Kilkenny Design Makers Academy is a new national initiative, developed in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Network, Enterprise Ireland, and Kilkenny Design, that aims to help local makers and designers scale from creative talent to commercial success. The initiative will provide participants with access to industry-leading expertise, mentoring, business development support and retail insights from some of Ireland’s most experienced retail and enterprise professionals. Makers Academy has been created to address one of the key challenges facing creative businesses: transforming exceptional products and creative talent into commercially successful brands capable of scaling nationally and internationally.

Through taking part participants will learn how to:

Get retail-ready:                                                           Learn exactly what national retailers look for
Become more commercial:                                        Understanding pricing, margins and business strategy
Build your brand:                                                         Develop a compelling brand story for retail growth
Benefit from a real commercial opportunity:       A pathway to being stocked in Kilkenny Design stores

The Makers Academy represents the next chapter in Kilkenny Design’s story of supporting Irish makers by equipping the next generation of makers with the skills, confidence and commercial capability to realise their full potential, and is targeted at makers and designers of new and emerging consumer brands with strong commercial growth potential.

Click here to: Apply Now!