Just days to go until the digital Showcase Ireland edition debut

by Kim Mullahey · February 11, 2022

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UP to 3,000 registered buyers are eyeing up this Monday’s digital launch of Showcase Ireland, a figure that has surpassed 2020 figures by double the numbers just four weeks before opening day.

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Showcase Ireland 2021 was the first to be a fully immersive digital experience and the knock-on success from that initial venture has continued to resonate throughout the last 12 months. Supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland the new ‘Showcase Connect’ will open on 15 February and continue until 17 March, St Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

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A significant catalyst to the Irish economy’s recovery, the Showcase Ireland in person expo of design and craft at the RDS Dublin from 27 February to 2 March is Ireland’s eighth largest employment sector, contributing €2.9 billion in Gross Value added. While Showcase Connect closes on 17 March the digital experience will launch the same day with Showcase Community 365, offering points of contact with Irish designers and makers all year long to the international buyers’ market.

“Showcase Ireland is a unique trade fair for designers and makers to meet retail buyers, show their new work and secure orders for the year ahead,” said Brian McGee, Enterprise and Market Development Director at DCCI. “This year there is also a free digital platform for all exhibitors which enables exhibitors to reach out to the more than 9,000 buyers on the (Showcase Ireland) database.”

300 exhibitors have registered their brands for the Showcase Ireland Expo

Already, the international creative expo has attracted 300 design and craft exhibitors and registered more than 4,000 visitors from Ireland and overseas while buyer registrations are at over 65 percent ahead of the last live event in 2020. Showcase Connect and from mid-March, Showcase Community 365 has been designed for buyers, makers and designers to stay in contact throughout the year, the platform providing opportunities for registered buyers to browse products, engage with visitors and set up ‘favourite products’ along with one-to-one meetings and messaging their interest instantly before, during and after the expo.

“Buyer registrations are currently (more than) 65 percent ahead of 2020 which was the last year that the physical show was held at the RDS Dublin,” added Brian McGee. “Already we have a significant increase in Irish Buyers showing the rapid improvement in confidence since the lifting of restrictions.”