Darren Bastin, Sales Director Ireland & Northern Ireland at RetailSystem, reflects on the past year as well as recognising all the people, businesses and cups of tea along the way.
“Eight Months In, and Feeling Right at Home”
There’s something about December that brings out the best in people… and the worst in umbrellas! The lights & decorations are going up across towns, delivery vans are everywhere, and shop floors are filled with that familiar mix of tinsel, tea, and tired feet.
For me, it’s also the time to stop for a breath and realise it’s been eight months since I joined the RetailSystem team. In that time, I’ve clocked up the miles across Ireland and the UK, onboarding retailers from Norwich to Newry, Manchester to Mansfield and Limerick to London to name just a few, and meeting some truly brilliant people along the way.
It’s been a year of firsts, first shows as part of the team in Dublin, Telford, and Minerva; first of may onboarding visits; and first time seeing the system from the inside out rather than from the shop floor. After nearly two decades using RetailSystem myself, I thought I knew it all. Turns out, there’s plenty more under the bonnet!
What’s really stood out, though, is the community spirit that runs through this industry. Every store I’ve walked into has offered a warm welcome (and usually a strong cuppa). There’s an honesty and resilience about Irish and UK furniture retailers that I’ve always admired.
The same can be said of the RetailSystem crew behind the scenes. The people I deal with every day and the wider team are the beating heart of it all, helping retailers with a level of patience that borders on saintly. It’s teamwork in its truest form: practical, positive, and always ready with a solution.
So, as we approach Christmas, I just want to say thanks, thanks to every retailer who’s trusted us with their business, every colleague who’s helped me find my feet, and everyone who’s stopped for a chat at a show or over a sandwich between onboarding.
The festive season is about connection and reflection, and this year I’ve had both in spades. I’m proud to be part of a team built on genuine care for retailers, not contracts and clauses. And if the first eight months are anything to go by, 2026 is going to be something special.
Wishing you and yours a peaceful Christmas, a busy till, and at least one day with your feet up… and no delivery schedule in sight.
See you in the New Year, bright-eyed, booted, and probably drinking a cup of tea somewhere on a road near you!
www.linkedin.com/in/darren-bastin-429a0a2b7/ / darren@retailsystem.com
