16th January 2023
CLARE’S UP AND COMING CRAFT & DESIGN BUSINESSES GET A SHOT AT INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Some of Clare’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 the Local Enterprise Showcase at the 2023 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 22-24th 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. Representing Clare this year will be Creative Clay, Siar Photography, The Moher Soap Company and Wix and Wax Ireland.
Creative Clay - Creative Clay creates ceramic giftware that brings a unique visual experience to any wall or space in your home. Irish Ceramicist Raquel Walsh from Co. Clare creates a range of ceramic pieces that are inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape around her, in particular the Burren. These creations are influenced by the marks that time, weather and use leave behind and are decorated with wildflowers often found growing along the hedgerows of Ireland. Each piece is individually assembled from rolled out slabs of clay, decorated and hand painted so no two pieces can ever be the same. www.creativeclayireland.com
Siar Photography - SIAR meaning “West” or Westward” in Irish, is a range of contemporary photography prints of Ireland founded in 2019 by husband and wife team, Gary and Aoife. SIAR Photography offers over 130 original photographs by Gary, with each print printed, packaged and sold from their studio in County Clare on the Wild Atlantic Way. They also offer greeting cards, notebooks, postcards, an annual calendar and collaborated with a local candle producer to create their first candle Trá, a scent inspired by the Irish beach and coastline.. https://siarphotography.ie
The Moher Soap Company - Raquel Ruido is an artisan cosmetic producer based in Co. Clare. The product range includes Soaps, Lip Balms, Body Scrubs, Body Moisturisers, Bath Salts and a selection of Gift Sets containing all the above. All of her products are handmade using only natural ingredients with zero waste packaging. The business name ties the products to both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland, where they are hand produced. https://themohersoapco.com
Wix & Wax Ireland- Wix and Wax Ireland is a luxury home fragrance company based in Ennis, Co. Clare. They manufacture a range of handmade home fragrance products including melts, candles, diffusers, rooms sprays and gift boxes for their own brand. Their products are vegan friendly and cruelty free and are manufactured using sustainably sourced soy blend waxes. https://wixandwaxireland.com
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.
In 2022 there were thousands of buyers from 25 countries in attendance at the event in the RDS and it is expected this will increase again in 2023 following the lifting of Covid restrictions that were still in place early last year.
Local Enterprise Office Clare has been working with Creative Clay, Siar Photography, The Moher Soap Co. & Wix & Wax on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise, LEO Clare believes this is an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming craft and design clients looking to make that break through. “To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business starting out. Many previous attendees have often filled their order book for the year by participating and have established long lasting partnerships which have enabled them to grow their business. While that won’t happen for every business, the experience of meeting buyers and other exhibitors will facilitate the development of their skills in marketing, client engagement, sales and networking which will benefit their business growth into the future.”
Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland said: “We at Design & Crafts Council Ireland are greatly looking forward to the return of our international trade fair, Showcase 2023. Showcase offers designers and makers the opportunity to not only meet and do business with buyers from Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe and Asia, but also the chance to come together to celebrate the creativity, the impact and the importance of the heritage of the Irish craft and design sector globally. With restrictions linked to the pandemic due to be fully lifted for Showcase 2023, we look forward to even more buyer attendance this year.”
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
For further information, please contact:
CLARE LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE
localenterprise@leo.clarecoco.ie
Tel: 087 4648402
