Some of South Dublin’s best up and coming craft and design businesses will be part of over 100 companies from across Ireland who will get a chance to meet with buyers from all over the world as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2024 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 21-23rd January.
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Local Enterprise Showcase, is a special area at Showcase that houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent.
Thomp2 Socks, Sock company selling a range of fun and colourful socks
Naturally Quirky, Online Gift Store that sells quirky and meaningful gifts for all special occasions.
Donna McGee, Landscape and abstract Artist
The Crochet Dolls, Keepsake Crochet Dolls
Bear’s Little Fish, Babies clothes and furniture
Jo Lawless, A visual Artist creating landscapes
Goose & Gander, Irish brand crafting children’s fashion
The event, which is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, will open its doors to thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show.
Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
Recent participants from South Dublin include the likes of Emma Keogh of Equieire, Fiona Foran of Forager Jennifer Leach of Little Bear’s Wardrobe, Ewa Wernio-Ryan of NUIT Clothing, Sharon Devlin of Sharon Devlin Art, Dervla Clarke of POND Studios, Jenny Johnson of The SUSS Edit, Audrey Corrigan of Aud Design, Sophie Cafolla of Stork & Co.
In 2023 there were thousands of national and international buyers in attendance at the event in the RDS and it is expected this will increase again in 2024.
Local Enterprise Office South Dublin has been working with: Thomp2 Socks, Naturally Quirky, Donna McGee,
The Crochet Dolls, Bear’s Little Fish, Jo Lawless, Goose & Gander, on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
Head of Local Enterprise Office, Tom Rooney believes this is an opportunity like no other for up-and-coming craft and design clients looking to make that break through. “To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business starting out. If things go well at this event, a business could fill their book for the year and may well establish a partnership that could extend longer than that and help them grow. While that won’t happen for every business, just to be here, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales will stand by them going forward.”
This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered into the Business of Craft Awards. This is the first year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products that are behind created across the country.
The awards have three categories; Best Newcomer for the best craft and design business who is exhibiting for the first time, One to Watch for the best craft and design business who has excellent export and international potential and finally Sustainability Champion for the best craft and design business who is excelling in sustainability.
The shortlisted finalists for the inaugural awards are, in the Newcomer Category, Sully & Juno supported by LEO Wexford, Pawpear supported by LEO Waterford and Kyna Maree supported by LEO Meath.
In the One to Watch category the finalists are Bex Shelford Prints supported by LEO Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown, Hanna’s Bees supported by LEO South Cork and Sketchico supported by LEO Galway.
And in the Sustainability Champion category the finalists are Irish Socksciety supported by LEO Galway, Palm Free Irish Soap supported by LEO Clare and Conscious Convert supported by LEO Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown.
The awards will take place Monday, 22nd January at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event.
Local Enterprise Showcase is one of several enterprise initiatives run by the Local Enterprise Offices across the year to foster entrepreneurship and help small businesses to start and grow. Other events include Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme and the Local Enterprise Village as part of the National Ploughing Championships. For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, please visit LocalEnterprise.ie