“Meet the USA Buyer” Networking Event And Pop Trade Show

Thursday 24^th October 2019

5pm to 7pm in Trident Hotel, Kinsale.

As part of Cork County Council's Local Enterprise Offices - Cork North & West Cork and Cork South's continued support to the Gift/ Craft / Design/ Homewares/ Skincare and gift Food products, they will host a “Meet the USA Buyers” event on Thursday 24^th October from 5pm to 7pm.  The event will take the form of a ‘Pop Up Trade Show’ with a short retail and export seminar within.

 If you are targeting USA consumers and / or USA retailers, this event allow you to meet, mingle and market research with USA retailers visiting Ireland.

This trade event is part of our Preparing for Brexit programme of events, where insights and guides on how to export into the USA gift market will be shared.  The USA Retail buyers may also purchase stock at this event.

This is a dynamic and market focused trade event where you can display your products to gift buyers from USA retail stores, members of the prestigious North American Celtic Trade Association (NACTA)https://www.nacta.ie/ Over 15 NACTA buyers will attend this trade only event to meet with new, emerging and establish businesses targeting USA retail market.  NACTA is made up of over 100 retailers in North America and are a key buyer sector of Showcase Ireland.  They organise the Showcase Exports Award each year and working closely with Enterprise Ireland.  We will also invite Cork gift retailers to this event.  The short seminar is designed to make the event more interesting for the retailers and exhibitors attending.

The event will allow Cork businesses to meet with USA trade buyers in an intimate and informal setting, while maximising the sales and revenue opportunities. 

If you are planning to sell into to USA shops, stores and e commerce sites, this is a must attend event for your business. A limited number of business can exhibit heir gift products to these retail buyers at the Pop Up Trade Show.

Speaking in advance of the Cork event on 24^th October, Tom McGrath of Tipperary at Tara Ltd, and NACTA board member noted “We are looking forward to meeting with Cork designers and makers, our visits to Ireland over the years have been a success, we do business with several vendors because of it. Some orders were placed at the 2017 event but more importantly contacts are made. Craftspersons who may not attend Showcase, Secaucus or Chicago can meet us, a group of stores they otherwise may have no shot at working with. We love meeting makers and designers on these tours and are happy to give feedback and insight about the products they are creating and how they might sell in the USA market.”

To avail of this opportunity: 

• Please complete a short application form and return to our Event Co-Ordinator Méabh Ring meabhring@gmail.com
• This form will ask for product details, your price list and 2 images of your products, deadline for receipt of application is Monday 9^th September before 5pm.
• Applications will be reviewed and you will be contact by your local LEO from Friday 13^th September. A shortlist may be created.
• We will host a preparation workshop in Trident Hotel Kinsale for successful applicants on Wednesday 2^nd October 9:30am to 1:30pm. This is a compulsory workshop - we will cover topics such as creating an effective Trade Pricelist for the USA market.  This will also be a networking opportunity for you to meet with fellow participants and share your export experiences and insights.
• At the “Meet the USA Buyers” event on Thursday 24^th October – you will be given a space only to exhibit your work – possibly a 2m x 2m ground space.  Buyers enter the event a 5pm and you can set up your exhibit from 2pm.  You will have to bring a shelf or table or stand etc. to display your product along with signage, props and branding to promote your business, as per a trade show.  The venue and set up details will be covered in the “Meet the USA Buyers” workshop.   
• Contact us today for an application form

The aim of the “Meet the USA Buyers” event is to support and enhance the gift, craft and design SME business sector and plan for alternative export markets in the wake of Brexit. We will invite Cork retailers to this ‘Pop Up Trade Show’ and Networking event.  The proposed seminar will run for approximately 40 mins during the 2 hours event.  We will have key speakers from retail and export, tea, coffee and finger food will be served 

SELECTION PROCESS

This exhibit opportunity is open to all enterprises in the gift, craft, food gift, skincare, homeware and design sector in the LEO North and West Cork and South Cork region.  It is open to enterprises in the early set-up stages as well as established gift businesses targeting retail.  Applicants must demonstrate an ability and/ or plans to sell into the USA market and USA consumers.   The decision of the selection panel is final.  Canvassing will disqualify and a shortlist may be created if the event is over subscribed.  Shortlisted applicants may be asked for further business and product information before the final selection in made. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

All aspects of each individual submission will be considered by the selection panel, some of the criteria will include the below – but not exclusively:

• Products must be of a high standard in design, quality, creativity and finish.
• Products are targeting the retail and e commerce USA market.
• Products should commercially focused and be prepared for export.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

If you wish to apply for an exhibition space and meet with USA retail buyers:

• Complete an Application Form
  
  • The completed Application Form and price list must be submitted to the Event Coordinator Meabh Ring meabhring@gmail.com by Monday 9^th September before 5pm.
  • Be available to attend a “Meet the USA Buyers” information meeting / workshop on Wednesday 2^nd October in The Trident Hotel, Kinsale, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.  
  • Set up and staff an effective, professional stylish stand / product display on Thursday 24^th October in Kinsale.  Meet the USA Buyers start at 5pm.  Take down after the event only after 7pm.

Please note that all applications, product information and pricelists will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. 

Contact us today for an application form