Wicklow's Best Craft & Design Businesses Shine at Showcase 2026
Some of Wicklow’s best craft and design businesses were part of over 100 companies from across Ireland who got a chance to meet with retail buyers from all over the world as part of the 2026 Showcase Tradeshow event in the RDS from the 18th – 20th January.
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the Local Enterprise Showcase is a special area at Showcase that houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent. LEO Wicklow sponsored five craft businesses in this area, and many other Wicklow businesses exhibited under their own steam at the show also.
The event, which is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, opened its doors to thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show.
Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
LEO Wicklow had been working with Sugarloaf Botanics (skincare), By Claire Shorman (cards), Beyond the Ferns (soap), Culu (jewellery) and Appleberry Atelier (stationery) on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximised opportunities at the three-day event.
Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council praised all the exhibitors from Co. Wicklow, saying, “To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business planning to expand. Crafts businesses generate bulk retail orders at this event, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales, which will improve their businesses going forward.”
This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered into the Business of Craft Awards. This is the third year of the awards that celebrate the commercial skills behind the amazing craft and design producers across the country. The awards have three categories; Best Newcomer for the best craft and design business who is exhibiting for the first time, One to Watch for the best craft and design business who has excellent export and international potential and finally Sustainability Champion for the best craft and design business who is excelling in sustainability.
Ailbhe Cronin of Appleberry Atelier (bespoke stationery, www.appleberryatelier.com) supported by LEO Wicklow won the ‘One to Watch’ category. The judges praised her intricate drawings conveying Irish mysticism, which appeal to buyers as something uniquely Irish. Ailbhe graduated from NCAD with a Degree in graphic design, specialising in illustration, and honed her design skills working for a busy publishing house. Now based in Bray, her illustrations have since been commissioned by leading stationery companies in the USA as well as in the design of the Irish and Tanzanian Passports.
Extending congratulations, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Emer O’Gorman said “Ailbhe’s talent, tenacity and commercial acumen are a winning combination for success in business. Appleberry Atelier’s impressive stand at Showcase 2026 attracted international buyers and Ailbhe’s active engagement with LEO supports ensured a hugely successful first Showcase experience for her”.
Local Enterprise Showcase is one of several national enterprise initiatives run by the Local Enterprise Offices across the year to foster entrepreneurship and help small businesses to start and grow. Other events include Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme and the Local Enterprise Village as part of the National Ploughing Championships. For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, please visit www.LocalEnterprise.ie
Image 1: (L-R) Vibeke Delahunt, LEO Wicklow; Ailbhe Cronin, Appleberry Atelier and Michelle Hegarty, LEO Wicklow
Image 2: (L-R) Louise O’Hara, Culu Jewellery; Ailbhe Cronin, Appleberry Atelier; Laura Holly, Sugarloaf Botanics; Claire Shorman, By Claire Shorman Cards; Gillian Kavanagh, Beyond the Ferns – 5 of the Wicklow Exhibitors at Showcase 2026, supported by LEO Wicklow.