The nine shortlisted finalists for the inaugural Business of Craft Awards as part of Showcase 2024 were announced today ahead of the event from the 21st – 23rd January.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) awards are open to all the LEO clients who are exhibiting at the event as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase. 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. The shortlisted companies were selected from the 105 Local Enterprise clients who will be exhibiting to national and international buyers across the three days.
Tom Rooney, Head of Craft & Design, Local Enterprise Offices, said; “The addition of the Business of Craft Awards to this year’s Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2024 is a significant boost for the companies. It helps to highlight some of the best-in-class businesses from the design and craft sector across the country and we are doing that in front of key buyers both nationally and internationally. So, it gives businesses that extra competitive advantage as we look forward to the event.
On the whole Showcase 2024 is going to be a huge event for our 105 Local Enterprise Office supported companies taking part. They get the chance to meet with buyers from all over the world and it’s three days that could change their business forever. We’ve been working closely with them all to ensure they can maximise their participation so there is a lot of excitement ahead of the event this year.”
Mary Blanchfield, Head Operations, Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) commented: “Congratulations to all the finalists of the very first Business of Craft Awards. These awards are a great way to celebrate the business models of craftspeople across the country. Showcase 2024 promises to highlight the very best of Irish talent and creativity. At DCCI, we are delighted to have the opportunity to provide a dynamic platform for businesses to connect and collaborate with both domestic and international buyers. We look forward to working closely with the Local Enterprise Offices to welcome all the exhibitors and to build on the success of last year’s show.”
Showcase 2024, 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.
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
FINALISTS - Business of Craft Awards 2024 – Local Enterprise Showcase @ Showcase 2024
Best Newcomer
• Sully & Juno – supported by LEO Wexford
• Pawpear – supported by LEO Waterford
• Kyna Maree – Supported by LEO Meath
One to Watch
• Bex Shelford Prints – supported by LEO Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown
• Hanna's Bees – supported by LEO South Cork
• Sketchico – supported by LEO Galway
Sustainability Champion
• Irish Socksciety – supported by LEO Galway
• Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd – supported by LEO Clare
• Conscious Convert – supported by LEO Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown
