A special edition of That Great Business Show - Episode 77 - in that host Conall O Móráin was joined, as co-host, by Vincent Wall, former Business Editor with Newstalk.3.30" Brian Donaldson gives a comprehensive and candid account of where he thinks the garage forecourt is heading - and interestingly, it sounds like his bet is on hydrogen in the future - though there's going to be a longish transition from the internal combustion engine, first to electricity, then possibly to hydrogen, particularly for heavier vehicles. Initially Maxol (as it became) was run separately in the RoI and Northern Ireland, but under GM Tom Noonan the two were brought together to make one all-island company. However, Brian discusses some peculiar differences that still remain, including a different taste for coffee! He says that purchasing fuel is a 'distress purchase', because there's no upside, no joy, just a necessary cost.Reflecting how Maxol has repositioned itself Brian says that only 20% of customers pull onto his forecourts just for fuel. A whopping 80% are there for 'other purchases'. They will be transitioning more towards electricity over the next eight to ten years. He says the recent sharp rise in fuel prices has led to car-pooling. Given the cost of electric vehicles 'early adopters' are from a wealthier demographic. This in turn determines where Maxol will be locating their E-hubs, where they'll have chargers to charge cars to 80% charge in 25 minutes. Whereas he thinks many people will still choose to recharge at home, their research shows that 60% of homes in the Greater Dublin Area do no have driveways, which in turn begs the question as to where they'll find charging points.His 'hire in a heartbeat'? Irish rugby legend Paul O'Connell plus he wants his own late father on his 'subs bench', Terry Donaldson.50.00" Maeve Mullin, Director of Finders International, who will find you your inheritance, should it exist. She says on some rare occasions, particularly with American probates, that the quantum of money involved can run into two or three million dollars! She talks about the process that, typically but surprisingly for TeamGBS, can take just a couple of months to complete a search (other searches can go on for much longer). It's a fabulously niche business that Maeve, who had a lengthy career in IT projects with the Bank of Ireland, was wooed into by her father, who founded the business.Her 'hire in a heartbeat'? Mairead Mackle, founder of Tarasis EnterprisesFind all episodes at www.ThatGreatBusinessShow.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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