One enterprising Kerry businessman has come up with a marketing idea which is “win-win” for several businesses at once.  Dan O’Donoghue from Valentia Island is well known for his musical talents, but his artistic abilities don’t end there.  Dan’s business – Room with a View (www.roomwithaview.ie) – provides high quality online brochures and 360⁰  virtual tours for businesses, mainly those involved in travel and tourism.  When Dan realised that marketing budgets were squeezed tighter than ever, he came up with the idea of providing very focused and targeted e-brochures for hotels, golf courses and other attractions – free of charge!  The costs are covered by advertising space, offered at low cost to other local businesses.  Each business is assured that it will be the only one of its type in the brochure.

 The Killarney Golf and Fishing Club is delighted with the new spin on its Stroke Saver.  Rather than waiting to buy the printed version in the club’s shop, golfers can look at the Stroke Saver from the club’s website and not only be well prepared to play each hole but also get information about accommodation and other activities and attractions in the area.  As host of the 3 Irish Open this year, their website is likely to be a popular one!

 Dan comments:

“This service is win-win for all partners.  I’m already working with a top wedding venue and talking to other golf clubs such as Tralee Golf Club and the Castlemartyr Resort in Cork and hotels and I know that this has great potential for tourist attractions, travel operators and other businesses in Ireland.. These eBrochures will also be available in many different languages .The advertisers are jumping at the chance to get into the brochures as it’s great value, exclusive. and aimed directly at their target market.”

Mailmaker123 (http://www.mailmaker123.ie) offer designer templates custom-made to match your company’s brand or image as well as an ever-increasing selection of seasonal themed designs.  They set up your account on their system and create a subscriber list for your email addresses from your existing database or file.  The next steps are then to create your newsletter, send yourself a test version and then send the final version to your subscriber list.  But it doesn’t end there : you can analyse the results from the reports - who opened your email, how many people clicked a link and the details of anyone who unsubscribed. 

Contact Tina Costigan or Lynda Foran for more information – info@mailmaker123.ie.

There’s no need to book – just turn up, and don’t forget your business cards!

Tea/coffee and scones are available for €3 per person and we will also be collecting donations for Kerry Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

DEMOCRACY is manufactured by Geepy Games, Co Kerry, Ireland and can be distributed to anywhere in the world, whether in a single order, or in bulk.
 
In line with the ethos of the game and how it was created,  profits from each game of DEMOCRACY sold will be invested in community projects in Co. Kerry, Ireland.  Nina Lyons of re:turnstudios (www.returnstudios.net),  a member of Kerry Businesswomen’s Network,  has designed the graphics for the game.

Find out more at www.democracyboardgame.com and “like” their Facebook page (search for Democracy Board Game).

 A Kerry business can satisfy the needs of petite ladies who love their shoes.  Amy Hanley of Castleisland, County Kerry,  launched Shoetastic (www.shoetastic.ie) after many months of research and planning.  This online shopping service will be a delight for ladies who find the search for sizes 32 to 37 so difficult.

 Amy knows only too well how difficult it is to find tiny shoes:

“I have always had problems in finding fashionable shoes in my tiny size, so I decided to solve the problem for myself and others by setting up my own business.  By selling online, I can reach out to petite women all around the world who want to buy designer shoes.”

 The  range includes ankle, knee-high and calf boots, casual shoes, high heels, peep toes and a special bridal collection.  There are even matching handbags to complete an outfit.  Current prices start at just over  €30.   

Amy is delighted with the help she received from Kerry County Enterprise Board.  With the help of a mentor and a grant, she has been able to explore how best to set up, manage and market her business.  The “Start your own business” course run by the Enterprise Board was just what Amy needed to enhance her skills and she now regularly attends networking events in the County.

Previous participants in Aidan’s programmes have benefited from a dramatic increase in leads or enquiries, coupled with a far higher proportion of those leads converting into paying customers, meaning more profit ……. even in today’s difficult business climate.  Aidan offers a 100% zero cost guarantee: if a business which participates fully and takes appropriate action does not get a return of at least the investment in the programme, the fees will be returned in full.

 Aidan comments:

“Most of our tried and tested business growth techniques are not being used by 99.9% of businesses.  The course is based on practical application rather than theory, with step-by-step guidelines, examples, ongoing implementation and feedback from the group.  Our approach is that the copious “food for thought” we provide is very much just the foundation for the far more important “fuel for action””

 A recent participant in the programme gave feedback typical of that received from other groups:

“Aidan’s marketing workshops are inspirational, practical, interesting, interactive and fun.  They  give techniques which can immediately be put into action.  I learn every time and always put the learning to good use.  It’s great to be with other business people who contribute ideas and constructive criticism.”

 The course will run over 14 half-day workshops between now and the end of the year and incorporates 1:1 sessions with Aidan.  This spaced approach enables immediate implementation of the tools and techniques in the participant’s own business, dramatically enhancing its growth.

 For further information, visit www.mgcp.info and contact Aidan at 087 410 7909.

There are more than 30,700 marriages registered each year in the island of Ireland and nearly 262,000 in England, Wales and Scotland – that’s great news for the many businesses who cater for the wedding market.  Annie Byrne of Aislinn Events is convinced that bringing these businesses together to learn and network can lead to new or improved business opportunities. 

 The first Business of Weddings Ireland conference will be held at the luxury five-star Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry on 2^nd and 3^rd November 2010.  This is timed for “pre-engagement” season!  Annie Byrne is excited and delighted that Meghan Ely, an expert in PR and marketing for wedding businesses in the USA, will be flying over to be the main speaker. 

 Annie comments:

“This conference is ideal for wedding co-ordinators and planners, bridal shop owners, photographers, florists, bakers, designers, videographers, hairdressers, make-up artists, entertainers, chauffeurs and any other business connected with weddings.  Meghan will be focusing on how to reach and market to “Generation Y” brides and grooms, bridal show marketing strategies and using social media and networking to raise your profile.”

 Annie Byrne (http://aislinnevents.com), originally from Los Angeles,  is an experienced wedding planner and co-ordinator based on the lovely Dingle peninsula; she specialises in working with couples from outside Ireland who want to come to Southwest Ireland for their wedding.  The process starts with “dreamstorming” – a chance for the couple to chat about their wishes so that Annie can come up with a “to do” list, inspiration board and checklists.  Annie has been working in the wedding business for more than five years, involving hundreds of weddings and events.  Her blog (http://aislinnevents.com/blog) is an inspiring collection of photographs and articles.

 Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting lives and breathes the wedding industry and has planned three “Artful Wedding” bridal shows.  She is MD of the Richmond Bridal Association, co-host of Bridesight TV (a webcast show) and Marketing Chair of “Wish upon a Wedding”.  As a writer, she contributes to Virginia Bride and Premier Bride magazines.  Her blog – “Illuminate” (http://ofdconsulting.blogspot.com/) – gives a taster of her tips and ideas for the wedding professional.

 Booking for the conference is already open and there’s an early registration price of €237 until 1^st September which includes lunch, dinner and overnight stay plus breakfast in the Muckross Park Hotel.  Killarney is only a 20-minute journey by taxi from Kerry airport (served by Ryanair and Aer Arann).  Book on www.thebusinessofweddings-ireland.com or contact Annie Byrne at hello@aislinnevents.com or phone +353 76 6026800 or mobile +353 87 676 1900.

This time last year Melanie Harty, a Tralee businesswoman, was still putting the finishing touches to the production and packaging design for her range of pepper jellies and launching them in Kerry.  The business has grown so well that this year she will be exhibiting at Bloom, Ireland’s biggest garden festival in Phoenix Park, Dublin,  from Thursday 3^rd to Monday 7^th June.

 Melanie will be there herself at Stand 5 in the Bord Bia Food Market, a firmly established key attraction of the event. In 2009, more than 58,000 visitors were at Bloom, more than 59% of them from outside the Dublin area.  Over 40 artisan food producers will be at the market, with a wide variety of foods. 

 Melanie comments:

“Bloom is a fantastic opportunity to tell so many people about my products, to let them taste the jellies for themselves and also share tips on how to use them.  When you go to an exhibition like this, the feedback from visitors is really valuable and I also hope to find more outlets who would like to stock my four different varieties of savoury jelly.”

 Already, Harty’s Foods are widely available in Kerry and Cork but the number of stockists is growing rapidly and the popular jellies can now be bought in central and County Dublin and Counties Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary and Wexford.  Melanie is aiming high – she won’t rest until they are in all 32 counties!  The jellies are made with all natural ingredients and are an alternative to conventional sauces and dips.  The jalapeno variety is hot and spicy whilst the char-grilled pepper jelly is mild and subtle; the ginger hot pepper, and hot pepper versions make sure that everyone can find a favourite.

 Bloom is open from 11 am to 6 pm on Thursday 3^rd June and from 10 am to 6 pm from 4^th to 7^th June. More information, plus ticket booking, can be found at www.bloominthepark.com

 For more information on Melanie and Harty’s Foods, visit www.hartysfoods.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwetYjRZgC0&feature=player_embedded