Almost 5000 buyers from 17 countries attended Showcase Ireland at the RDS over four days this week. Organised by the Craft Council of Ireland the event is the major trade show for craft industries in Ireland and is in its 36th year.
Brian McGee is Head of Market Development with the Council and he spoke to FocuSMEIreland about this year’s show and the prospects for the craft sector in Ireland. 2,500 indigenous businesses employing 5700 people are represented by the Craft Council of Ireland and the sector is worth €0.5bn per annum.
He said that while the domestic market is soft at present, people do ask for Irish goods. Exports, on the other hand, have shown strong growth in recent years.
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