Niamh Pattison

Bartending part time three shifts a week, providing friendly and welcoming service to local customers, showing good knowledge of drinks available and upselling where possible, following opening and closing protocols, including cash up, securing premises, cleaning and restocking etc. Organising parties and events for customers in the bar setting up as appropriate for live music/groups with decorations etc and including catering of cold buffets, and hot foods, as required.

Bartending, including welcoming in and serving customers promptly, also including taking food orders and waiting on tables during my shift. Restocking shelves, changing barrels, keeping all areas clean, and checking on toilets, working at weekends for busy events and occasions where the main restaurant was opened with large seating area. Closing up procedures full cleaning, and prep for following morning opening. Temporary contract of ten weeks covering another member of staff.

Giving a warm welcome to customers and excellent customer service while on duty, set up and followed protocols for cleaning, restocking and cashing up and securing premises, increased takings by upselling and improving ambiance of bar. During my first few months with permission of owner made improvements to bar, I updated interior and exterior of the bar painting terrace furniture and dressing outside area with lights/soft furnishings etc in own time. Removed old couches and old fish tank in front bar, deep cleaned and coordinated area with existing bar furnishings. Fitted planters and blackboard signs on outside railings. Repaired damaged soft seating in rear bar deep cleaned in my own time. Deep cleaned toilets and shelving behind bar and all windows, on days off. Presentation of hot tea and coffee improved providing pots of tea and fresh ground coffee in cafetieres, biscuits, cups milk etc, improved presentation of drinks with new and clean glasses. Liaised with community centre to restart Bingo nights in the bar monthly. Was given Admin status on Bar Facebook page and maintained updates, photos of improvements to bar, etc Started what's app group for regulars with event updates and fun info photos of the bar and customers. Catered for Darts teams tournaments with by buffet style food. Dressed and prepared bar for post wedding parties/parties with decorations/flowers etc. Registered domain name for bar for website and set up official email address for bar.

During Covid restrictions and after, while I was waiting for the sale of my house in Dublin, I took time out from working and was involved with GAB, which is an Animal rescue organisation, approved by Ayuntamiento of Benalmadena. I was involved in the TNR programme for the cat population as well as being approved for a Feeding and Care Permit [Carnet de de Voluntario para Controlada de Colonia Felina].

Part time three to four evenings a week, running the bar, serving customers, restocking and stock control, cash handing and cashing up plus locking up and securing premises. COVID lockdown occurred only four weeks after starting the job, the bar was shut, and has since been sold.

On site promotion and sales of phone plans for Lobster Phones Spain, various locations, on the Costa Del Sol, mainly in Iceland Supermarket outlets. Short contract for three months. Signed up new customers for Lobster Phone Contracts, face to face promotional and sales work.

Working on part time/six months contract . Tour Guiding 2 x days per week to El Chorro Lakes, Mijas, Ojen, and Malaga City. Liaising with guests at pick up points at all TUI hotels, confirming bookings on guest lists, providing commentary by microphone to guests on coach about area history and local amenities for each location. Hotel Inviting 4 x days per week in mornings only, promoting and booking tours with guests.

Telesales with incoming calls from a dialer system, average total calls dialed on the system for my position in a 4.5 hour shift around 160/170. The company let 6 of us go at the end of November 2018,

Working initially as bartender, then deputy manager and made a key holder. Duties included providing exceptional customer service to clients, giving a warm and friendly welcome to customers on arrival, filling drinks and food orders, making cocktails from the drinks menu and to special orders, maintaining the bar in good order including stock levels, etc. Upselling drinks and food. Promoting music events and other bar events.

Effectively dealing with issues regarding customers, eg. complaints or unruly customers, advising and directing customers on the local area and local services, training and instructing new and existing staff, and ensuring floor staff were carrying out their duties efficiently on terrace and floor area, reporting to owners regarding any issues with staff or the bar. Proficient use of the POS system/till, use of customer tabs, cashier balancing at the end of the night/shift ensuring takings are correct and counted, locking up and securing premises at the end of the night. Continually provided exceptional service to customers by being friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. I maintained a consistent, regular attendance record with good timekeeping.

The bar closed on the 28th Oct 2017, for end of season, having had three seasons there I decided to take a new direction. The bar has since been leased to a new owner.

Working at Murphys Bar initially, part time/ad hoc in 2013, then full time for 17 months, from April 2014 as bartender then bartender/manager.
I designed/built the website for the bar and ran various marketing campaigns to achieve more business turnover. I frequently used upselling methods to create extra turnover. Providing, warm and friendly welcome to new and old patrons my duties included continually providing exceptional service to customers by being friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, day to day running of the bar, filling drinks orders, making cocktails per bar menu and special orders, coordinating karaoke nights and other parties, maintaining the bar in good order including stock levels, cleanliness, etc. Proficient use of the POS system/till.

I went above and beyond what was expected of me, and developed strong bonds with all my customers, reflected both in the feedback given by customers to the owners and with Trip Advisor reviews.

During the period Christmas/New Year 2014 in low season and from mid January to mid March 2015, I worked, at my suggestion, on a commission basis, 20% of the turnover. At that time of year the bar would normally have been closed, the owners having had bad takings previous years. From day one I brought in customers with offers and entertainment, the bar was full virtually night. Oveall, I frequently made a 1000e a night on an evening shift, single handed and solely on alcohol sales. I maintained good timekeeping and a 100% consistent, regular attendance record.

Hands on working Owner/Director/Coordinator of a small business which I set up as a limited company in Ireland having bought a Spanish Jewellery franchise. The range of products I sold were beautiful but inexpensive natural shell, wood, leather and stone jewellery and accessories, inc bags and scarves. I built my own business websites including an on line shop with a .ie domain and a .com domain for the Spanish Owner Andy Carmichael.

I sold the products into commercial outlets such as hair salons, pharmacies and other outlets initially I had about 30 outlets in Dublin with Andycraft stands selling my products. Reducing the outlets I had in order to sell my products directly, I then set up' one off' field sales promotions and events in SuperValu Supermarket Chain, Hotels, Shopping Malls, Banks as well as traveling all around Ireland to Shows, as well as Events and Festivals promoting and selling the products via those outlets.

I also did my own cash handling, and bookkeeping and Revenue submissions plus CRO submissions yearly. This was a great learning curve particularly regarding the sales and promotions aspect of the business, I enjoyed establishing new relationships with customers, other traders I met and the venue organisers.

Hands on Manager/Director/General Factotum of a medium size heating, servicing and maintenance company, with business and service contracts with Aga Rayburn, Waterford Stanley and Dept of Defence.

Initially started coordinating the running of the office, inc dealing with sales and services we provided for customers, as well as dealing with wages, tax affairs, suppliers and general office admin, etc.

As the business grew I became the liaison for Waterford Stanley, Worcester Bosch and later Aga Rayburn

Produced 90% of the domestic heating estimates [mainly for Waterford Stanley and Aga Rayburn products] as well as tendering for commercial projects for Dept of Defence and OPW, Schools, Shops, etc.

I developed strong relationships with customers from the outset, and through the years, and was responsible for creating and putting in place proper procedures for all aspects of the running of the business, for example employee's contracts, health and safety and conduct, guidelines for superior customer service, product sales, company vehicle care and training programmes for all staff, in house training for engineers, etc.

Created and subsequently oversaw the building of a customer database which had reached nearly 3000 regular service customers which at the time would translate to min 500k pa alone in annual service work at the time of my leaving in Sept 2007.