STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

KNOW (Knowledge North West) companies punch well above their weight at MicroTrade conference in Dublin

By James Donlon, June 13, 2006

Over 20 companies from Donegal and Derry attended the recent All-Island MicroTrade Event in City West in Dublin as part of the KNOWLEDGE NW (KNOW) Programme, organised by WESTBIC in Donegal and Workspace in Derry.

The companies who supply a variety of services and products firstly had an informal private session with Jay Bourke (The Mentor Programme, RTE) and owner of a €20 million turnover entertainment business, which include Bewleys, Café Bar Deli, The Globe, Market Bar, The Front Lounge, Gubu, Ri Ra's and Bodega in Cork.

Sammy Wasson, Impacto Print, Letterkenny asked what the main motivation for Jay was after his first attempt failed, to which he replied the desire to build something from nothing and spotting real gaps in the market. Bourke also relayed his belief in listening to the market and to trying to stay ahead of what people want. He mentioned poignantly, "How do I know what a 23 year old guy really wants from a night club or café. The only way is to ask them and to watch for signs, that's why we invest in market research".

Jay then spoke at the opening of the Micro Trade Event at the open networking session, where over 300 companies attended from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

"This was a great way to get a personal insight from a business man who has come from going bust to running a multi-million euro empire;" said Peter Orsi of Deep Blue Technologies.

The companies secured numerous contacts and some managed to sign deals there and then. Cater Waste who make an all in one system for dealing with grease and food waste secured a deal for a major contract to supply a major catering chain in Cork. The customer bought the samples which Cater Waste had at the show and ordered 20 more. Said Sean Doyle, Cater Waste; "We already had a quite a few leads to follow up on but it is very unusual to get a sale there and then and not only that, but a substantial one too. We're thrilled, it was definitely worth the trip for us"; Cater Waste also later sold another 10 grease traps for a catering company in Donegal. Not bad for one day's work.

The other companies all found the day and half event very fruitful returning with new contacts, new prospects and some new ideas.

Said Eunan Cunningham, Regional Manager, WESTBIC; "Small businesses sometimes don't get the opportunity to stand back to network, discover new ideas and build the business. We felt it was important as part of KNOW that our participants had a chance to apply what they've learned but also to use this rich forum to sell their products and services. It is absolutely no surprise to us that our companies returned home with business."

Other companies who attended as part of KNOW were, Doherty Craft Designs, Impacto Print, Advantage Communications, ICCT Teo, Deep Blue Technologies, Morris Communications, Urlar, Cater Waste, Wedgies and Rockall Marine.