The Local Enterprise Showcase returns to the RDS, Dublin on 21st – 23rd January 2024 - Ireland’s Creative Expo event attracts buyers from over 2,760 retailers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, Mainland Europe and the Far East, generating sales orders for the coming year. The 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. More than 400 Irish brands are exhibited at the fair, including emerging Irish businesses supported by their Local Enterprise Offices. The showcase 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.
Local Enterprise Office Carlow have a limited number of places available for crafters to exhibit and has opened a call for expressions of interests.
Speaking about the event, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr Brian O’Donoghue said, ‘This event highlights how important trade shows such as Showcase are to the design and crafts sector within Ireland. It is a great opportunity for designers and craft makers to exhibit their work and to attract buyers from across the world’. The Cathaoirleach concluded saying ‘It is a great way for County Carlow businesses to grow their businesses.’
Commenting on the importance of the Craft Sector in Carlow , the Cathaoirleach continued to say “"Craft for County Carlow is not just a skill, but a celebration of heritage, innovation, and economic vitality. In Carlow, the craft sector holds a unique position, intertwining tradition with contemporary creativity. It is a testament to our rich cultural heritage and an invaluable contributor to our economy. The artisans and craftspeople of Carlow breathe life into our traditions, creating exquisite handmade products that embody the essence of Ireland. Their dedication and mastery not only preserve our cultural identity but also drive tourism, generate employment, and support sustainable local economies. The craft sector in Carlow is not just a creative pursuit; it is an integral part of our past, present, and future, showcasing the power of skilled hands, passionate hearts, and boundless imagination."
Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise, with the Local Enterprise Office, Carlow County Council said, ‘The Showcase is an annual event which is now the foremost place for retailers to discover unique, innovative and design-led craft and design’. Kieran continued to say ‘the opportunity to exhibit at the showcase is very exciting and can have a huge impact on the makers’.
Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor, with the Local Enterprise Office, Carlow County Council said, ‘The expo is one of Ireland’s largest trade shows with high profile international buyers and exhibitors. It provides the crafters and designers significant opportunity to grow the Irish economy’.
The client offering consists of a subsided 2x2 metres stand, name plate and 2 spotlights at a cost of €750.00 per stand space for each client. It is a competitive process in terms of selection-based criteria.
The Closing Date for fully completed Expressions of Interest is 26th June 2023 at 5pm on https://submit.link/1Pz
For further information and expression of interest forms, please contact Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor, mdoyle@carlowcoco.ie
