IMAGINED, DESIGNED & MADE WITH PASSION IN IRELAND: Crafts Council of Ireland launches Christmas Retail Initiative
22nd November 2009
 22 months old, Jamie Butler from Kilkenny pictured at the
launch of the CCoI's 'Buy Irish Craft' retail campaign
An initiative that encourages Christmas shoppers to buy Irish and support Irish craft makers is being launched by the Crafts Council of Ireland today.
31 retail outlets and 25 craftmaker studios around the country are involved in the initiative which will see the goods of almost 300 Irish designers and makers championed through an in-store point-of-sale and poster campaign. A dedicated website developed for the Christmas shopping season and beyond will go live tomorrow evening (Monday 23rd November). Go to: www.buyirishcraft.com
The initiative highlights a wide array of crafted design gifts by internationally known brands such as Nicholas Mosse, Kiltrea Pottery and Jerpoint Glass as well as contemporary crafted design makers like silversmiths Ed Cooke and Seamus Gill, ceramicists Gráinne Watts and Mary Neeson, jewellery makers Maureen Lynch & Rachel McKnight and basket maker Joe Hogan. Gift items in the Buy Irish Craft initiative start at just €10, ensuring the retail drive is within everyone’s pocket range and covers a wide range of items from jewellery to pottery, ceramics, glassware and textiles. The participating retail outlets include: The Kilkenny Group; Designyard; House of Fraser; Arnott’s; Meadows & Byrne; Leitrim Design House and The Cat & The Moon in Sligo town. Makers selling from their own studios include Celtic Roots in Ballinahown, Louis Mulcahy in Dingle and Ceadogán Rugs in Wexford.
Buy Irish Craft aims to support and foster the output of Irish craft makers and the Irish economy. Statistics issued by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) have shown that up to €1billion is lost in the retail trade as a result of Irish people shopping elsewhere. However, every €10 spent on Irish products generates a further €24 in the economy in comparison with just €15 generated from the same amount spent on imported goods.
According to the Crafts Council of Ireland, craft is the perfect gift to purchase as the recession continues to affect retail trends. “At Christmas everyone wants to give special and individual gifts. The fantastic range of handmade Irish crafted design products available means the customer has the choice to buy beautiful gifts at a reasonable price which are unique and memorable”, said Úna Parsons, CEO, Crafts Council of Ireland.
For further information on the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Buy Irish Craft initiative and its participants visit: http://www.buyirishcraft.com
Download the Press Release here www.ccoi.ie/press/index.php |
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