My Career: PR & marketing consultant Elizabeth Fearns

In short, yes! From a young age, I was an avid reader – on a Sunday when my dad picked up the papers, the ‘Funday Times’ was a firm favourite in our house. This interest grew in secondary school when we covered ‘Media Studies’, and then again, a few years later when researching third-level courses.

In college, I studied… communications & Irish at NUIG. A few years later I completed a diploma in Public Relations which covered all aspects of Public Relations, including, corporate, crisis, consumer, lifestyle and sports PR.

My most formative work experience was… my first role as a PR account executive. The first two accounts I worked on were two family-run Irish businesses, Maxol & Keelings, with Marketing Network House. The agency was, and still is, cross-functional across marketing, PR, social media and events. I learned so much there, the team took me under their wing and fundamentally taught me the importance of crystal-clear communication in business and the streams of promotion, which is essential for any business, small or large.

My first real job was… at my local shop. Luckily for me, there was a lovely gang of people my own age working there. It was a great way to spend a summer, and of course, the pocket money was a bonus!

The most invaluable thing I learned early on in my career is… the importance of listening. There is a reason why we have two ears and one mouth.

A common misconception about what I do is… I absolutely do not spend all of my day sitting by the printer! My main responsibility is to focus on the customer experience and to profile the business to a high standard. This includes beautiful in-store and local charity events and initiatives, along with retail and F&B promotion. This year, I have taken on the group’s marketing. Our aim was to personalise our in-store messaging and signage. We came upon the very talented Rochelle Lucy, a local artist and creative director who helped bring this vision to life in a very beautiful way.

Do you have a career mentor or someone you look up to/seek advice from?
My parents have always been my go-to’s. They are both extremely driven and have always encouraged me from a young age to aim high and to trust the process. My current bosses Bernie Falvey and Nathan Mc Donnell are also fantastic mentors, and I have great admiration for them both.

The biggest risk I have taken in my career so far is… if you aren’t taking risks, it gets boring, so everyday – I have lost track!

I wake at… 7.30am.

The first thing I do every morning is… stretch and open up my blinds and windows. Fresh air in the morning is a must and I love hearing the birds sing.

My morning routine is… green juice and a coffee, then I’m out the door straight after I’m hydrated.

I can’t go to work without… listening to Taylor Swift in the car!

I travel to work by… my Mini Clubman. I bought her two years ago and she is the BEST!

On an average workday I… start the day by making sure the floor is perfect, everything starts with the floor so I know what to promote. Depending on the season, it can be event and sponsorship-heavy. My boss recently opened a new restaurant called SMAASH Burger in Ardfert, so I also help run their PR and marketing. The days are busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I start my working day at… 8.30am.

The first thing I do at work is… check my emails.

I usually spend the first portion of the day… planning and executing.

I break for lunch at… 2pm and usually have homemade soup from our cafe in winter and leafy salads in the summer.

The most useful business tool I use every day is… Canva and Planoly.

I save time by… making lists and keeping an eye on my time.

I rarely get through my working day without… lots of water.

The best part of my day is… seeing positive results or hearing positive feedback from colleagues and our customers.

The most challenging part of my day is… when I meet my family or friends at Ballyseedy Home & Garden Centre where I work and would love to join them but can’t – at times, being in-house has its quirks!

I know it’s been a good day if… everyone is smiling.

I usually end my day with… either a long walk on Banna Beach or a gym session – my new favourite activity is a jump fit dance class.

I switch off from work by… putting my phone and laptop away and making dinner.

Before I go to bed, I’ll… read.

I often prepare for tomorrow by… organising myself the night before.

After a long work week, I destress by… spending time in nature and with family and friends.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is… this year I was shortlisted as a finalist in the marketing category in the Kerry Women in Business Awards. Validation is not important but to be recognised is definitely a highlight.

If you want to get into my line of work, my advice is to… research which area of PR you would like to work in first as each area is very different. Intern, learn on the job, ask questions, think outside of the box, and have fun – it’s a fantastic industry to work in.

I’ve just finished working on… a brand refresh – completed just in time for our visitors who are coming to Kerry this summer. At the moment I’m keen to create more synergy between retail and the cafe, so more to come on this over the next few weeks.

Imagery via Elizabeth Fearns/Ballyseedy Home & Garden Centre