris about every six to eight weeks to see what the designers have for the upcoming seasons.”

Pauline studied music at college but is learning fast when it comes to the retail industry.

“You get to know how it’s done fairly fast, especially when it comes to things like what to buy and how much to get. After a few seasons, I know what suits my customers and what they like so it gets easier. I’m always on the lookout for something new to add as well to keep on top of trends. It’s very time consuming but I love it.”

She said that talking to her customers is an aspect of the job that she also really enjoys.

“When I used to go into a shop or boutique I’d love it if the owner was there for a chat. In a department store you’re anonymous. We keep a record of customer names and numbers for future reference so even if I’m in the other shop, I know who has called in. I live in Killaloe so I know a lot of the people coming in by name. People really like the personal touch.

She added that she is happy to spend as much time with customers as they need and can also do private appointments as well as take deposits and feedback.

“We’ll never tell someone they look fabulous in something just to sell it; they’ll always get an honest opinion and advice. Irish women have a real lack of confidence; they don’t like their elbows or their knees or something about themselves that they don’t like. We have a big range of styles and sizes as well as accessories and headpieces so there’s something for everyone.”

Sweetie Ps is located next the Royal Parade House in Killaloe, next to the AIB (061-622685) and on 59 Catherine Street, next to Nozomi (061-405280) or you can also call 087-9151717 for private appointments or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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