It doesn’t seem like over 2 months ago since I posted on the information seminar we held in conjunction with the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCOI) for the ‘Getting Your Craft Product to Market’ Programme!

Well yesterday I attended the function to award the certificates of completion to the craft producers that participated in the course, along with Una Parsons (the new CEO) and Emer Ferran of the CCOI. Congratulations again to all 12 participants who completed the Programme. Well done!

One thing that struck me at the information seminar back in September was Helen Kenneavy’s (the Programme co-ordinator) statement that “there has been more change in the marketplace for craft in the last 5 years than there has been in the previous 15 years.”

I think it is fair to say that the focus of the programme was really about helping each of the 12 craft producers that participated to cope with the implications and impact of this change, and in particular helping them to develop the marketing, branding and packaging of their respective products.

I also know from talking to some of the participants over the course of the programme that it was very beneficial in helping provide a focus to address a whole range of issues including:
• telling the story behind the craft product - creating a signature; and
• trying to focus more on generating sales for new products in existing markets and with existing customers rather than solely trying to find sales for existing products in new markets.
I think it is also perhaps fair to say that the most valuable aspect of the programme however has been the opportunity it presented for the participants to come together as a group of producers for the first time, and to use same as a collective resource to help and support each other in all sorts of ways, including providing feedback and comment on each others products!

I think this was an extremely important benefit and I hope that it can be maintained and continued now that the programme is completed.

The CEB believes that the craft sector in Kilkenny is an important contributor to the local economy. The sector plays a significant role in contributing to and substantiating Kilkenny’s claim as the Creative Heart of Ireland. In this regard, the CEB will continue to work with the CCOI in providing supports to faciliate the development and growth of the sector.

Sean.

www.kceb.ie