Some of Laois’s best up and coming craft and design businesses are set to take part in the Local Enterprise Showcase at the RDS.
Starting today and running until Tuesday, the Laois businesses will be part of over 100 companies from across Ireland who will get a chance to meet with buyers from all over the world.
An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Local Enterprise Showcase, is a special area at Showcase that houses a range of Ireland’s newest design talent.
Angelina George Skincare, an award-winning Irish skincare brand proudly created and manufactured in Portlaoise, is one of the Laois participants.
They say: “Founded with a passion for sensitive and mature skin, we blend nature-powered ingredients with advanced skin science to deliver real, visible results.
“Our range is dermatologically tested, cruelty-free, and sustainably made, using high-performance actives such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, algae, ginseng, and cold-pressed plant oils.
“Loved by professionals and customers alike, our products have won multiple national and international beauty awards.”
The second is MyComfort which was launched in 2024 and founded in Portlaoise by Catherine Hearns.
MyComfort® creates premium, sustainable sleep and migraine relief products.
Driven by Catherine’s own experience with chronic illness, the brand features the patent-pending Multiway Eye Mask and the Sleepwell mask.
Each piece is designed in Ireland using elite European materials, including Italian ECONYL® regenerated ocean plastic and organic Austrian textiles.
Local Enterprise Office Laois has been working with Angleina George Skincare and MyComfort on merchandising for their stands, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities at the three-day event.
Dominic Reddin, acting Head of Enterprise, said: “Showcase 2026 is a vital platform for our local businesses to connect with buyers, build brand visibility and compete on a global stage.
“The Local Enterprise Office is proud to support Angelina George Skincare and Catherine Heans, MyComfort at this event, and enterprises across the county as they scale, innovate and succeed.”
This year all Local Enterprise Showcase clients were entered into the Business of Craft Awards.
This is the third year of the awards that celebrate the business behind the amazing craft and design products that are created across the country.
The awards have three categories; Best Newcomer for the best craft and design business who is exhibiting for the first time, One to Watch for the best craft and design business who has excellent export and international potential and finally Sustainability Champion for the best craft and design business who is excelling in sustainability.
The awards will take place Monday, January 19, at Showcase in the RDS as part of the overall event.
Showcase 2026, which is a pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar, will open its doors to thousands of buyers from across the world, including Ireland, the UK, USA, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa, generating millions of euros of sales orders during the show.
Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally through their network of offices overseas, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide.
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