Irish Handmade Glass takes the US by storm

Having made its international television debut on one of the world’s largest shopping channels on St. Patricks’ Day, Waterford’s Irish Handmade Glass company has been invited to feature on the QVC shopping channel again next year.

In September 2013, the Waterford glass manufacturer caught the attention of QVC at Showcase, Ireland’s Creative Expo, and was chosen from hundreds of Irish designers and producers to showcase its product on the St. Patricks Day show.

Tony Hayes, Master Glass Blower and one of the founders of Irish Handmade Glass travelled to the Philadelphia home of QVC, where he underwent two days of intensive media training before showcasing the “Lovebird” collection to an audience of over 35 million viewers.

“It was an amazing experience”, Tony said.  “We sent over product, our glass Lovebird pairs, a few weeks before we were due on air.  Then when we arrived I had two full days of mentoring, training and rehearsals.  We were allocated five minutes and ten seconds live on air and when I was finished was told that over 35 million people had viewed our segment and all of our products were practically sold out within that time.”

“Not only was it a fantastic opportunity for us to get such exposure, we made sure to focus on the fact that our products are 100% guaranteed Irish, 100% handmade and most specifically 100% Waterford.”

The positive reaction to the Lovebird collection has ensured that Irish Handmade Glass will be featuring on the channel again in 2015.

“We have just been asked to return for St. Patrick’s Day next year.  The QVC buyers have been in touch with us and requested sample products which we hope to feature on the show. QVC looks for authentically Irish hand crafted products and our multi-coloured Lovebird pairs, which are inset with Irish wild flower, were a huge hit with the US audience.”

Ciaran Cullen, Acting Chief Executive, Waterford City Enterprise Board, which has supported Irish Handmade Glass since the beginning through funding and mentoring added, “We were absolutely delighted that the Irish Handmade Glass Company was chosen from hundreds of Irish designers and producers by QVC.”

 

“Being invited back by QVC for next year’s St. Patrick’s Day broadcast not only proves that Tony and the team can make beautiful high quality glass pieces, it also shows that there is a significant international demand for the work of Waterford’s highly skilled glass cutters and blowers, which is something we can be very proud of.”

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.

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