Media Release
17/01/25
DUBLIN CITY’S BEST CRAFT & DESIGN BUSINESSES SET FOR SHOWCASE 2025
Some of Dublin City’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 Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2025 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 19th – 21st 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 year the clients supported by LEO Dublin City are
Design and make laser cut acrylic statement jewellery
Specialize in creating handcrafted clothing and accessories that draw inspiration from life in Dublin and across Ireland
Creating original art, limited edition prints and giftware with own artwork.
- Timeless Celebrations Ireland
Designs and create sustainable and circular festive goods, the main product being Timeless Crackers
- Steven Farrell Art and Design
Sells fine art prints and greetings cards of original artworks
Mixed media artist
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 Dublin City include the likes of Siest Sleep, Kopper Kreations, and Georgina O’Halon Illustration
In 2024 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 2025.
Local Enterprise Office Dublin City has been working with all of our supported clients this year on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise Dublin City Council believes this is an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming craft and design. “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 next year and may well establish a partnership that could extend for longer and help them grow.”
This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered into the Business of Craft Awards. This is the second year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products that are 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 this year’s awards are, in the Newcomer Category, SIOG Botanicals supported by LEO Kildare, Incredible Socks supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Mojo & Co supported by LEO Louth.
In the One to Watch category the finalists are Culu Design and One Dame Lane, both supported by LEO Wicklow, and Fussy Food Plates supported by LEO South Dublin.
And in the Sustainability Champion category the finalists are WASI supported by LEO Cork North & West, Rowena Sheen Jewellery supported by LEO Clare and Crafts of Ireland supported by LEO Cavan.
This year sees an additional award for Best Visual Business. This will be judged at the event and will be awarded to the craft and design business with the best visual presence and branding both at the event but also across their online footprints.
The awards will take place Monday, 20th 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
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For further information, please contact:
Dublin City Council Media Relations Office
press@dublincity.ie
https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil
OR
Local Enterprise Office Dublin City
T: (01) 222 5611
E: info@leo.dublincity.ie
