Westmeath Businesses Showcase Their Products
2011 Showcase opens in the RDS on Sunday 23rd January and runs until Wednesday 26th January (Trade Only)
50 Reasons for Buyers to “Look Up”
Fifty craftspeople and artists are being supported by their local Enterprise Board at next week’s Showcase event in the RDS.
Artists, craftspeople and designers from eighteen County and City Enterprise Board areas are meeting international buyers at the balcony area at Showcase this year, representing a 45% increase over the 2010 figures.
The Creative Expo, which is organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland, is seen by industry experts as one of the most important trade events for Ireland’s craft sector and runs from Sunday, January 23rd to Wednesday, January 26th.
Many of the Enterprise Board-supported craftspeople along the balcony area of the Main Hall are first-time exhibitors and are expected to attract considerable attention from the 5,500 buyers in attendance.
Speaking in the run-up to Sunday’s official opening, Christine Charlton from the County and City Enterprise Boards said: “The balcony area of Showcase has a truly diverse range of products this year, ranging from slate products to flower jewellery to Irish language greeting cards to 3D postcards. We’re encouraging all visitors to Showcase to simply “look up” to discover new and unique products from fifty craftspeople along the balcony area.”
To help craftspeople make the most of the selling opportunity, the County and City Enterprise Boards are publishing a dedicated brochure for Showcase buyers, which will be distributed free of charge to visitors. The Enterprise Boards are also subsidising the costs of trade stands and many craftspeople will receive one-to-one coaching from experienced mentors.
Charlton added: “Many of the Enterprise Board-supported craftspeople will make valuable sales and contacts over the four days and it’s a crucial platform for them, helping to generate sales both nationally and internationally.”
In all, over 350 craftspeople will be taking part in Showcase, including fifty craftspeople supported by the Enterprise Boards on the balcony area. Buyers from seventeen countries are expected to attend and the event is promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland. Further details are available by visiting www.showcaseireland.com
For more information around this story, please contact Engage Ireland: Sarah Bohan: Tel: 01 8855162 / 087 65 39936/ sbohan@engageireland.com
Notes for the Editor:
Christine Charlton from the County and City Enterprise Boards is available for interview/further comment. Reproduction-free photography is also available.
County and City Enterprise Boards’ Stands at Showcase (Balcony Area):
STAND NO. ENTERPRISE BOARD CONTACT
Stands F32/F33-F41 CORK CITY AND COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARDS
F32 BROGEEN CRAFTS Jeremiah Dennehy
F34 IRISH DREAM COMPANY Garrett Sheehan
F35 BA-GOOSE FLEECE CLOTHING Simone O'Shaughnessy
F36 SALLY MILLER COLLECTION Sally Miller
F37 L PUTALIE CLOTHING Louise Courtney
F38 ANNABEL LANGRISH Annabel or Klaus
F39 CUSTOM QUILTING Beryl Cadman
F40 BELINDA NORTHCOTE DESIGNS Belinda Northcote
F41 MAPS N' CHARTS Ciaran O'Carroll
F2-F4 DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F2 VIVIEN WALSH Vivien Walsh
F3 SLATED Tara Hammond
F4 MELANIE HAND DESIGN JEWELLERY Melanie Hand
F17, F30-F31 FINGAL COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F17 CELTIC CLADDAGH CLOCKS Mark Gaughran
F30 IRISH CARD STORE Mark Scannell
F31 GREG WHELAN Mary Whelan
F28 KERRY COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
Ff28 BOG COTTON GIFTS Derarca Lynch
F18-F19 MEATH COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F18 CREATURF DESIGN John Gillooly
F19 BRIDGETS MANTLE SKINCARE Carol Davis
F29 ROSCOMMON COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F29 VERA GAFFNEY LIMITED EDITION PRINTS Vera Gaffney
F22-F25 SLIGO COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F22-F25 BREEOGUE POTTERY Grainne McLoughlin
F22-F25 ANA FAYE Anna Faye
F22-F25 GILBERT HENRY GOLDSMITH Gilbert Henry
F22-F25 LYNDA GAULT CERAMICS Lynda Gault
f22-f25 RACHEL QUINN CERAMICS Rachel Quinn
f22-f25 MEADOW MINIATURES James Neale
F22-F25 ORIAIN POTTERY John Ryan
F22- F25 TOM CALLERY CERAMICS Tom Callery
F9-F14 TIPPERARY NORTH COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F9 THE GIFTED HAND Joannes Berkery O Brien
F10 FIVELINE MUSIC Denis Carey
F11 CROSSOGUE PRESERVES Veronica Molloy
F12 MELI BONDRE Camelia Shanahan
F13 BEARHUG LTD Anne Frawley
F14 FARNEY CASTLE Marge Cullen
F1,F20-21 WATERFORD CITY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F1 PENROSE CRYSTAL Diarmuid Coughlan
F20/f21 BONZIE DESIGNS Yvonne Crotty
F20/f21 THE IRISH HANDMADE GLASS COMPANY Derek Smith
F20/f21 SEAN EGAN ART GLASS Sean Egan
f20/f21 ANNE MCDONNELL KNITWEAR Anne McDonnell
f20/f21 STRADBALLY JEWELLERY Ken Coleman
F5-F6 WATERFORD COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F5 SIMPLY IRISH KNITWEAR Rosaline Ledingham
F6 ANNE O 'LEARY SILKS Anne O' Leary
F26 WESTMEATH COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F26 ANNE MARIE GRIFFIN KNITWEAR Anne Marie Griffin
F7-F8 LOUTH COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F7 ORLA O GRADY DESIGN STUDIO Orla O Grady
F8 SARAH MCKENNA CERAMICS Sarah McKenna
f7/f8 DBWOODCRAFT Derek Bailey
F15/F16 DUBLIN CITY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F15 KLICKITY Kate Cronin
F16 GIFTED BY NATURE Gina Boles
D103/D103a LIMERICK COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
D103 CLARE JORDAN CERAMICS Clare Jordan
D103a AISLING MAHER DESIGNS Aisling Maher
F27 WICKLOW COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD
F27 3D IRELAND Max and Eva Berchulski