It was announced yesterday that Showcase – Ireland’s International Creative Expo will be returning to the RDS from Sunday, 22nd to Wednesday, 25th January 2017.
Showcase is an international launch pad for the 450 Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople who will be unveiling their new season collections across fashion, jewellery, home and giftware over the four-day event.
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.
Showcase, which was founded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) 41 years ago, enjoyed strong growth in 2016, with the number of buyers attending up 7% to 5,300, and sales orders placed at the fair increasing by 17% to €21.7m, equating to a full-year sales value of €121.2m.
At the heart of the show, Design Ireland, the exciting new initiative from DCCoI, will feature 90 Irish brands chosen by an independent jury for their creativity, innovation and craftsmanship. All the products in this dedicated area of the Main Hall are designed and made in Ireland.
Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, Karen Hennessy commented, "The considerable growth in both attendees and sales at last year’s show demonstrates that Showcase is drawing increasing interest from trade buyers all over the world."
She added, "It is also a testament to the unique offerings of the Irish design and craft sector and to Showcase itself which we are are continually developing as a professional, world-class tradeshow focused on Irish creativity."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
