LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE WICKLOW CLIENTS PREPARE FOR GLOBAL SHOWCASE
Exhibitors hope to follow in footsteps of Emma Manley, Jennifer Rothwell and Slated
There will be three Local Enterprise Office Wicklow clients taking part in the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2019 in January. The trade event gives small designers and craftspeople the unique opportunity to meet over 5,000 buyers from all over the world opening new doors for them to global markets.
The Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2019 takes place at the RDS in Dublin from the 20th to 23rd January 2019 and will feature over 80 Local Enterprise Office clients from all across the country.
Over 80 Local Enterprise Office clients will exhibit their products at the event and this will include Local Enterprise Wicklow clients:
Love Mo Chuisle, established by Anna Dobson, is a clothing brand designed and handmade in Ireland by Anna Dobson using Donegal Irish tweed and manufactured in Avoca, Co. Wicklow. The collection, which has just been awarded the ‘Guaranteed Irish’ symbol, includes girl’s coats, capes and dresses with matching accessories and matching waistcoats and bow-ties for fathers and sons along with a small collection of fashionable pieces for ladies. At Showcase Anna will be launching a new ladies and girls skirt and cape to add to her current range.
Neantog: the Irish Nettle Company was set up by Una Lambert in 2014. Neantog is a natural nettle based skincare range handmade in Co. Wicklow using fantastic properties of Irish grown nettles as unique selling point. Products include hand/body lotions, facial moisturisers, aftershaves, serums, midge repellent and lip balms. Four products from her skincare line were shortlisted at ‘Free from’ Skincare awards in 2017 and two went on to win Bronze awards at ‘Free From’.
Ría Organics is a new, boutique certified COSMOS-Organic skincare range founded by Nicola Shevlin and her brothers from County Wicklow. Their thoughtfully formulated face products nourish, protect and plump your skin with organic oils, natural plant extracts and antioxidants of the finest grade. The range currently includes an Energising Day Cream, Replenishing Night Cream and Restorative Eye Cream. Their newest product, the Eleven-Oil Facial Serum, will be launched in early 2019 and a facial cleanser is currently in development. The unique combinations of results-driven ingredients are excellent for aging and sensitive skin and prove that you can get purity and performance in a luxury, Irish, certified organic skincare line. All products are made in Ireland, vegan, cruelty-free and the packaging is recyclable.
Showcase gives Local Enterprise Office clients from every corner of the country, who are primarily from the design and craft sector, the chance to exhibit at the event, which hosts 5,000 buyers from over 20 different countries. Taking place from the 20th – 23rd January, Showcase is presented by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.
Some of those who started their journey at Local Enterprise Showcase include the likes of fashion designers Jennifer Rothwell and Emma Manley, jewellery designer Blaithín Ennis and artisan homeware slate brand, Slated.
The plans for Local Enterprise Showcase were launched at Borris House in Carlow with some of those Local Enterprise Office clients taking part including; Coolree Furniture Design (Kildare), Machado Men’s Grooming (Laois), K Kajoux Jewellery (Kilkenny), Love Mo Chuisle (Wicklow) tweed clothing, KT Metal Design (Kildare), ANU natural skincare (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown), Feltastik (Cork North & West) hand felted creations and fairies, and Jo Browne (Carlow) solid perfume and skincare.
Vibeke Delahunt, A/Head of Enterprise said; “Local Enterprise Showcase is potentially a business changing opportunity for these Local Enterprise Office clients. They have the chance to meet with buyers specific to their market from countries all over the world opening doors to new export opportunities that they simply would not get anywhere else.
“Each of these clients has worked closely with their Local Enterprise Office to ensure they are in the best possible position to sell their products to national and international buyers. This event shows the value of partnership with the Local Enterprise Offices, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland partnering to give these wonderfully talented designers and craftspeople the opportunity to bring their products to the world stage.”
Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, said: “The work of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices is invaluable to micro and small enterprises exhibiting at Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo, mentoring and supporting them in launching their latest innovative products at the trade fair. We are delighted to partner with the Local Enterprise Offices in highlighting the wealth of talent amongst emerging creative businesses across the country, and in supporting their commercial potential through the Local Enterprise Showcase. This dedicated area of the show plays a critical role in connecting up-and-coming Irish entrepreneurs with international trade buyers, enabling them to develop their business and expand their client base.”
The Local Enterprise Showcase is housed on the balcony area of the RDS Main Hall during Showcase and is open to trade buyers from all over the world from Sunday 20th January to Wednesday 23rd January.
Further details on the supports available to small design and crafts businesses in County Wicklow are available from www.LocalEnterprise.ie or by contacting Local Enterprise Office Wicklow at 0404 30800 or by email to enterprise@leo.wicklowcoco.ie . For more information on Showcase 2019 log on to www.showcaseireland.com
