Exhibitors hope to follow in footsteps of Emma Manley, Jennifer Rothwell and Slated
Over 80 Local Enterprise Office clients will exhibit their products in the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo in the RDS in January 2019, where they will have the opportunity to meet with buyers from across the world.
The Local Enterprise Office clients from every corner of the country are primarily from the design and craft sector and Showcase will give them the chance to exhibit at the event that hosts 5,000 buyers from over 20 different countries. Taking place from the 20th – 23rd January, Showcase is presented by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.
Some of those who started their journey at Local Enterprise Showcase include the likes of fashion designers Jennifer Rothwell and Emma Manley, jewellery designer Blaithín Ennis and artisan homeware slate brand, Slated.
The plans for Local Enterprise Showcase were launched at Borris House in Carlow with some of those Local Enterprise Office clients taking part including; Coolree Furniture Design (Kildare), Machado Men’s Grooming (Laois), K Kajoux Jewellery (Kilkenny), Love Mo Chuisle (Wicklow) tweed clothing, KT Metal Design (Kildare), ANU natural skincare (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown), Feltastik (Cork North & West) hand felted creations and fairies, and Jo Browne (Carlow) solid perfume and skincare.
Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices Exhibitions Committee, said; “Local Enterprise Showcase is potentially a business changing opportunity for these Local Enterprise Office clients. They have the chance to meet with buyers specific to their market from countries all over the world opening doors to new export opportunities that they simply would not get anywhere else.
“Each of these clients has worked closely with their Local Enterprise Office to ensure they are in the best possible position to sell their products to national and international buyers. This event shows the value of partnership with the Local Enterprise Offices, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland partnering to give these wonderfully talented designers and craftspeople the opportunity to bring their products to the world stage.”
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, said: “The work of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices is invaluable to micro and small enterprises exhibiting at Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo, mentoring and supporting them in launching their latest innovative products at the trade fair. We are delighted to partner with the Local Enterprise Offices in highlighting the wealth of talent amongst emerging creative businesses across the country, and in supporting their commercial potential through the Local Enterprise Showcase. This dedicated area of the show plays a critical role in connecting up-and-coming Irish entrepreneurs with international trade buyers, enabling them to develop their business and expand their client base.”
The Local Enterprise Showcase is housed on the balcony area of the RDS Main Hall during Showcase and is open to trade buyers from all over the world from Sunday 20th January to Wednesday 23rd January. For more information on Local Enterprise Showcase and the supports available to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the design and craft sector see www.LocalEnterprise.ie. For more information on Showcase 2019 see www.showcaseireland.com
SELECTION OF FEATURED LOCAL ENTERPRISE SHOWCASE CLIENT COMPANIES
Jo Browne (Joanne Browne) – supported by Local Enterprise Ireland Carlow
Established in 2016, Jo Browne is the brand-name behind natural solid perfume, cologne and now skincare ranges since 2018. Her products, which are a travel-friendly alternative to perfume and cologne, are hand-made with organic beeswax in Ireland.
Coolree Design (Warren Hayes) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Kildare
Coolree Design designs and manufactures high end furniture and homewares for the wholesale market. Focused on simplicity and beauty the pieces are created using both modern and traditional techniques and the finest materials. They have created a new wholesale range focused on the retail market which they will exhibit at the Local Enterprise Showcase.
Feltastik (Stephanie Tenier) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West
Feltastik is a range of vibrant hand felted creations and delicate wool fairies created by Stephanie Tenier which are the basis for their product collections. With a wholesale presence in 19 shops in Ireland the UK and the US, Stephanie hopes Showcase 2019 will give her the chance to expand her presence internationally.
Love Mo Chuisle (Anna Dobson) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow
Love Mo Chuisle is a clothing brand designed and handmade in Ireland by Anna Dobson using Donegal Irish tweed and manufactured in Avoca, Co. Wicklow. The collection includes girl’s coats, capes and dresses with matching accessories and matching waistcoats and bow-ties for fathers and sons along with a small collection of fashionable pieces for ladies.
KT Metal Design (Kenneth Greene) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Kildare. KT Metal Design designs and handcrafts bespoke metal art décor from some of the oldest metals on earth, with all pieces produced using recyclable metal and are 100% recyclable. Innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship are at the core of KT Metal Design and they also create exclusive handmade pieces of contemporary metal sculpture from their studio.
Machado Men’s Grooming (Síle Headen) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Laois
Machado was started in 2017 by Síle Headen who has a background in microbiology. The company makes men’s products including beard oils, beard balms, shaving soaps and aftershave moisturiser using their signature cold pressed organic olive oil from Alentejo in Portugal. With good contacts in Jordan, Iraq and Dubai the company are planning to focus their sales on that area.
ANU (Emer Halpenny) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
ANU is a natural skincare company set up in 2014 by friends Emer Halpenny and Caitriona Breathnach.
The products evolved when Caitriona began to add Carageen irish moss to her soaps and they both realised the holistic benefit of the addition suited sensitive skin types and those affected by skin conditions such as eczema.
K Kajoux (Kay Lyng) – Supported by Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny
K Kajoux Jewels (pronounced K- Ka- Jeu) is an Irish owned handmade jewellery company based in the wild countryside of County Kilkenny. All the pieces are designed and hand crafted by Kay using a kaleidoscope of semi- precious stones, Swarovski crystals and Freshwater pearls. The original designs are playful and feminine and come from a myriad of influences.
