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Showcase - Ireland’s International Creative Expo® returns to the RDS, Dublin from Sunday, 22 January to Tuesday, 24 January, with over 365 exhibitors and more than 3,000 visitors from Ireland and overseas expected to attend.
Showcase was officially launched today (Wednesday, 11 January) by Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation; Teri Smith, Department Manager of Retail, Consumer and Online, Enterprise Ireland; Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise, Fingal, Local Enterprise Office; Mary Palmer, Chair of Showcase®; and Mary Blanchfield, Head of Operations, Design & Crafts Council Ireland. It launched at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, with a photocall including fashion from Irish designers. Styled by Aisling Farinella and photographed by Leon Farrell, the photocall reflected the traditions and heritage of Showcase, as well as bringing in new elements and a fresh feel to the landmark event.
The styling was inspired by the Irish dancehall, the culture of which dates back to the 1800s, and which will inspire the dynamic fashion and design event that will take place on the opening day of Showcase. The theme of storytelling and tradition that is intrinsic to the event reflects the stories and provenance behind the makers and products at the show. This makes it a key destination and calendar fixture for buyers from Ireland and all over the world.
Showcase was founded in 1976 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and is delivered with support from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. It generates over €20 million of sales orders during the show. At Showcase 2022, over 300 Irish designers, manufacturers, and craftspeople from all over Ireland unveiled their latest collections. Thousands of buyers from 24 countries across four continents attended in person, and many more visited through the digital platform Showcase Connect.
Showcase 2023 will see a continuation of successful features launched at Showcase 2022 including the Talks Stage hosting industry talks and panel discussions; and The Edit, a curated selection of exquisite products exhibited at the show. The annual Showcase Awards will take place on Sunday 22 January, and on Tuesday 24 January, the Design & Crafts Council Ireland Academy will be launched.
Launched in 2022, Showcase Connect, the online platform listing exhibitors and products enabling buyers to browse, connect and book meetings with exhibitors online or at the show has become even more useful. This year it includes an interactive floorplan tool to enhance the onsite experience.
Showcase is an annual destination for retail buyers from Ireland and more than 20 other countries, including the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia and Mainland Europe, all keen to see the very latest designs from Ireland’s top brands and craft producers. The fair is an international launch pad for the Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople who unveil their new season collections across fashion, health & wellbeing, jewellery, home and giftware. Each year, a particular emphasis is placed on new products to market, providing retailers with opportunities to discover and stock up on the latest design-led products, many of which are unique to the show.
Trade buyers can register to attend this boutique design and craft expo at showcaseireland.com.
Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, said:
"I am delighted to be here today to mark the launch of Showcase®, which continues to open up a huge audience for Irish businesses every year. The Irish craft and design sector plays an integral role in our culture and crucially, in our economy too. I’m looking forward to seeing the unique designs and creations from this year’s makers and wish them the best of luck with trading during the expo."
Mary Palmer, Chair of Showcase®, says:
"Showcase® marks one of the most important events in the design and crafts sector’s calendar. For many, this is their first trade show of the year, a chance to launch their new collections and secure orders for the year ahead. Attracting buyers from Ireland and around the world, Showcase’s strength lies in its unique identity and high-quality display of Irish design and crafts."
Mary Blanchfield, Head of Operations of Design & Crafts Council Ireland said:
"Now in its 48th year, Design & Crafts Council Ireland is delighted to see the return of Showcase in January 2023 at the RDS. Showcase gives designers and makers’ the opportunity to meet and do business with buyers from Ireland, the UK, North America, Mainland Europe, Asia and Middle East. With the help of the RDS, this event offers Irish makers an international platform to grow their businesses and the chance to come together to celebrate the creativity, the impact and the importance of the heritage of the Irish craft and design sector globally. We look forward to supporting our clients as well as our national, international and online visitors at the show."
Teri Smith, Department Manager Retail Consumer & Online at Enterprise Ireland, said:
"Showcase is a hugely important date in the calendar for our international retail buyers and a significant annual event for Enterprise Ireland as it provides a platform for our clients to reach their export ambitions. Irish craft and design companies are consistently bringing forward new products and this event offers them the opportunity to launch their products on a global stage - meeting, engaging with, and presenting to international buyers in person."
Oisin Geoghegan at Local Enterprise Offices said:
"The Local Enterprise Showcase area gives small craft and design businesses a terrific opportunity to promote themselves in a highly professional and quality environment, in which they will be exposed to buyers from across the world. We have been working closely with our over 100 clients on sales techniques, marketing and merchandising their stands to ensure they maximise these three days and no doubt it will be a fantastic event."