LeitrimDesign and Craft Businesses Target International Buyers
The network of Local Enterprise Offices has unveiled 97 different design and craft businesses, including local businesses, aiming to impress 5,000 buyers visiting the ‘Enterprise Zone’ at Showcase in Dublin later this month.
The small craft and design businesses, representing 22 counties around Ireland, have all been supported by their Local Enterprise Office, making it possible for them to sell to international retail buyers from more than twenty countries such as the US, France, Japan, China and Italy.
Leitrim will be represented by five craft and design businesses within the Enterprise Zone, which include: Jean Whitfield, Jean Whitfield Jewellery, Dromahair, Jo Gray, Jo Gray Collections, Drumshanbo, Alan McCluney, Leitrim Pottery, Rossinver and Roy Humphreys, Roy Humphreys Woodturning, Mohill and The Leitrim Design House.
Showcase at the RDS runs from January 24th to 27th and is the first major trade event of the year, organised by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland. The dedicated Enterprise Zone on the balcony area, co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices, has become known as the home for emerging designers and craftspeople in recent years.
A wide range of creative sectors will be represented within the Enterprise Zone this month, such as ceramics, knitwear, jewellery, interiors, skincare and giftware. Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise from Local Enterprise Office Leitrim said: “Thanks to practical business supports through the Local Enterprise Office in the Local Authority, our local craft and design businesses are well-placed to secure substantial international orders during the four days of Showcase, helping them grow and expand into new markets.”
He added: “On a year-round basis, there are lots of other supports available to the craft and design sector locally. These include financial assistance, microfinance loans, trading online vouchers, mentoring, business advice clinics and training programmes, which are all available through the Local Enterprise Office.”
According to figures from Indecon*, well over 5,000 people work in the craft sector in Ireland with plenty of opportunities for small companies to grow and for new enterprises to start-up.
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland said: “We are delighted to be working once again with the Local Enterprise Offices in introducing Irish and international buyers to the latest exciting products from emerging Irish designers and makers at Showcase. This annual trade show, which is now in its 40th year, is instrumental in promoting Ireland’s well recognised strengths for design and creativity to buyers from Ireland and over 20 countries around the world. I would like to commend and thank the Local Enterprise Offices for supporting small craft and design businesses in participating in the Enterprise Zone at Showcase. The exhibiting companies represent the wealth of creative talent in Ireland today and this dedicated area at Showcase plays a critical role in helping emerging Irish entrepreneurs develop their business and expand their client base.”
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council said that ‘Leitrim County Council has been actively supporting design and craft businesses for a number of years and has been supportimg projects such as the Leitrim Design House which is recommended by the Craft Council of Ireland as one of the leading craft and design outlets in the country which is housed in The Dock, a beautiful 19th century courthouse building located in the heart of Carrick on Shannon. The quality of the craft and design businesses supported by the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office illustrates clearly that County Leitrim will continue to be at the forefront when it comes to craft and design in Ireland’
The Enterprise Zone is located along the Balcony Area of the RDS Main Hall at Showcase, which is open to trade buyers from Sunday, January 24th to Wednesday, January 27th. Further information around the Enterprise Zone at Showcase is available through www.showcaseireland.com and www.localenterprise.ie.
