Irish Handmade Glass to make international TV debut

Waterford’s Irish Handmade Glass Company will debut on one of the world’s largest shopping channels on St. Patricks’ Day, 2014.

The company, founded by four former Waterford Crystal craftsmen caught the attention of QVC when exhibiting at Showcase, Ireland’s Creative Expo.  Showcase has, for over 35 years, actively promoted unique, Irish, design-led products in fashion, crafts, gifts and home accessories.

According to Tony Hayes, a Master Glass Blower, The Irish Handmade Glass Company was one of only three Irish companies chosen by QVC.  “For our work to have been noticed and chosen by the QVC shopping channel is fantastic for us.  They were looking for something authentically Irish, creative, inspired and crafted by hand.”

“Having looked very closely at our portfolio QVC ordered our Lovebird pairs.  The birds are approximately 3 inches long and are inset with wildflower.  The wildflower takes its inspiration from Irish flora and each of the seven colours represents a different flower, such as the yellow of the buttercup, the violet of the bluebell and the green of the fern.”

“It’s wonderful for a company like ours to be exposed on such a global platform.  QVC is available to over 290 million homes around the world so it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for The Irish Handmade Glass Company to export worldwide.”

The founders of The Irish Handmade Glass Company are Danny Murphy, Tony Hayes, Derek Smith and Richard Rowe.  They established the company in the Kite Design Studios in the Viking Triangle and have almost 150 years cumulative experience in glass blowing and cutting.

Producing 100% mouth blown and hand cut coloured crystal in the Kite Design Studios in Henrietta Street the Irish Handmade Glass Company has quickly become one of Ireland’s leading glass manufacturers.

 Ciaran Cullen, Chief Executive, Waterford City Enterprise Board, which has supported Irish Handmade Glass since the beginning through funding and mentoring added, “This is a wonderful accomplishment for Tony, Danny, Richard and Derek.  They were chosen from over 350 exhibitors at the RDS Showcase exhibition last January and as a result will get an audience with the world’s leading retailer.”

“When the company was established in 2009 the aim of these highly-skilled glass cutters and blowers was to preserve a proud tradition indigenous to Waterford.  Not only have they done that, but now they will also bring this tradition to a multi-million audience worldwide.”

To see more from the Irish Handmade Glass Company go to www.theirishhandmadeglasscompany.com or call the Kite Design Studios on 051 858914.

Home Instead Senior Care claims top service Franchise Award

Photo:Brian McEvoy

On Friday, October 11th at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin, the winners of the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards 2013 were announced. 

The awards recognise excellence in franchising and reward the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the franchise industry.  Established over 20 years ago, the franchise awards are one of the longest standing and most prestigious business events in Ireland.  Over 230 guests attended the black-tie gala event hosted by Newstalk’s Jonathan Healy and officiated by John Perry, TD, Minister for Small Business. 

The Franchise of the Year (Service) accolade went to Home Instead Senior Care, which is the world’s leading provider of non-medical, in-home services to seniors, with over 1,000 branches throughout the world. 

Danette Connolly brought the successful franchise operation to Waterford in 2009 and today the Waterford office has cared for over 800 clients, employs 70 CAREGivers along with an office support team of 7, including 3 nurses.

Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, was delighted with the national franchise award.  “The Home Instead Senior Care is now a nationally recognised award-winning franchise.  That is simply down to the hard work and commitment of the Home Instead teams across the country.”

“Speaking from my own experience in Waterford our philosophy is to give seniors the chance to lead a full, independent life in their own homes.  Our CAREGivers have shown time and time again that caring is not just a job, but a vocation and they have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our clients reach and maintain independence.  We are lucky to have such a wonderful team of CAREGivers in Waterford and this award is testament to their dedication.”

“By simply being with a senior who needs help getting to the shops, preparing meals or just by providing companionship, the work of the CAREGiver is invaluable and really does enhance the lives of those in our care.”

The judging panel for the 2013 Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards included Irish Dragon and Newstalk Presenter Bobby Kerr; Orna Stokes, Senior Manager, SME Propositions, Ulster Bank; Orla Nugent, Director Executive MBA, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School; Greg Swift of Dublin County Enterprise Board, Michael Bradley, former CEO of the Irish Franchise Association and Siobhan Lennon, Commercial Director of the Sunday Business Post. 

To find out more about the services provided by Home Instead Senior Care Waterford you can visit www.homeinstead.ie or call 051 333966.

6th South East Run for Life brings out the crowds!

The 6^th Solas Centre South East Run for Life drew almost 1,700 joggers, walkers and runners from all over the South East.

With the participants setting out from the Quay for the 10 mile route, the fun culminated in the People’s Park with the South East Fun for Life event.

Families of the runners, walkers and joggers were able to enjoy plenty of family entertainment in the People’s Park where there were bouncy castles, children’s races, penalty shoot outs with Waterford United FC, go–karting, a climbing wall, live broadcasts from Beat 102-103 and much more.

The total monies raised for the Solas Centre and the South East Cancer Foundation have yet to be tallied, but the organisers will announce the details in full next week.

Mr. Jonathan Earl, Chairman of the Run for Life committee was delighted with the event, “The annual South East Run for Life has become the highlight of the region’s sporting calendar and 2013 was no exception.” 

“The level of participation and involvement from the runners and walkers was fantastic.  The atmosphere around the route was invigorating and the work and dedication from the massive volunteer crew was wonderful, with everyone so  giving of their time, energy and ideas.”

Mr. Earl added, “All funds raised will go towards the Solas Centre.  It goes without saying that the generosity and goodwill of all those who participated will go towards ensuring that the Solas Centre can continue to provide the best cancer support services for those affected by cancer, their families and their carers.”

For further information about the Solas Centre and the cancer support services it provides check out www.solascentre.ie or call 051 304604.

HCS Business Solutions Workshops popular with regional SMB's

HCS Business Solutions hosted the first in a series of free Microsoft Office 365 workshops in Waterford today with a full house.

There is great interest in these practical, hands-on training workshops entitled “A New World of Work” which give small business managers, owners and business decision makers the opportunity to test drive the new suite of Microsoft technologies including Office 365, Sharepoint and Windows 8 across phone, tablet and PC.

Further workshops take place at HCS Business Solutions, Waterford on October 25th and December 13th, Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Dublin on November 7th and December 5th. Kilkenny’s Ormonde Hotel on November 21st.

Most of the workshops are now full, but HCS Business Solutions intends to run more over the coming months. 

To register your interest in up and coming training workshops check out www.hcs.ie or call 051 595200.

Bakers use their loaf and prove they have what it takes to succeed!

M and D Bakery, the well known third generation family bakery was announced as the overall winner of the Waterford City Enterprise Awards and will go on to represent Waterford at the National Enterprise Awards which take place in Dublin Castle in November.

Founded by brothers Dermot and Michael Walsh, the bakery supplies a selection of baked “morning goods” to the households, shops, restaurants and hotels of Waterford.  However, M and D Bakery is probably best known for its production of a truly local delicacy, the blaa.

M and D Bakery has been a constant on the baking landscape in Waterford for almost thirty years and produces over 8,000 blaas a day.  More recently M and D Bakery spearheaded the drive, along with three local blaa bakers, to have the blaa safeguarded with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).  With PGI status the once humble Waterford blaa can anticipate a standing equal to that of Stilton Cheese or the Cornish Pasty.

Speaking of the enterprise award, Dermot Walsh said, “We are delighted and honoured to be acknowledged by Waterford City Enterprise Board.  When we started the business almost thirty years ago, our focus was to bring good quality bread products to the city and environs.”

“However, as demand for the blaa grew, particularly outside of Waterford we needed to innovate and invest in ways to make it “travel” friendly.  The blaa is simply made from flour, water, yeast and salt with no preservatives or artificial additives, thus it has a very short shelf life.”

“With assistance from Waterford City Enterprise Board we invested in a freezer room which allows us to blast freeze the blaas so we can supply them to the rest of the country, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and now France.”

“Even though it was the French Huguenots who introduced the blaa to Waterford in the 1690’s, we’re sending it back there in 2013!”

Organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards, the National Enterprise Awards recognise outstanding micro enterprises in Ireland.  Ciaran Cullen, CEO, Waterford City Enterprise Board is delighted to support M and D Bakery in their pursuit of new export markets.

 

“Dermot and Michael have shown that there are great opportunities for growth if you explore further afield.  The blaa, which was practically unknown outside of Waterford, can now be found in food stores, forecourts and restaurants across Dublin, Belfast, Britain and even as far as Paris.”

“The Walsh brothers are passionate about what they produce and they produce it well.  With accolades such as the 2010/11 Good Food Producer award, a Euro Toques Taste Award and Gold at the 2012 Blas na hEireann Awards, they will represent Waterford with pride at next months National Enterprise Awards.”

If you want to find out more about M and D Bakery visit www.manddbakery.ie or call 051 378080.  Alternatively if you have a business idea and want to find out more about capital financing, mentoring or start up assistance talk to Waterford City Enterprise Board on 051 852883 or www.waterfordceb.com.

Sean Gallagher inspires Waterford Transition Year students

As part of the National Student Enterprise Awards Waterford City Enterprise Board brought entrepreneur Sean Gallagher to the Tower Hotel to speak to over 300 transition year students on the topic of enterprise and starting your own business. 

Ciaran Cullen, CEO of Waterford City Enterprise Board was delighted with the event, “ Sean gave an inspiring talk for over an hour. It was obvious that the students took much from it by the amount of questions they asked at the end”.

Home Instead Senior Care shortlisted in the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards 2013

The Waterford Home Instead Senior Care Team

Home Instead Senior Care has been shortlisted in the finals of the Ulster Bank Irish Franchise Association Awards in not one, but two, categories.

Home Instead Senior Care has been shortlisted in the Franchisee of the Year (Service) category and also Best Marketing Campaign.

The awards categories represent both retail and service industries and recognise excellence in franchising and reward outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals in the franchise industry.

Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s leading provider of non-medical, in-home services to seniors, with almost 1,000 branches throughout the world, opened its franchise office in Waterford in January 2009.  To date the Waterford office has cared for over 800 clients, employs 70 CAREGivers along with an office support team of 7, including 3 nurses.

Danette Connolly, Director of Care, Home Instead Senior Care, is delighted with both nominations and said “To be nominated in both of these categories is a great endorsement of what we have been doing here in Waterford.”

“When my husband Michael and I brought the Home Instead franchise to Waterford almost five years ago, we knew we were bringing a well respected brand, dedicated to the provision of optimum home care to seniors.  However, we like to think that we have also put our own mark on the senior care landscape in Waterford.  We have a dedicated and passionate team of CAREGivers who genuinely go above and beyond the call of duty.  I am energised every time I meet a client who has formed a close warm bond with their CAREGivers.”

The awards will be presented at a formal black-tie awards ceremony at The Clyde Court in Ballsbridge, Dublin on Friday October, 11th 2103. The Awards ceremony is one of the highlights of the much anticipated Ulster Bank Irish Franchising and Start-ups EXPO on October 11th and 12th at the RDS Dublin.

The award ceremony is expected to be an impressive business event reflecting the remarkable growth of the franchise sector in these challenging times.  In fact the

Irish Franchise Association announced today that the largest ever number of entries was received for this year’s Franchise Awards.

Home Instead Senior Care offers an array of senior care services such as light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, transport and companionship, up to and including personal care, dementia care, post hospital care and disability care.

 To find out more about the services provided by  Home Instead Senior Care call Danette Connolly on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie