STO PRESS

INFORMation 2000As part of the Crafts Council ofIreland Strategic Plan 2000-2003,the CCol is pleased to announcethat the first in a series of sixInformation Seminars will take placethis May 13th, at the ArdilaunHouse Hotel,Taylor's Hill, Galway.

The Crafts Council seesINFORMation 2000 as a means ofinforming craftspeople aboutcurrent changes within thestructure of the organisation. It willgive many craftspeople anopportunity to meet with CraftsCouncil staff and consult on issuesof importance to them.

The main topics of discussion willbe:

• The re-structuring of CraftsCouncil of Ireland activities and theCCol Strategic Plan 2000-2003• Showcase 2001• Special Guest speaker(s) - eachvenue will play host to guestspeakers from successful craft

businesses and those who havespecialist knowledge of the industry.Galway's topic for discussion is'Successful Marketing on a budget'.Other venues will play host todiscussions such as 'Crafts and theMedia' and 'Exhibitions - their valueand importance'. Interactionbetween participants and speakerswill be encouraged and there willbe ample time for questions andanswers.

Crafts Council of Ireland staff willbe attending the seminars and willalso be available for a Questionsand Answers Session wherecraftspeople will be able to air theirviews. Each Q & A session will befacilitated by an independentprofessional facilitator. CCol staffavailable in Galway will be LeslieReed, Chief Executive; CatherineJordan, Showcase Co-ordinator;Joanna Quinn, Information Officer;Emer Ferran, Business DevelopmentManager.

The seminars are open to allcraftspeople so don't miss thischance to meet the CCol in yourregion. Those on the CCol Registerof Craft Enterprise will receive aninvitation through the post andnotices will be posted in localnewspapers to invite non-registeredcraftspeople in the area who maybe interested in attending. Otherseminars will take place over theSummer and into Autumn:

• in Killarney on the 20th May atMuckross Park Hotel• Letterkenny on the I Oth June atMount Errigal Hoteland later in the year in Cahir,Armagh and Dublin.Morning coffee and a light lunch willbe provided at each venue.

For more information aboutINFORMation 2000, please contactHilary Morley in Galway at(091) 528524 or email:

hmorley@esatclear.ie

Regional Craft DevelopmentSome of the people present at a

meeting to set up a professional

network to facilitate information

sharing and discuss craft development

in Ireland.

Photo (clockwise from top left):

Michael Faulkner, Marketing Adviser,

Donegal County Enterprise Board;

Declan Campbell, Eurocrafi, Belfast;

Ann Ryan, Programme Manager,

Cahir; Michelle Corell, Tyrone-Donegal

Partnership; Edel Griffin, Deny City

Council; Peter Pollock, Cavan-

Monaghan LEADER; Jackie Murray,

Fermanagh Crafts Consortium; Orla

Casey, Leitrim County Enterprise Board. Also present were: Mary Bogue, Fusion,

Limerick; Karen Ferguson, Louth County Enterprise Board; Cornelia McCarthy,

Contemporary Crafts on the Border.

Showcase 2001 New Product AwardsOn the occasion of the 25thAnniversary Fair in January 2001,Showcase Ireland will be launchingNew Product Awards for the bestNew Product in each marketcategory - Craft & Gift-Interior &Tabletop-Fashion, Knitwear &Accessories-Celtic Showcase - andan overall Best New Product 2001Award will be made to one of thesewinners. Jurying will be by a panelof International buyers, journalists,design and market specialists, andthe awards will be extensivelypromoted by Showcase IrelandEvents Ltd.

It is important that current andfuture buyers and specifiers areaware that Showcase is consistentlya source of exciting, new, qualityproducts and goods.The NewProduct Awards will be promotedon the Showcase web site, and toall international and home buyersprior to the show through mail andpress promotion.The awardwinners, to be announced atShowcase in January 2001, will bepromoted in the Showcasecatalogue supplement, prominentlyexhibited at the Fair itself, andincluded in the extensive Showcasepress promotion.

Descriptive applications will need to

submitted in June 2000, withproduct samples anddocumentation to be submitted tothe organisers in late November.Award winners will receive aPerpetual Trophy and momento,specially commissioned by theDESIGNyard CommissioningGallery.

Existing exhibitors were invited todeclare interest on the 2001 standbooking forms, and willautomatically receive applicationforms and full details in April. Anyexhibitor who has not yetexpressed an interest in the Awardsand wishes to participate shouldcontact:

Anne KennedyNew Products Awards ManagerThe Onion ShedWhitestown GreenoreCo. LouthTel 042 9373032Fax 042 9373032/9373094email akennedy@tinet.ie

Photographic promotions inShowcase CatalogueEvery year CCol promotesregistered quality marked Showcaseexhibitors in the Showcase Irelandcatalogue. As an exhibitor you canparticipate, free of charge, in this

Show your jewellery in New York!The Contemporary Crafts JewelleryNetwork are submitting anapplication for selection to the NewYork International Gift Fair (August19-23).

We need an additional 3-4 jewellersbased in the 32 counties who arewilling to share the costs of a groupstand. Work must becontemporary and design-led tocomplement the existing work ofthe jewellery network.

Interested? Send 6 slides,brochure/PR material and a SAE toContemporary Crafts on the

Border, D'Arcy McGee Grainstore,Dundalk Street, Carlingford, CoLouth, no later than April 17th.TheJewellery Network currentlycomprises designer/makers based inthe border and northern counties.The network will soon be lookingto invite new members from the 32counties to join the network...sowatch this space.

Activities within the networkinclude:• Sharing a jewellery agent whoactively promotes and takes ordersin the 32 counties

promotion by:• submitting transparencies of yourproduct in response to the mailshotannouncing Catalogue advertisingand editorial inclusion (sent to allShowcase exhibitors duringSummer by organisers). Selectedshots will be included in thecatalogue.• submitting product forphotography by CCol. All Q markedconfirmed exhibitors will receive a"Call for Product" notice in July. Aselection of up to 12 products willbe photographed in September forinclusion in the catalogue and in-show promotion on CCol standareas.

Remember you may also want toconsider placing an advertisementin the Showcase catalogue - this is aguaranteed and effective way ofpromoting your company to buyersand visitors during and after the fair.

So keep an eye out for the abovecorrespondence fromCCol/Showcase organisers andmake the most of theseopportunities! For furtherinformation on Showcase visualpromotion contact Anne KennedyTel 042 9373032Fax 042 9373032 / 9373094email akennedy@tinet.ie

• Networking and sharing resourcesand advice• Group Shows where invitedjewellers participate as 'associatedmembers' at fairs such as theNYIGF

Co-ordinated and facilitated byContemporary Crafts on theBorder, this group have beenactively joint marketed sinceJanuary 1999. Contemporary Craftson the Border is a Crafts Councilof Ireland and Craftworks NorthernIreland outreach programmesupported by Co-operation Ireland.

'Calling Cards!'Friday 14th April in The HeritageCentre, Carlingford, Co. Louth

The concept behind 'Calling Cards'is to enable selected small cardpublishers, based in the borderareas of Southern Ireland andNorthern Ireland, to export theirproducts to the UK as part of agroup package.

"Calling Cards' will establish a salescatalogue, through which thesuccessful small publishers willachieve sales. Emphasis will be onselling to up-market gift shops,stationers and garden centres. Acard website, agents andparticipation at trade events will bea future aim.

The day will be facilitated by apanel of 3 experts who includedistributor, Jemima Haddock,Managing Director.The HubMarketing Services Ltd;Independent Retailer, DavidJennings, Owner, 'Palladian Plum'and 'Trappings'; GiftwareConsultant (specialising instationery and giftware) SabraSwinson, Managing Director, theSatara Consultancy Ltd.

If you make cards and wish toexplore export markets then booka place on 'Calling Cards'. It isessential to bring existingwork/designs for brief discussionwith panel. Cost for the day is £20and includes lunch.To book a placeplease contact Helen atContemporary Crafts on theBorder,Tel 042 9373005Fax 042 9373022

Art of Lighting ProductSafety SeminarApril 15: CE Testing and Safety.Speaker: Alan Edgar EMC TestManager, N.l.TechnoIogy Centre,Belfast.Venue: Designyard, Dublin.Please contact Kaethe Burt-O'Deafor further details 087 2444185,email: kaethe@connect.ie

All craftspeople welcome - therewill be a fee of £30 to cover costs.

Ceramics BookOn the 6th March Louise EllenCooley of Michigan State Universitymet with Gus Mabelson, Neil Readand Michael Jackson to review theslide submissions for her

professional photographer is used ifpossible, and the slides should be'studio' rather than 'location' shots,i.e. no imposing background oraccessories. Whilst the latter are

Michael Jackson, Neil Read, Louise Cooley and Gus Mabelson looking at slides for

the ceramics book in March

forthcoming book on IrishCeramics entitled 'A Guide toContemporary Ceramic Art andPottery of Ireland'. It is exactly ayear since Louise announced shewas undertaking such a project andduring that time she had receivedover one hundred and twentyreplies. Louise was also able toshow a preview of the layout ofthe book having commissionedgraphic designers to design fullcolour page layouts of two selectedpotters. Each potter/ceramic artistchosen will have a full pageconsisting of two colour imagesand approximately one hundredwords of text. All entries in thebook will be listed alphabetically.Mairead Dunlevy and MichaelJackson will write introductions forthe book.

The quality of slides submitted forselection was varied andunfortunately some were not goodenough for publication. Louise willbe returning these slides to themakers asking for new images to beforwarded. She asks that a

fine for publicity leaflets, magazinesetc. the simpler, uncluttered studioshot is what Louise requires for thebook. Each slide should also beaccompanied by information givingthe title and size of the piece, itsmethod of production, type of clay,glaze etc. and firing temperature. Ashort statement (100 words) onthe artist/potter (including date ofbirth) should be submitted with theslides along with address, phone/faxand email.

This book is definitely going to bepublished and Louise is concernedto get a representative view of theceramics scene in Ireland .To thisend she has implemented a FINALdeadline of May 31 st 2000 forsubmissions. So it is still not toolate to be included in thispublication.

All correspondence to: Louise EllenCooley, 724 Elm Street, EastLansing, Michigan 48823, USATel (home) 517-351-6210(work) 517-355-4526Email cooley@MSU.edu

sifts Coi f land April 2000

JJ Ryan - anappreciationWe recently saw the death of JJRyan, the Chief Executive Officerof Fingal County EnterpriseBoard.

JJ had a great enthusiasm andzest for small enterprises andwas exceptionally supportive ofthe craft industry.

In the last six years that I knewhim he advanced the craftindustry in Fingal immeasurably.Portraying limitless energy hepromoted the sector throughmany retail and trade shows andrepeatedly at Showcase Ireland.The display of this year's standwas of a high quality and JJhimself helped int he mountingand manual work of the display.He also ensured publicity forwork through a number ofpublications and a specific FingalCorporate gift catalogue.

He aided the development ofcraft through implementing acraft and design businessdevelopment programme forFingal craft enterprises. Heconstantly was there to adviseand mentor on both a group andindividual craft business basis.

JJ has left behind his wifeConcepta, and young familyAlice, Philip and Helena. I wouldlike to convey condolences onbehalf of the craft industry andassure you that his businessadvice and encouragement hassignificantly strengthened thecraft sector in Fingal andprovided a national inspiration.He is greatly missed.

Emer Ferran

Business Development Manager

Crafts Council of Ireland

The Crafts Council of IrelandOutreach Programmes

The CCol Outreach Craft BusinessDevelopment and Design andProduct development programmesare short courses tailor made forcraftspeople. Each course containssubjects requested by craftspeople.These include selling crafts,marketing crafts, packaging, display,pricing, approaching retail buyersand planning for the future.

All of these courses are deliveredthroughout the country in thecraftspeople's local area or county.

In the last four years over 480people have taken part in Outreachprogrammes. They have givenaccess to mentor advice andtraining all over the country. Thesecourses have been made possiblethrough collaboration with, and thefinancial support of, CountyEnterprise Boards, Leader Groups,Udaras and local partnerships.

I am pleased to have had theopportunity of designing anddelivering the Outreachprogrammes. It has been extremelysuccessful. Many craftspeople'sbusinesses have grown sinceparticipating.The formation of localnetworks and craft groups havebeen a huge support in such anisolated industry. I hope to buildon these foundations over the nextthree years with new CCol regionalinitiatives for trade fair andnetwork development.

The team of Outreach lecturersand members provide advice on anongoing basis. This team is highlyskilled and provide an excellentsupport to craft studios. It is nowtime to look at various craftspeoplefor personal comments on theirexperience of CCol Outreach.

Emer Ferran, Business Development

Manager, Crafts Council of Ireland

Michael Spreadborough and Barry

O'Sullivan run Bucara Pottery which is

based in Leamlara in East Cork, near

Midleton. Barry does the throwing,

turning and preparation of the pots

and Michael looks after the glazing

and selling. Michael attended an

outreach course run by the Crafts

Council in conjunction with East Cork

Area Development (ECAD), South

Cork Enterprise Board and Cork City

Enterprise Board from September to

December 1998.

I hadn't done a businessprogramme before and we had juststarted in business. Barry hasworked in other potteries over thelast eight to ten years and I hadworked in businesses in otherareas. We had come together as abusiness partnership and weneeded help.The contact person inECAD was Railli Culley who hasdone a lot for crafts in this area.She told us that there was thisprogramme that would be verygood for us.

At the time it seemed like such atime commitment - a Fridayevening and a full Saturday. But itopened my eyes to a lot of things. Ihad been in business in other areasbut the craft area is different and atthe time we didn't know that muchabout it. Pricing, insurance, sales -all were new to us in this sector.The course opened up the wholecraft sector to us - from knowingabout the Crafts Council toShowcase. We knew almost nothingabout Showcase when I started thecourse. We were that naive walkinginto it. We didn't have goodbusiness cards or brochures.Thecourse really brought out theimportance of good promotionalmaterial. Also things like how toget into the shops you wanted andhow to approach them. Not just

walking in the door and saying "I'mhere - buy my work" but ratherphoning ahead and making anappointment.

The most important parts of thecourse for me were the businessside:VAT, tax, insurance. It was verypractical.The craft presenters onour course included CormacBoydell and Michael Jackson - itwas great to listen to people whohad been in business for twenty

scattered over the region andmeeting regularly would become aproblem.There was an East CorkCrafts group for a little while but itdidn't really last. Five of the peoplefrom the course were involved inthat with other craftspeople. I havekept in contact with some of thepeople but mostly those who camefrom around here. Craftassociations are important forcraftspeople but a lot ofcraftspeople just don't have the

Michael Spreadborough and Barry O'Sullivan in their pottery in East Cork

years or so - especially MichaelJackson who would be inproduction pottery like us.The onething I will say is that there waslittle technical help like mentoringon the course and that would havebeen really helpful for us startingout.

I knew maybe three or four of thetwenty three participants, simplybecause they came from Midleton.There was a good social side - wewent to the pub afterwards andtalked about our work that weekand what had happened. No groupreally grew out of the course - Ithink because the group are quite

time. We wouldn't be able to putany time into a craft association atthe moment because we are sobusy.

As a result of the course, we wentonto the Crafts Council's Registerand got Stopress. (It's great to getStopress every month - it's our linkto the outside world!) Then weapplied for the Quality mark andShowcase New Faces and got that.We knew that to go where wewanted to go with the business weneeded to go to Showcase and getorders.

I think we handled Showcase pretty

well, because of the course. We hadour brochures ready, we knew whatour order schedule was and wewere able to say " we can fit you infor that date but not any earlier" -we didn't try to squash every orderwe received into February andMarch.The lecturer who did salestechniques,Therese (O'Neill - CraftSales Training) was great forpreparing for Showcase. It's the sortof thing that you would need arefresher course in maybe everytwo years.

We were really at the beginning ofour business and in some ways Ialmost didn't know what questionsto ask. Now I'd know! That's why arefresher or more advanced coursewould be great. Maybe one that wassix weekends or something. Lookingback on it the Fridays and Saturdayswere worth it, although it was astruggle for those three months. Atthe end we had gathered so muchinformation that it was well worthit.

Showcase can make a company -we went there saying "we will getthe orders we want or we will quitthe business". We set ourselves atarget and felt that if we didn'tachieve that target we might as wellmove on. We wanted to get someof the bigger shops and we did getthem. If we had gone to Showcaseunprepared it would have been adisaster and the outreach coursemade sure we were prepared. Iwouldn't like to have gone toShowcase without preparation.

Rici Clary is a knitwear designer based

in Marlborough Street in Dublin. She

completed a Crafts Council outreach

course in 1999 with Dublin City

Enterprise Board.

I had been in business for threeyears when I did the outreachprogramme - that was quite a longtime in comparison with the otherparticipants.When I started up Ihad no contacts and I didn't reallyknow how to go about finding out

Council of Ireland Apr;

what was out there. I had reached apoint where I realised that Icouldn't go much further withoutsome business help. I had been onthe Crafts Council's Register for awhile and I had heard about thecourse through the OutreachBulletin published in October 1998.Inner City Enterprise suggested I dothe course and put me in contact

The course helped me to focus: Idid a business plan during thecourse that has stood by me overthe last year. We were told on thecourse what the advantages of abusiness plan were but really youdon't see it until you have done itand realised how important theplanning process is.The act ofsitting down and putting what you

Rici Clary in her studio in Dublin

with Dublin City Enterprise Board.

I found the course really useful, firstof all just to meet other people. Itmade me realise that there wereother people out there who werein the same situation and they werehaving the same problems. It alsomade me realise that there werepeople out there who would helpme.The craft presentations on thecourse were great - even thosewhose crafts were not textiles. Iliked to hear them say they all hadthe same problems as I had! I didn'tfeel quite so isolated. Working onyour own affects your confidence -you believe that you are the onlyperson in the whole world that hasto deal with the problems you dealwith.

want in writing is important.Thebusiness side of the course wasbrilliant - perhaps because it wasthe most quantifiable. The businessplan has been great for me both inplanning my business and alsobecause I have been able to give itto the bank and for grant purposes.

There were certain elements ofsales techniques that were useful - Idid find that a lot of it was stuff Iwas doing any way. It did make memore confident however and thelecturer taught me to preparethings. What you are going to say,writing down the options, workingout what answers you are going toget from the buyer, then workingout what you will say to that. I felt alot more prepared for people afterthat.

I had been to Showcase before thecourse - my first Showcase afterthe course I definitely felt moreconfident and got more orders. Ithink it did make a big difference inselling myself. I think before that Isaw selling myself as some sort ofpain in a way, that I was boasting.The Sales Techniques module made-you see your product as somethingoutside of you, that you were justselling.

I tried Futura this year. I wasn'tparticularly happy with it butperhaps I need to give it anothertry. It's very different to Showcase.Knitwear falls between two stools -craft and fashion.The buyers atFutura are fashion buyers and theyare different, the way they behave isdifferent, what they expect isdifferent - and how they expectyou to be is different. Buyers atShowcase tend to want you to helpthem and look after them, whereasat Futura they are more reserved -they want to see what you havebefore they introduce themselves. Idiscovered I had to stand back. Alot of stands at Futura put theirproducts at the front whereas atShowcase you would put it at theback. It took me a day to realisethat at Futura.

I think that the future is intechnology. I use outworkers withdomestic machines to make myknitwear and I don't think that isgoing to be viable for much longer. Ithink I need to learn more aboutthat to make my business grow: Iam in danger of being left behindand that is why I want to get moreinto technology. I lack technicalknow how.

Definitely the course did a lot formy business. I am happy at how mybusiness is going - I am quiteconscious of the limitations of howI work at the moment. I think Iwould always like to remain a smallbusiness - and I think in the fashionworld, small businesses are going to

Cmft$ Com

have a definite place. People don'twant to buy something that theyare going to see in every other cityin the world.

Claire Cuffe and Caroline Bond are

partners in Bond & Cuffe Pottery

based in a workshop in the Craft

Courtyard ofMalahide Castle in

County Dublin. Claire attended the

Crafts Council's Pottery Skills Course in

Thomastown and the one-year

Business Skills Course in Kilkenny

which was a model for the portable

outreach programmes. Caroline

attended an outreach course from

1997-1999 run by the Crafts Council

in conjunction with Fingal County

Enterprise Board/DIT.

I started my training in pottery inLimerick. I did the ceramics coursethere and then I worked for apotter in Galway for a year.Following that I did the potterycourse in Thomastown.That wasthe first year it was run. GusMabelson, the trainer on thatcourse, was great - he was also veryhelpful to me the next year when Idid the business course in theCrescent. I started the course inthe Crescent in 1991.1 suffered abad ankle injury during that yearand felt by the end of it that I reallywasn't able to set up a workshopon my own just then. I came toDublin and worked for Suzanne Mayfor five years.They were five greatyears and Suzanne give me greatsupport when we were setting upour own business in 1996.

When I originally started theCrescent Business course I wasvery anxious to set up in businessstraight away. By the end I realisedwhat a big step it was going to be.The course opened my eyes andshowed me exactly what wasinvolved. I think it was the rightmove for me not to set up inbusiness straight after that. TheCrescent course was very helpful -II was set up in a workshop - I gotto try out ideas and designs without going out on a limb financially.

There were people on hand to giveadvice about business and thetechnical side of things.Theworkshop facilities were excellent -I was the only potter that year andI had the run of four kilns!!

Caroline and I started working froma small shed at home. We did thatfor about a year and a half whilestill working part-time for Suzanne.In November, 1998 I made thedecision to go full-time into thetbusiness. We got our presentworkshop in Malahide last October.It is a lovely workshop - thegrounds of the Castle are beautifuland the rent is reasonable. We hadlooked at commercial rents in thearea and we just couldn't affordthem.

In 1998 we were accepted for thefirst New Faces section atShowcase. New Faces was a 'real'experience - buyers made a pointof going there to see the newproducts. We got a great receptionand learned a huge amount.Caroline's business course as well

Fingal County Enterprise Boardwere fabulous for supporting CraftBusiness - they really seem to haveit at the top of their agenda. JJ.Ryan, Chief Executive Officer ofFCEB, was brilliant - he had greatenergy and was really interested inCrafts. He played a very big role indeveloping a comprehensivesupport system for emerging CraftWorkers. His death is a huge loss tous all.

In 1999 we were accepted for theVillage in Showcase. We again gotgood orders but were a bitrestricted by our facilities as weonly had a 4cu.ft kiln in a very smallshed. We knew we could only take acertain amount of orders as the kilncouldn't keep up with us. We wereholding ourselves back a bit duringthat time. We were more preparedfor Showcase this year with ournew workshop - and it wasprobably the worst of the threeyears at the actual show. A lot ofpeople took our information but itwas only afterwards they placedtheir orders so we left Showcase

Claire Cuffe in her studio in Malahide Craft Courtyard

as my year from the Crescentprovided us with a good basis toplan and project the future of thebusiness. Caroline's course alsoincluded a mentor system which wehad the benefit of for two years.

feeling very depressed, butthankfully it has all balanced outsince.

We exhibited at the BrighterHomes Exhibition in March and got

huge exposure. We are aiming atdeveloping direct sales from ourworkshop as we weren't in aposition to do that before. It helpsto cover the cost of the workshopand it gives great feedback from thepublic. I love dealing with people -we do the pre-Christmas Show atthe RDS and I love that contact. Wedo a children's range, with littlefunny eyes and expressions and Ilove to see peoples reaction tothem. Like Paddy Mulholland in theMarch Stopress, we do the Art inAction Fair in the summer - it'sgreat - a real action packedweekend for the public. We selldirectly at that and do very well.

We want to develop our range anddo more retail business. Also, wewant to develop the local markethere - I'm not sure that tourists buythat much pottery because itsweighty and breakable. We are veryhappy with how the business isprogressing and look forward toour first summer in the newworkshop.

Eileen Singleton is a ceramist living

and working in Leamlara in East Cork.

She did an outreach programme in

1999 in conjunction with Blackwater

Leader group.

I had been making one-off ceramicand mixed media pieces forexhibition in art galleriesthroughout Ireland. I decided tobegin working on a range of clocksand bowls and that I needed fundingand guidance to do it. I approachedthe Leader group in Fermoy, theygave me an employment grant andrecommended that I apply for aplace on a course they were goingto run with the Crafts Council.

When you are working on yourown, you can go through periods ofquestioning and doubting yourself.Getting other people's opinions ofyour work is important. When Istarted the course I had only oneproduct which was clocks, but Ilearned that I needed to extend the

range. I make about 15 to 20 piecesa week so selling can be a problemif my work is assumed to beproduction work. I have learnedthat I need to inform consumers ofthe time and effort involved in eachindividual piece. I realised from thecourse that my work is also suitedto interiors and home accessoriesshops in addition to craft shops.

I found the craft presentationsuseful - I felt that I can learn fromother people, even if they are notwithin my craft discipline - we allhave similar problems anddiscussing them can give a newperspective.

I found the marketing side of thecourse the most interesting: I feltthat it was my weak point butHelen (Conneely - MarketingMentor) was really helpful andencouraging. She explained aboutthe importance of lookingprofessional when selling and alsoemphasised the importance of proforma invoices for first orders andthe use of credit terms rather thanSale or Return. She said shopswould accept my terms if I werebusinesslike in my approach and shewas right. I am not an avid shoppermyself so I found marketinginteresting because of the

psychology of what makes peoplebuy something.

I found the accounting and taxsection was too detailed as most ofus on the course were in a start upsituation and felt it was not quitetailored to our needs. It would bemore useful if this information wasincluded in a subsequent courseaimed at more establishedbusinesses.

During the course I felt that I hadto rethink quite a few beliefs. Itcame as quite a shock to hear thatyou have to plan everything - andyet it's so obvious when you aretold it. I think craftspeople oftendon't consider themselves to bebusiness people and sometimesneglect the business side expectingthat it will take care of itself.

In our group a lot of people werenot professional craftspeople - theyhad other full time jobs and theywere thinking of going into crafts asan option.This might have been oneof the reasons why no group grewout of this course. Also we werequite geographically scattered. I amin regular contact with one othermember of the group, a knitweardesigner, and I find that exchanginginformation and ideas is very

Eileen Singleton outside her studio in East Cork

18

supportive.

The course made me focus on theweaker points of my business andthis helped me to plan and act onspecific projects. My turnover hasincreased because of the courseand I have reinvested much of thisback into the business. I feel thateveryone should do abusiness/marketing course as it hasalready been of great benefit to me.I believe that what I have learnedwill continue to help me and mybusiness to grow and develop in thefuture.

Marina Hamilton is a ceramic sculptor

and painter who specialises in horses

and other animals. She is based in

Lifford in County Donegal and did a

short Crafts Council of Ireland

outreach programme in the summer of

1999 in conjunction with Donegal

County Enterprise Board.

I had been in business about threeyears when I did the course. Someof it I thought was useful and someof it wasn't useful. Some of thecraftspeople who came up to talkto us weren't that much further onthan ourselves. It's hard for peoplewho have been in business for 10

years to listen to the story ofsomeone who has only been inbusiness for three years. Butbasically I thought the craftpresenters were only telling us theirstory. The best of the craftpresenters was Jane Huston - shewas amazing - she is so shrewd andshe has such a good business head.

The business side was helpful butbeing in business a wee while, I felt Ihad a grasp of that side myself. Idon't think I was too far along inmy business for the course though,because there were definitely partsthat were relevant to me. It wasinteresting talking to Lynn Stephens,the Retail Manager - that wasuseful.

Helen, the marketing person on theoutreach course, helped a lot withpacking and that sort of thing andthat helped a lot at Showcase. Itwas my fourth Showcase and it wasbrilliant - I did treble the businessof the year before. An excellentpart of the whole Outreachprogramme was meeting all theother craftspeople, because younever see them generally.You canhelp some of the ones who arestarting up and give them some

Marina Hamilton with one of her pieces outside her home near Lifford

advice.The only other time you seethem is at craft fairs and you don'thave time to talk to each otherthen. I am on the committee of theCraft Initiative up here - that's howwe got your programme.The CraftInitiative was set up by DonegalCounty Enterprise Board and theysponsored the programme. Thereare 4 craftspeople on thecommittee of the Initiative andthere are 120 craftspeople inDonegal.They all tend to be locals -but it's a big county. MichaelFaulkner is the person behind it onthe Enterprise Board - he camehere about two years ago and hegave the Craft Initiative a structure- he organised craft fairs andoutreach programmes, photographysessions, new marketing plans. Wemeet fairly often but it does seemto be slowing down now. Michael isleaving soon and he did keep themomentum going. He did things likeblock booking the Christmas craftfair and Showcase so we got reallygood deals.

I sell a fair bit retail: I am going tothe Royal Highland Show inScotland and the Dublin HorseShow and the Christmas Fair. Doingretail shows is'great because I getfeedback from people about whatsells - down to the different framesI brought in the paintings this yearand they are going a bomb. I justcan't get enough work made.

I used to ride pony races, flappingit's called. I have won the DingleDerby. That's where my interest inhorses started. I always paintedthem. When I went to Art College Iwas discouraged from sculptinghorses but I came back to it andnow I do both. It's a good market.People like the whole story - mehaving been a jockey and thensculpting horses.

Michael Spreadborough, Barry

O'Sullivan, Eileen Singleton, Claire

Cuffe, Rid Clary and Marina Hamilton

in conversation with Joanna Quinn

$ Council of Ireland Aprh

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CallingCraftspeCraftFinderThere was a misprint of this phonenumber in the last Stopress: pleasecontact Philip Stanbridg(0) 20 8298 0929

Web DesignsWe design homepage smultipaged and full e-commercesites. We also provide a Digitalphotography service. Prices varydepending on your requirements(10% discount given to allregistered craft workers) - formore information please contactFelicity (087)2719889 or Geraldine(086)2362193 or Email:webdesigns@oceanfree.net

Multimedia PortfolioGet your craftwork shown on amultimedia portfolio - Amultimedia portfolio is a CD-ROMthat you can hand in as easily as abusiness card and send to keypeople such as Gallery managers,founders.Art appreciators etc.containing as much visual, soundand text information on the artistand the artist's work as required. Ifyou are interested in knowingmore about this type of service,quotes and how to get on the web,please contact Noah's Ark MixedMedia Facilities at 087-2753944 orsend an e-mail toloftstuidos@hotmail.com

Looking for QuittersNorah Madigan McMeeking,Californian Quilting teacher, UKaward winner, intereste<teaching this August in Irelanu.Landscape quilts especially.Wouldlove to connect with Irish quilters.Travelling in Dublin andGalway.before June 20. Referencesand samples available. F<information, contact:mcmeeking@mtndspring.com

AssociationNoticesCounty Down Crafts AnnualGeneral Meeting will be held in theWhite Horse Hotel, Ballynahinchon 19th April, 2000 at 8.00pm.Everyone Welcome.

The Craft Potters Society ofIreland (CPSI) would like toremind readers of Stopress that thesociety's webpage can be viewed athttp://members.tripod.co.uk/cpsi/index.html and it can be emailed atceramicsireland@yahoo.com TheSociety is at present revamping itssite and hopes to keep it updatedon a weekly basis. The Society willhold its annual exhibition atArdgillan Castle commencing June24th. It will also mount a juriedexhibition at the Dept. of the Arts,Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands,Mespil Road, Dublin, commencingOctober 14th.

ExhibitionsPlan Expo '00 - T h e Architects& Interior Design Event - 9th-1 IthNovember 2000, RDSSimmonscourt. For details on thededicated interiors section pleasecontact: Stephan Murtagh, ExpoExhibitions Ltd. Tel. 01 2958181Fax. 01 2958187 Mobile 0872604397. E-mail sales@expo.iol.ie

Powerhouse Museum launchessecond International Lace forFashion Award. Lacemakers, textileartists and fashion designers arenow invited to submit entries tothe second International lace forFashion Award at the PowerhouseMuseum, Sydney. Entry forms maybe downloaded from the Museum'swebsite at:www.phm.gov.au/exhibits/exhibnew/lace/ or requested via post,email or fax from: Mandy Campbell— E-mail: mandyca@phm.gov.au.Fax: (61 2)9217 0462 or RosemarySheperd - E-mail:roses@phm.gov.au. Fax: (612)

9217 355/Tel. (612)9217 358.Address: Powerhouse Museum, POBox K346, Haymarket, NSW, 1238.

A River through Time - acelebration of Ossory 2000Barnstorm Theatre Company inpartnership with Kells RegionEconomic and Tourism Enterprisewill mount a theatrical and culturalextravaganza on the ancient site ofBurgess Court, Kells Priory, Co.Kilkenny this August. Craftspeopleare invited to exhibit and retail onSaturday 19 and Sunday 20 Augustas part of this festival. Contact PaulO'Reilly, Barnstorm TheatreCompany, Church Lane, Kilkenny,056 51266, email:barnstorm@eircom.net

For SaleNative kiln dried timberincluding Elm and Yew. Also nativehardwood flooring and 6" Larchflooring, I" Irish Cherry. ContactPat Bolger, Knockeen TimberProducts, Butlerstown.Waterford.Tel/Fax 051 377142

Kiln for sale: Cromarite 16cu.ft. toploader complete withfurniture and safefire 2000controller. Additional circularshelves for large platters. All ingood condition. Contact Mark on087-6738168.

Apple Mac 9600 + 20'AppleVision Monitor, Scanner andJazz Drive:• 9600 233 MHz PPC, 128 RAM, 9GIG UW Quantum Drive, CD-ROM, Floppy, 4Mb video RAM(millions at I 152x870). 2.5years old,in perfect condition. The mostexpansive Mac available housing 6PCI slots. Powerful graphicsworkstation. Upgradeable to G3/4architecture. Pre-configured withOS9, Photoshop5.5, Illustrator8 andMicrosoft Office '98, hugecollection of Postscript fonts alsoincluded.

• 20' AppleVision Studio Display 2.5years old, in perfect condition,

professional monitor, sharp as atack, colour calibrated.• Apple extended keyboard andmouse.•Jazz Drive 3x1 gig discs, scsi cablesand transformer.• Scanner, Umax 1200s, brand new,boxed, software, scsi cables andtransformer. Complete package£ 1500. Contact Richard -ricwalsh@eircom.net, Mobile: 0868109984.

To LetStudio Space AvailableImmediately - at Loft ArtistsStudios, Docklands Area of Dublin,behind the Point Theatre. Choiceof space in an open plan purposedesigned loft including a mezzanine(225sq.ft.). Collective or privatestudio (100/200sq.ft.) and a privatelarge studio space (750sq.ft.).Exciting environment, exhibitionarea, restaurant, evening car park.

Please send C.V. to Loft ArtistsStudios, c/o The Liffey Trust Centre,I 17 Upper Sheriff Street, Dublin Ior call Antonella at 087 2753944 or01 8553090 for more information.

WantedWanted: Studio/workshopspace southside Dublin forceramic artist. Minimum 100 sq ftrequired. Would be interested insharing the space as a time-share,or simply to rent alone. AlsoWanted: Electric Kiln in goodcondition, approx. 6-8 cu ft includingpyrometer and furniture. Please callSarah on 01 497 8342 or 087 6484890.

Wanted: Ceramic Artistslooking for a studio in Dublin.Must have 3 phase.daylight, runningwater.ground floor access and w.c.Please ring 086 8485394 or 0868439554.

Elm Trees - contact Pat Bolger,Knockeen Timber Products,Butlerstown.Waterford.Tel/Fax 051377142.

Studio Swap -Ar t is t workingin 250sq ft studio at BroadstoneStudios, Dublin City Centre, andliving in Inchicore (10 min. bus ridefrom City Centre) looking for afemale based rurally in west ofIreland (coastal area preferred) todo a studio and home swappreferably for the months of Juneand July but open to discussion.Contact Joanna at 01 8601619 or087 2377613.

Situations VacantAward winning furnituremakerMichael Bell and his team ofcraftsmen make warmcontemporary furniture usingtraditional cabinetmakingtechniques. The workshop is inVicarstown, County Laois and weare currently seeking a skilledcraftsman/woman with good handskills and a passion for makingfurniture in solid wood, who wantsto be part of a team of skilledmakers doing challenging work,building pieces from start to finish.You may not be fast (yet), but youare precise, careful, resourceful andhave a positive attitude. Salary iscommensurate with experience,after initial paid trial period.Contact - Susan Zelouf on 050225633 fax 0502 25656 mobile 087230 5386 emailmichaelbelldesign@ireland.com

Retail Manager required forCraft Shop and Audio-VisualExhibition in Trim, Co. Meath.Interest in Crafts and Craft Industrydesirable. Knowledge of MicrosoftWord essential. Knowledge oftourism environment also essential.Candidates should have goodpeople skills and be able to workon own initiative. Please apply withC.V. to:The Manager,Trim VisitorCentre, Mill Street,Trim, Co. Meath.Tel. 046 37227. Fax 046 38053.

Trainee position available inPottery in Ashbourne, Co. Meath.Please apply in writing/emailincluding C.V. and any references to

Thomas Diem Pottery, Milltown,Dublin Road, Ashbourne, Co. Meath.Email: tdiem@gofree.indigo.ie

Are you interested in workingin community arts? Would you liketo work alongside artists? If so, wewould be interested in talking withyou. We are interested in thefollowing skills - administrators,researchers, dancers, actors,technical stage, stage & prop design,costume design, visual arts, graphics,video, website design, photography,traditional arts & crafts, etc. Pleasecontact Valerie Brien, KiltalownHouse, Jobstown,Tallaght, Dublin 24.Tel/Fax 01 4515909.

Situations WantedJeweller (BA Hons. Fine andApplied Art) with goldsmithingexperience seeks employment. CVand references available on request.Contact Sinead at 042 9332665.

German Goldsmith Studentseeks training experience at agoldsmith workshop in Ireland orGreat Britain. Contact Julia Funk,Christofstr. 13,72127 Kusterdingen,Germany. Tel. +49 7071 33940.

American female 28 -BA degreein fine arts-ceramics andphotography.currently finishing amasters degree in art education:looking for international teachingexperience as an instructor or ateacher's aide. I would also beinterested in work as a studio techor production. CV available onrequest. Please contact Amy Snyderat The Abbey Hostel tel: 353-1-878-0700 O'Connell Bridge, 29Bachelor's Walk.Dublin I or email :pearadox@hotmail.com

Courses AvailableIntroduction to Hot GlassCasting and Blowing- RandolphRepass is running 3 day courses inmolten glass casting and blowing inhis newly built Fermanagh studio(or "hot shop"), running April 28th-30th and May 12th-14th (if enough

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interest arises we will hold anothercourse on May 26th-28th). Locatedon the beautiful Upper Lough Erne,Randolph will be teachingintroductory principles in hot glass.In the three days you will learn thebasics of blowing and casting glass,you will take home a nice catch offinished pieces, or you may bring aproject idea with intention to buildon it later in your own space.

Courses cost £100 sterling for 3 fulldays (9am to 6pm). Lunch costs anextra £5 per day, and B&B can bearranged on request for around £ 15per night.The Studio is located90mins from Dublin and 90minsfrom Belfast. Contact: RandolphRepass, Crystal Lotus Studios, St.Hubert's Stables, Geaglum, DerrylinCo. Fermanagh, BT92 9GN, tel: +44(0)28 6774 8062

ANAM-CRE STUDIO - Newstudio and gallery opening in July,Kenmare, Co. Kerry offering shortresidential courses in many craftsespecially clay. Programme for July isas follows:July 3-7 Throwing on the potter'swheel. Creations in clay.July 10-14 Drawing and watercolourpainting.July 17-21 Clay modeling andsculpting (portraits)July 24-28 Clay modeling andsculpting (the female form).For further information contact:Anam Cre Studio, Kenmare Pottery,Rusheens, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.Tel:064 41673, Fax 064 41849 emailanam-cre@oceanfree.net

Summer 2000 ResidentialPottery courses featuring Salt Glazeand Smoke Fired Ceramics.Courses include making, decorating,firing and all you need to knowabout kilns. Comfortable, spacious,well equipped studio.Accommodation available. Forbrochure please contact: MarcusO'Mahony, Glencairn,Tallow, Co.Waterford Tel 058 56694 email:glencairnpottery@eircom.ie website:www.interglobal.ie/marcuso'mahony

Crafts Council of Ireland StaffKilkennyChief Executive Leslie ReedBusiness Development Manager. Emer FerranAdministration Officer. Nuala McGrathInformation Officer. Joanna QuinnInformation Section Jolly RonanFinance Officer. Mary BlanchfieldSecretary/Receptionist Breda Kennedy

Training (Kilkenny)Jewellery Design & Production Skills Course Jane Huston

Pottery Skills Course Gus Mabelson

Castle Yard, KilkennyPhone: 056 61804, fax: 056 63754, email: ccoi@craftscouncil-of-ireland.ie

ShowcaseShowcase Co-Ordinator. Catherine Jordan(Showcase Ireland Events Ltd.)

Phone & fax: 01 -2942574, email: showcase@indigo.ie

Contemporary Crafts on the BorderProject Manager. Cornelia McCarthyOffice Manager. Helen Lynch

D'Arcy McGee Grainstore, Carlingford, Co. LouthPhone: 042-9373005, fax: 042-9373022, email: craftcf@tinet.ie

Product Development Projects

Art of Gold Anne Kennedy

Tel: 042 9373032, email: akennedy@tinet.ie

Art of Lighting Kaethe Burt-O'Dea

Phone: 087 2444185, email: kaethe@connect.ie

Please note that the copy date for May Stopress is April 25th,

Please have any suggestions or advertisements in on or before that date.Stopress is published between the 5th and I Oth of each month. It ispossible for non-registered people to subscribe to Stopress - for furtherinformation, please contact the Council's offices at 056 61804

While every care has been taken in the compilation of this Stopress, the

publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Advertisements in

Stopress do not indicate endorsement by the Crafts Council of Ireland. It is the

responsibility of the reader to check that goods or services are described

accurately.

To advertise in Stopress, please contact Joanna Quinn at the Crafts Council's

offices in Kilkenny tel: 056 61804, email: joanna@craftscouncil-of-ireland.ie