Mayo company among 25 finalists unveiled for inaugural Maker’s Academy
Following an exceptional response from makers in the Republic of Ireland, Kilkenny Design and the Local Enterprise Offices have unveiled the 25 finalists selected for their Makers' Academy, a landmark business development programme designed to help some of Ireland's most exciting creative brands scale from independent makers into commercially successful retail businesses. One of those selected is Foxford based company Sláinte Sea Moss. Sláinte Sea Moss is a skincare brand and their website is here.
Sláinte Sea Moss is one of 25 businesses that demonstrated outstanding creativity, commercial potential and the ambition to become Ireland's next generation of consumer brands.
The finalists represent 17 counties across the Republic of Ireland and categories included homeware, jewellery, fashion, craft, food, and wellbeing.
This new partnership between Kilkenny Design and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) aims to build on the significant supports already available to the craft and design sector through the LEOs from funding and mentoring to training and digital and green consultancy and grants.
For more than 60 years, Kilkenny Design has championed Irish makers, helping generations of designers and craftspeople bring their products to customers across Ireland and internationally. The Makers' Academy represents the next evolution of that commitment, investing in the future of Irish creativity by partnering with the Local Enterprise Offices for this initiative giving emerging businesses the commercial skills, mentoring and retail expertise needed to grow sustainable brands.
Over the coming months, the finalists will participate in a programme of workshops, one-to-one mentoring and business coaching delivered in partnership with Kilkenny Design's senior leadership, buying, marketing and ecommerce teams, alongside leading industry, and enterprise experts. Participants will receive practical guidance across retail strategy, branding, finance, ecommerce, digital marketing, and founder development, equipping them with the tools to accelerate their businesses.
As part of the Makers’ Academy, each finalist will also receive the opportunity to showcase their products through pop-ups in Kilkenny Design retail stores, providing exposure to customers and first-hand experience of trading within one of Ireland's best-known retail destinations.
The programme will conclude this October with one overall winner receiving the opportunity to have their collection on shelf in a Kilkenny Design store.