A new online initiative is aiming to promote Irish crafts online, tapping into a demand for authentic Irish handmade goods.
The idea of Irish fashion designer Deborah Maguire, Irishmadegifts. com is a social networking e-commerce site that brings together Irish designers and craft makers to try to carve out a share of the global gifts and home décor market, which it claims is worth up to €370 billion. Around 30 have already signed up, and the site is aiming to have 100 signed up by the end of the year.
The website includes products such as paintings and wood work, jewellery and ceramics, fashion design, leatherwork, sculpture and photography.
Ms Maguire said the craft sector in Ireland has failed to capitalise on the global market and e-commerce opportunities such as social media, blogs, marketing and cross networking.
“Designers and artists are creative, but most find sales and marketing a real challenge, and are not the most IT literate,” she said. “The site is a shop window for Irish creative talent, reaching consumers in Ireland and globally, and is backed by industry insiders who are also expert in creating new routes to market, and ensuring the Irish craft sector is represented in the new social commerce retail space.”
Members pay what the site describes as a nominal fee plus commission to feature their work.
