We all love to shop local, and our Local Retailer category in the Irish Made Awards 2024 is celebrating the shops supporting the makers
Shopping local isn’t a new movement, but between one global pandemic and one big Brexit, it has gained momentum in recent years. Supporting local retailers is not only important to our communities, but small independent shops tend to be huge supporters of Irish-made products. That’s why we introduced a new category at last year’s Irish Made Awards – the Local Retailer category is about championing the incredible talent we have in Ireland.
Irish Country Magazine is delighted to have Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) join forces with us once again as the sponsor of the Local Retailer Award – a great match to DCCI’s Made Local campaign that promotes Irish craft and design products, makers and retailers.
Suzy O’Keefe is the Head of Digital and Communications at DCCI. She said: “Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is delighted to sponsor the Local Retailer category and the Irish Made Awards again in 2024. Local retailers are the backbone of Ireland’s unique commercial landscape and are fervent champions of Irish businesses including craft and design, that contribute so integrally to ‘Brand Ireland’.
“It is fantastic to see the pride at which these retailers promote and support our wonderful makers and designers throughout the country. This, as with so many of the Irish Made Awards categories, is a fitting tie in with the values of DCCI’s Made Local campaign, and we look forward to discovering more about the wonderful local retail businesses across Ireland.”
Find out more about DCCI’s Made Local campaign here.
Which type of businesses can qualify for the Retail categories?
In 2023, we 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.
Entering the Irish Made Awards 2024? Here are the guidelines to follow
We want to help you to ensure that your entry for the Irish Made Awards 2024 is the best it can be. The points below will answer any questions you may have and steer you in the right direction. Read more about this year’s awards here.
Entry requirement: By entering the Irish Made Awards, please note that your entry will be shared with judges in order to be shortlisted. All shortlisted finalists will be revealed inside the magazine and online in August – please keep a close eye on our social media pages for updates.
2023 Winner and Runner Up:
The inaugural winner of this category was Ardmore Pottery and Gallery. Based in Ardmore, Co Waterford, it is home to two generations of the Lincoln family potters and stocks over 150 Irish makers and artists. It has been running for more than 40 years, first opened in 1983 by Mary Lincoln. Today, her two daughters, Sarah and Katie, have taken over the business with Mary consulting and making in the background.
The 2023 runner up in the Local Retailer category was the not-for-profit organisation The Leitrim Design House. This wonderful brand proudly champions 100% Irish craft and design in the heart of Co Leitrim by nurturing local craftsmanship and assisting small craft and design businesses to develop and showcase their designs.
