Shopping in Penneys is “worth a four-hour drive from Belfast and a 9:30 am start.”

That’s according to one shopper, who spoke to Newstalk’s Josh Crosbie in Penneys at Dundrum Town Centre, which is set to replace its current store with the third largest store in the country.

The retailer has grown from one store in Dublin to now having more than 400 outlets around the world.

“It was the first place we came when we got here, we were like, ‘We have to go see what Penneys is like because everyone talks about it,” said the Belfast shopper.

“Ours would be smaller.

“We left the house at 9:30 this morning … every time I'm down South, it's where I go.”

Dundrum

Dundrum Town Centre Director Don Nugent said the new store will be almost doubling its size.

“This will give a lot more options across the similar department – obviously we’re going to have a very significant menswear and childrenswear on level three,” he said.

“Ladies' fashion, beauty, jewellery, accessories, and so on, on level two.

“A very broad spectrum and they've also promised to bring in a couple of new surprises.

“There’s such a huge demand for Penneys and a lot of excitement from our customers about the fact that they're doubling the size of their store into this brand-new concept store.”

Shoppers on Henry Street in Dublin when Ireland allowed all non-essential to resume. Picture date: Monday May 17, 2021.

‘Easy access’

One shopper said that, as a mother, shopping in Penneys has become a necessity.

“I have daughters, so it means if you were looking for something for sports day, it's really simple to just run in,” she said.

“Holidays, shoes – just easy access stuff.

“I just got a call from one of my daughters; ‘Will you go in and pick me up a t-shirt?’”

Another shopper said her nieces are the recipients of her Penneys purchases.

“Just pick up bits, it’s a great shop for young people,” she said.

“They absolutely love it, even I have relations in America, and they love Penneys when they come over because of the variety.”

Style

One shopper said the style in Penneys is what drew her in.

“It's a style that comes out more so than anything else, like the jeans and tops,” she said.

One husband said he only goes to Penneys when his wife is shopping there.

“The wife is filling [the basket] up, I’m just the bag man,” he said.

Environmental footprint

Another shopper said she was buying a new wardrobe in Penneys for her holiday in Orlando.

“When you get over there you leave half of it over there when you're coming back,” she said.

“You just leave the cheap and cheerful over there and bring the dear and wonderful back.”

On the environmental impact of this, she said, “I think clothes is the least of our problems with what we're burning to get there.”

Crowded clearance section in a clothing store, with various colorful garments placed tightly on racks in no particular order (Sundry Photography / Alamy Stock Photo)

Fashion Editor at Evoke.ie Rebecca Dore said, “The environmental footprint for fast fashion brands can't be ignored.”

“They are taking steps to improve their products, they’ve brought recycling schemes in,” she said.

“They just announced that their first ever circular collection will be dropping to combat the negative impacts of the production of garments.”

The new store is set to open in June of this year and will span across two floors in Dundrum Shopping Centre.

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