The ‘Taking care of business’ show, hosted by RTÉ Late Late Show, was inspiring and my thanks to Ryan Tubridy and RTE for promoting small Irish businesses.
Hailing from the Midlands, I would have liked to have seen more Laois and Offaly businesses featured. There are many small producers here who are generating employment for themselves and others with their top class products and entrepreneurial spirit.
My congratulations to Naturally at the Wrens Nest from Ballinakill, I spotted your natural soaps on the RTE set, I am currently using your ‘rose’ soap and it is a beautiful product. There are so many more producers in Laois and Offaly worthy of the spotlight.
In the run up to Christmas this year, I set out on a mission to visit as many small producers as I could before Christmas and champion their products. My team jokingly named these visits ‘pipstops’ - and it stuck.
I made a short video at each stop and loved meeting the people behind the products.
By supporting local businesses, we are supporting local jobs and the local economy by keeping our money in our local communities.
Over the last 8 weeks I visited a range of local producers, I've listed their details below to make it easier for you to shop local, but this list is in no way exhaustive, and I encourage you to get out and see what is on offer, right on your doorstep.
#1 - Offaly Offaly Organics | |
#5 - Laois | |
#7 - Giving the Gift of an Experience | #8 - Supporting Local Gift Shops Crafts By Edwina | Mountrath The Red Door Gift Shop Irish Art, Craft and Design (anthology.ie) JBR Art Haus | Port Laoise |