by Paul Bradley

 

Ballybofey woman Tracey Alexander is the face of Alexander’s of Ballybofey. She tells us how she marries traditional and modern, how small businesses are being well supported locally, the need for a better traffic management system in the town and what makes a good friend.

Hi Tracey, thank you for doing this interview. Could you tell us a little about yourself please?

Thanks for inviting me, Paul. My name is Tracey Alexander. I’m from just outside Ballybofey and then moved the entire way to Stranorlar when I got married. I worked as a medical secretary for twenty-three years before coming to work with my husband Joe in our shop on the Main Street in Ballybofey.

You’re the face of a famous Ballybofey shop. How would you describe Alexander’s position/significance in the community?

The shop has been owned by the Alexander family since 1960. Joe’s mum worked in the shop prior to that, it was owned by McClure’s at that stage. As the shop has always been family run and we don’t have a big turnover of staff, I think the customers feel familiar with it all. They like the fact that we all know their names, we know what newspaper they get if they have to send someone else in to get it for them, we know what they like to eat in their toastie. So invaluable and important in today’s society, when everything is clickety click, tap here and away you go.

Do you feel a shop like that has a duty to support local producers/crafters?

I feel from a community point of view, supporting local crafters, suppliers, services and producers is essential, especially in a small community. We all have a duty towards each other’s businesses to help keep our economy flowing and try to keep the local community spirit alive.

Is it hard to strike the balance between traditional and modern (keeping the community feel but also adopting modern digital services)?

Yes, it’s definitely hard to keep up with all the social media and website end of things. The shop is so busy on a day to day level that trying then to sell products via socials or the webpage is another job in itself. Social media has got to the stage now where everything looks so professional and amazing, you really need to know what you’re doing to create the right image for yourself and your business. Our heart is really on the ground though, talking to people who are in front of you.

Apart from just being well-known, the shop sells a lot of very different kinds of things – as a small business, is it hard to keep up with all that?

It’s not too bad! Joe generally looks after the hardware, groceries and yard downstairs and then I look after the coffee shop, books and gifts upstairs.

We’re usually both singing from the same hymn sheet with regard to stock and orders, so it works out – most of the time!

You’ve added a book loft and coffee shop…how has that worked at a time when there are so many coffee shops? Would you like to see Alexander’s as a place where people can not just shop, but pass an hour or two socialising?

Adding the coffee shop has been a great addition to the shop. It’s cosy and inviting so we have a lot of people who come in on a regular basis to meet up. One of the things I really love is that people have no problem coming in on their own. I think that’s definitely down to the staff and the atmosphere that they create. I know there are other coffee shops but there aren’t too many that sell coffee, do their own home baking and sell books… All the loves in my life!

You’re also heavily involved with the Stronger Together group, which is trying to make local businesses less lonely and more supportive. What kind of response has that had, and do you think it’s something that could apply to all smaller towns?

The Stronger Together group is fantastic for small businesses in that we all come together, find out what we need, what we need to know about and then we organise something! It’s all about the needs of the businesses and their owners. There is so much support out there for employees, for bigger companies but smaller businesses, many of whom are struggling to pay their huge overheads and wages, are on their own. It’s so good to meet with like-minded people who are dealing with the same struggles, to know that you’re not on your own. Small businesses need that support, you need to have someone you can call on for advice or just to rant occasionally! I think most small towns and villages should have something similar – to create that sense of community for business people and also to provide a helping word of advice for people just starting out with new businesses. Being self-employed can be a lonely place so wouldn’t it be great just to be able to offer a friendly word or give some encouragement.

Is Ballybofey a good town for business these days?

Business in Ballybofey is good. I think local people are very supportive of all their local businesses and trades people and we have a lovely community spirit.

What about you personally – presumably the business takes a lot of time, but what do you do when you do have time off?

I love being at home when I’m off! Home is my favourite place to be! I’m quite easily pleased when it comes to hobbies and chilling out. Reading, walking and baking are my things. And baking on a Sunday morning with the radio on – everything seems to turn out better on a Sunday morning!

Are there any local issues you would like to draw attention to?

Locally, I would love to see our council doing something about traffic management in the towns. Everyone talks about a bypass. If we had some thought put into our current roads and junctions, a bypass wouldn’t be so high on our agenda. A few sets of traffic lights, do away with the ‘knock me down’ pedestrian crossings, take the school traffic away from the Main Street, perhaps a one way system – I feel there are loads of things we could do to alleviate the traffic problems whilst we wait on the long awaited, probably never going to happen bypass.

Quick fire

The book or the film?

Book

Your perfect night?

Home cooked dinner, fire on, book in hand.

What do you look for most in a friend?

Loyalty, fun and no drama!

Do you have a particular motto/belief that you try to live by?

If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it.

If anyone else would like to take part in this interview, to raise a profile or an issue, please contact Paul at Dnthirddegree@gmail.com