Creativity Going Global - Craft & Creative Export Development Programme
If you would like to attend and sign up to Craft Cluster, please complete this short form - https://submit.link/r9
Are you a creative working in Kildare or do you know someone who fits this description? Interested in dedicated training, events, seminars and business initiatives in 2022?
Come & join Kildare LEO’s open call to makers, crafters, designers and creators to help grow your business, increase sales and expand your network.
Kildare County Council and Local Enterprise Office is delighted to announce a new programme of events for creative businesses based in Kildare.
“Kildare Creates” is a fresh concept, designed to unite creative enterprises, promoting Kildare County as the leading destination for unique Irish Gift, Craft and Design.
Our goal is to establish a network of creatives including those working in homewares, textiles, fashion & skincare. Kildare Creates strives to support local creative enterprises by offering a range of bespoke training and informative seminars. Together we will creatively reimagine a new future for local makers, helping to sustainably grow their businesses and champion Kildare as a hub of creativity.
Creativity Going Global
- Dates: 20th September (9.30am to 5.00pm) and 26th & 27th September 2022 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm
- Venue: MERITS, Devoy Quarter, Naas, 20th September and Online via Zoom on the 26th & 27th September
Calling all craftspeople and creatives!!!!….We are searching for creatives living in Kildare who have developed great products and ideas and are keen to explore how to get their work noticed by customers in export markets.
Aideen and Meabh’s dynamic training and educational workshops will give you the tools and knowhow, helping you to develop your brand to become Export ready. Join us for our September training events, followed by one to one focused mentoring.
- Is my product exportable?
- How can I establish if there is a demand for my product in the target country?
- How can I fully understand the target export market, channels of distribution and culture?
- How will I determine product pricing for export?
20th September 9.30-12.30 Workshop 1: “Where are others Exporting”, What Gift, Craft, Design and Creative Trade Shows and events currently service this market.
20th September 14.00-17.00 Workshop 2: The Export Plan - how to identify and market research your chosen market.
26th September 9.30-12.30 Workshop 3: Branding & Design and how to develop a unique brand identity for their business.
27th September 9.30-12.30 Workshop 4: Exporting your Creative Brand with digital. How to promote a craft business online using digital marketing principles to achieve Export sales.
We will also be discussing Key Retail Trade Shows, how to use digital marketing to communicate with potential customers and guide you through the steps to ensure you are ready to sell into the right market for your brand.
Co-delivered by Aideen Bodkin & Meabh Ring
Delivered by:
LEO Kildare - Aideen Bodkin and Meabh Ring of A-Line Designs Ltd
Aideen Bodkin
With over 23 years of experience working as a leader in creativity and fashion design. Aideen Bodkin’s expertise is in Design, Design Thinking and Product Development. As director of two micro enterprises producing designer fashion and bespoke uniforms, Aideen has first-hand experience of exporting, upscaling production, supply chain management and ethical and sustainable production. She is also a mentor to individuals and micro enterprises giving them the benefit of her learned experience as a businesswoman, designer and educator. Having recently returned to education to learn more about sustainability, circularity, and digital entrepreneurship, her goal is to better understand the challenges that small businesses face in a rapidly changing world. Aideen concentrates on user centred Design Thinking to facilitate product development and growth potential for micro enterprises.
Aideen has delivered lectures and workshops to 3rd level students in NCAD School of Education about Visual Arts and Sustainability education.
She also presents seminars for the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and works with clients of Local Enterprise Offices. Aideen emphasises being prepared and professional, representing brands & ideas through quality and consistency and focussing on a positive customer experience. Her areas of expertise include market research, sales development, product development, branding, online presence and preparation for export.
Aideen is passionate about creativity and Design Thinking and about urging consumers to support creative talent through buying better (less often), buying locally and buying beautifully crafted sustainable products.
Meabh Ring
Meabh Ring has over 20 years’ experience working with gift, craft, design and the creative sector. Much of her work focuses on the sales, marketing, branding and retailing for creative products to the Irish and international consumers. She has worked with Irish craft collectives including Cork Craft & Design, Original Kerry and the Limerick Craft Hub. She was part of the research team formulating the Wicklow Craft Strategy in 2021.
Since the formation of her consulting business in 2014, Meabh has brought her extensive skills, retail knowledge, brand expertise and marketing knowhow to numerous emerging designers and craft companies through focused projects, marketing networks, as a business adviser and consultant through support agencies mentoring panels. Meabh worked as the project manager for the first August Craft Month in 2010 as well as the PM for the Ireland Stand at the International Jewellery Show in London. She works with agencies such as the Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland, Design & Crafts Council and Creative Ireland. Trade and international events have included Showcase Ireland, Top Drawer and work with the North American Celtic Trade Association. The work undertaken includes bringing product to market, brand development, working with collectives, development of sales and marketing strategies, retail strategies and market research. Meabh is passionate about the gift, craft, design and creative talent in Ireland and is committed to assisting talented micro enterprises to grow, develop key business skills, seek out and respond to sales opportunities, to improve sustainability and to maximize their creative enterprise.
If you would like to sign up to Craft Cluster, please complete this short form - https://submit.link/r9
