We’re shining a spotlight on the shops that are backing Irish-made in a big way; retailers, this is for you!
As the Irish Made Awards enter their seventh year, we have come to recognise that retail plays a huge role in Irish makers and producers getting their products in front of customers. Bearing that in mind, we have decided to create a brand new category for the 2023 event – The National Retailer. This award is all about celebrating the shops and stores that stock Irish-made products on their shelves.
It champions the work of companies that have developed and blossomed into our national retailers, boosting the growth and reach of up-and-coming designers, craftmakers and local businesses in various retail outlets around the country.
Carrolls Irish Gifts is one such company and has kindly sponsored The National Retailer award for 2023. The quintessentially Irish company was established in 1982 and is one of the leading retailers of quality Irish clothing, jewellery, souvenirs and gifts. If you’ve ever been a tourist in Ireland, chances are you’ve popped into one of their famous stores! In business for over 40 years, they stock leading Irish products including Guinness, Aran Knitwear, Solvar, Trinity and Mullingar Pewter.
There are 19 Carrolls Irish Gift stores around the country, dedicated to welcoming visitors from all over the world and ensuring that they get to bring home an authentic memento from the Emerald Isle. They are experts in local and international delivery and cater to 164 countries around the world.
Speaking about their involvement in the new category, CEO of Carrolls Irish Gifts Peter Hyland said: “Carrolls Irish Gifts has always been committed to supporting local Irish businesses, and getting involved in the Irish Made Awards was a natural fit for us. We believe in promoting and celebrating the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of Irish-made products, and we are proud to be part of a community that shares that belief.”
Which type of businesses can qualify for the new Retail categories?
This year, we have introduced two new categories: Local Retailer and National Retailer.
These are open to retailers that have a bricks-and-mortar store on the island of Ireland, and can demonstrate their growing support of Irish-made, by stocking products made in Ireland such as crafts, clothing, food, drinks, homewares, etc. They may have an e-commerce website, but to enter they must have a bricks-and-mortar shop whereby customers can visit and shop for Irish-made goods. They may have other suppliers from international brands, but can demonstrate a strong or growing support of suppliers making products on the island of Ireland.
- Local Retailer: This will be a retailer with one shop.
- National Retailer: This will be a retailer with more than one shop.
