Waterford ceramicist inspired by local support
https://amandamurphyceramics.com/
Amanda Murphy, artist and owner of Amanda Murphy Ceramics describes local inspiration is a two-way street, “My local market is really important, especially as much of my inspiration for my work comes from the Waterford land and seascapes. Customers really love that personal and emotional link to the ceramic piece that they are purchasing and the fact that it is local is a huge bonus for them.
Another aspect to this is people overseas who haven't been able to visit home due to the pandemic now love to buy local Irish gifts that have a special resonance and links to Waterford.”
Local Enterprise Office Waterford launched its ‘Shop Waterford, Support Local’ campaign in early November to encourage Waterford shoppers to support local business in the run up to Christmas. It aims to put the spotlight on the vast array of retail and gift options within our county. From artists to designers, food producers to craft makers and everything in between that makes Waterford the first and last stop for Christmas shopping.
The local multiplier effect means that every €100 spent in the local economy is actually worth €500. Local spending can increase by that much because the money circulates in the local economy. It is spent on locally sourced goods and services and wages, which are also spent locally.
Amanda studied ceramic design at the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork. She successfully completed the DCCI (Design and Crafts Council Ireland) pottery skills course in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny and then honed her craft at Ardmore, Badger Hill and Stephen Pearce potteries before setting out to create her own designs. Inspired in the main by the landscape and the movement offered by views from above, the rippled bowls and jagged edge platters evoke the mountains and other undulations in the land. Each piece is hand-built, inspired by movement within the landscape.
She has been helped by the Local Enterprise Office in many ways and finds them extremely supportive, “The Waterford LEO has been invaluable in their support and I have received funding and training from them. Funding towards trade shows where I showcase my work to both national and international buyers.
My work has gone as far as the US, UK, Japan, Australia. I received training in using and optimising my social media and SEO for promotion of my craft. I had excellent help and funding towards my website which has been crucial in sales and keeping an online presence in a busy world. I attended a program exploring and developing my export market. They also run mini courses helping with different areas such as bookkeeping, social media training and website optimisation which are great to dip into as and when you need them.”
She is positive about 2022 and all it will bring, “Thanks to LEO funding I had my website and social media avenues set up, so during the lockdowns a lot of my business went online. Fortunately, since the reopening many more people are supporting Irish, local and handmade so I have found the retail shops that I wholesale to have been incredibly busy. My plans for 2022 include building on the increased sales this year both in Ireland and overseas. I hope to purchase another kiln to keep up with demand and to design new ceramic pieces for my customers.”
The ‘Shop Waterford, Support Local’ campaign, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, aims to raise awareness of the benefit of spending in your local area. This campaign seeks to strengthen that sentiment and to educate consumers on the domino effect that local spending has throughout their community.
The ‘Shop Waterford, Support Local’ campaign follows the national ‘Look for Local’ communications campaign to encourage the public and businesses to seek out products and services from businesses in their local area. The campaign was led by the Local Enterprise Offices and supported by Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Enterprise Ireland, and the Local Authorities.