Showcase - Ireland’s Creative Expo® is now the foremost place for retailers to discover unique, design-led fashion and knitwear, jewellery, craft, gift and interiors. The show attracts buyers and press from Ireland and around the world looking for unique, design-led products in fashion, knitwear, jewellery, crafts, gifts and home accessories. Running for over forty years, Showcase has an impressive track record in attracting Ireland’s most talented makers and designers, along with buyers from over twenty countries. It offers the chance to explore the best of Ireland's creativity from over 450 exhibitors including leading Irish designers and manufacturers and the very best emerging home-grown creative talent. Showcase is a B2B opportunity for clients who are wholesale ready. Applications from food producers are not eligible.
The Local Enterprise Showcase 2025 will be located in hall 3, called the Local Enterprise Showcase in the RDS (The Serpentine Hall) on 19th to 21st January 2025 and will be named the Local Enterprise Hall.
The client offering is a subsided 2x2 metre stand, name plate and 2 spotlights costing €800 per stand space for each client. Selection is based on the criteria outlined below. Please note that clients who have previously exhibited in Local Enterprise Area on 3 occasions or more will not be prioritised.
Selection Criteria
The LEO Waterford will base their decision on the following criteria:
- High standards in design, quality and manufacture of product offer
- High standards in sales / packaging /promotional material
- Experience and commitment to high standards in display and stand exhibit
- Demonstrate trading history for at least 12 months
- Products must be suitable for wholesale and will have the capacity to deliver on orders received at the Show
- Must be financially aware of the wholesale market and its expectations
Successful applicants will be required to
- Meet the deadlines and requirements as per Local Enterprise Showcase Coordinator
- Display and present a professional business
- Exhibit under the logo of the LEO Waterford
- Ensure the exhibition stand is staffed for the duration of the Showcase 2025
- For those who are selected, will be required to attend compulsory briefing sessions - to be delivered in person on the 1st and 8th of October (Clients must attend 1 session and attendance of this is compulsory)
- Attend a series of short online one hour training courses to help prepare you pre and post-Show (dates and times to be confirmed)
- You will receive access to 1-1 mentoring in key areas such as pricing, trading terms, etc
- Payment of €800.00 for the stand must be made by the 26th September 2025 (LEO South Dublin will collect the payment and a payment link will be issued to clients who are deemed successful)
The Closing Date for fully completed Expressions of Interest is Wednesday 26th June 2025. In order to be considered for a space you must complete an Application From via the national Submit.com portal via the following link - https://submit.link/2Ho by Wednesday 26th June 2025.
If you have any questions on this, please contact Jamie Whitty at jwhitty@waterfordcouncil.ie or phone 051 - 849905