The nine shortlisted finalists for the Business of Craft Awards as part of Showcase 2026 were announced today ahead of the event from the 18th – 20th January.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) awards are open to all the LEO clients who are exhibiting at the event as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase. This is the third year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products created across the country.
The awards have three categories; Best Newcomer for the best craft and design business who is exhibiting for the first time, One to Watch for the best craft and design business who has excellent export and international potential and finally Sustainability Champion for the best craft and design business who is excelling in sustainability.
The shortlisted finalists for this year’s awards are, in the Newcomer Category, Beyond the Ferns supported by LEO Wicklow who create natural artisan handmade soap, Bó Bar Soap supported by LEO Kilkenny, who make chemical free natural soap from fresh cow’s milk and Carmel Grant Designs supported by LEO Waterford who designs bespoke caricature driven pieces including children’s activity books.
In the One to Watch category the finalists are Appleberry Atelier supported by LEO Wicklow who create artfully bespoke wedding and Celtic designed stationery, Polly & Andy supported by LEO Waterford who make sensory friendly socks from bamboo and CAYO supported by LEO Limerick who create luxury products from alpaca wool.
And in the Sustainability Champion category the finalists are EcoKinly supported by LEO Wexford who create reusable nappies, wipes and period pads, Bean Around supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown who produce skincare cosmetics using repurposed coffee grounds and WASI Seaweed supported by LEO Cork North and West who have a range of body oils, soaps and bath salts from hand harvested Irish seaweed.
The awards will take place on Monday, 19th January at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event. The shortlisted companies were selected from the 104 Local Enterprise clients who will be exhibiting to national and international buyers across the three days at the event which is hosted by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.
Pamela Kerr, Head of Craft & Design, Local Enterprise Offices, said; “The Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2026 is the centre piece for our craft and design businesses. It gives them the opportunity to meet buyers from across the country and across the world and it could end up changing the trajectory of their business forever.”
“We’ve been working hard with these businesses for months to ensure they can maximise this opportunity and ensure they are best placed to promote their products and their businesses to the buyers at Showcase and now they are excited to get going.
“The Business of Craft Awards are also a special addition to our presence at the event. It gives us a chance to highlight those companies who not only have amazing products but also have brilliant businesses behind it all, and the ability to scale up and potentially succeed internationally. We’re looking forward to celebrating all the finalists at the event and naming our winners for 2026!”
Established in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices are the essential resource for any entrepreneur looking to start a business or any small business that is looking for support or advice to help them grow. Since their inception 12 years ago, the Local Enterprise Offices have helped create over 80,000 jobs across the country. The LEOs work with thousands of client companies across Ireland in a diverse range of sectors offering mentoring, training, expert advice and financial supports to small businesses.
FINALISTS - Business of Craft Awards 2026 – Local Enterprise Showcase @ Showcase 2026
Newcomer
• Beyond the Ferns – supported by LEO Wicklow – www.BeyondTheFerns.ie
• Bó Bar Soap – supported by LEO Kilkenny – www.BoBarSoap.com
• Carmel Grant Designs – Supported by LEO Waterford – www.CarmelGrantDesigns.ie
One to Watch
• Appleberry Atelier – supported by LEO Wicklow – www.AppleberryAtelier.com
• Polly & Andy – supported by LEO Waterford – www.PollyandAndy.com
• CAYO – supported by LEO Limerick – www.CAYO-Brand.com
Sustainability
• WASI – supported by LEO Cork North & West – www.WASI.ie
• Bean Around – supported by LEO Dun Laoghaire Rathdown – www.beanaround.ie
• EcoKinly – supported by LEO Wexford – www.TheNappyMarket.ie
