Kildare’s best craft & design businesses set for Showcase 2024

 Some of Kildare’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 2024 Showcase event in the RDS, running from the 21st - 23rd 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.

Nina Patterson is an Irish Artist based in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, will be exhibiting at the event (L1) – “I love to paint sunlight & colour in fine flowing inks & watercolours, full bodied liquid acrylics and heavy textured oils. I create original pieces of artwork that are deeply personal and unique.” 

Vivian Wong from Suncroft - One More Thing - luxury dried and preserved flowers will also be exhibiting (located at L2), and said; “OMT was founded with a clear vision of promoting sustainable and beautiful living through its offerings, which include exquisite dried and preserved flowers, stylish homeware, and thoughtfully curated gifts.” 

Tanya Ryan of Fiadh and Finn, Athgarvan, Newbridge is an Irish watercolour artist creating personalised gifts and accessories for nature lovers and little dreamers, with a commitment to promoting Irish art and craft and the natural world at the heart of her business. Fiadh & Finn stand will be at L3 at the showcase.

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 euro 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.

Recent participants from Kildare include Jackie Sweeney of Kildare Candle Barn, an artisan producer of luxury hand poured candles, reed diffusers and home fragrance products; Roisin Linnane, a luxury womenswear brand; and Claire Malone, Imprints & Ink, an Irish fashion and illustration brand which creates unique luxury scarves and fine art prints.

In 2023 there were thousands of national and international buyers in attendance at the event in the RDS and it is expected this will increase again in 2024.

Local Enterprise Office Kildare has been working with Nina, Vivian and Tanya on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.   

Kildare County Council’s Head of Enterprise, Jacqui Mc Nabb says “This is an opportunity like no other for up-and-coming craft and design clients looking to make that breakthrough. To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business starting out. If things go well at this event, a business could fill their book for the year and may well establish a partnership that could extend longer than that and help them grow. While that won’t happen for every business, just to be here, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales will stand to them going forward.”

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