Media Release
16th January 2024
WICKLOW’S CRAFT & DESIGN BUSINESSES SET FOR SHOWCASE 2024
Some of Wicklow’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 21-23th 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. This January the following four small Wicklow based businesses will exhibit with financial and mentoring support from LEO Wicklow:
- Kelly Hood, textile artist, Kilcoole
- Culu Jewellery, Louise O’Hara, Bray
- Aidan White, Living Earth Photography, Wicklow Town
- Be Kind Industries, Hand rolled incense, Kilcoole.
Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has been working with these four SMES on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
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. 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.
Vibeke Delahunt, Head of Local Enterprise, LEO Wicklow 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.”
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
For further information, please contact:
Louise Fleming
LEO Wicklow
086 6017441
lfleming@leo.wicklowcoco.ie
