Kilkenny award winner announced at Showcase 2023

Winners of the annual Showcase Awards were announced at Showcase - Ireland’s International Creative Expo with Kathleen Leadbetter of Jerpoint Glass winning Showcase Best Product – Home.

Winners of the annual Showcase Awards were announced at Showcase - Ireland’s International Creative Expo® yesterday, which returns to the RDS for three days until Tuesday, 24th January. One of the country’s largest international trade fairs, Showcase 2023 will welcome over 380 exhibitors and more than 4,000 buyers from Ireland and overseas. Upwards of €20 million in business is expected to be transacted across the three-day event.

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 Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design and Crafts Council Ireland said “Showcase is now in its 48th year and we are delighted to welcome buyers from Ireland and all over the world who play a vital role in creating a stage for Irish craft and design. This year 380+ exhibitors join us to highlight and grow their businesses. I want to thank the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office, and of course the RDS for supporting such an important event in the Irish Design and Craft calendar.”

In addition to this, the digital marketplace, Showcase Connect, which features all exhibitors, is already proving a success. Using the platform, registered trade buyers have been browsing products and engaging with exhibitors since it launched in 2021. The platform allows buyers to ‘favourite’ products, send instant messages and set up one-on-one meetings.

Showcase is becoming even more important for Ireland’s micro enterprises and new start-ups, according to Breda Fox, Head of Craft & Design, Local Enterprise Offices: “This is a fantastic day for our up and coming craft and design client companies.  For many it will be their first time in the Local Enterprise Showcase as part of this year’s event and that excitement and sense of opportunity is palpable.  They get an opportunity to bring their ideas and products to the world and hopefully many will attract new buyers and investment that will sustain them and help them grow over the coming months and years.  The Local Enterprise Offices have been working with these clients to get them in the best possible shape for this showcase and it’s great now to see it all come to fruition and we wish them all the very best for the coming days.”

Showcase was founded in 1976 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and is delivered with support from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. For more see showcaseIreland.com