North West Labels celebrate 20 years in business by launching a €20,000 fundraiser

With a leap of faith in 2006, North West Labels began what would become a two-decade rollercoaster of resilience, growth and determination.

The company is marking its 20-year milestone by launching a €20,000 charity fundraising campaign in support of three organisations deeply personal to the family behind the business.

Founded by James McColgan in May 2006 at Kilderry Business Park in Muff, the company started as a one-man operation during uncertain economic times, just as the Celtic Tiger was beginning to tame and the property bubble was at bursting point. In those early days, progress was slow and financial pressure was constant.

READ NEXT: Donegal playground to receive funding under the Capital Grant Scheme

While James focused on building the business, his wife Margaret worked another job to support the household, before helping with accounts at the kitchen table late into the evenings. “I can still remember one of the very first jobs I did,” James recalls. “When the cheque came in, I lodged it before the ink had even dried. That’s how tight things were at the start.”

With orders scarce, James decided to begin door-to-door sales, across Donegal, Derry and Tyrone in search of customers.

No immediate orders came from this, but it did get the company name known. A turning point came when an urgent same-day order allowed the business to prove its reliability and service, securing a loyal client and establishing a guiding principle that still defines the company today: “Under promise and over deliver, not the other way around”. With support from the Local Enterprise Office and InterTradeIreland, they began to expand rapidly.

Margaret joined full-time to manage finances in 2007 while also becoming, as James describes, “The Unofficial Head of Quality Control”.

With investment in new digital technology, more staff and the addition of a new design studio, they soon needed to expand production floor space. So when they acquired the unit next door in 2017, North West Labels were now slowly gaining a reputation as a trusted print suppler to the retail & food/beverage sector.

Like any small business, the journey was not without setbacks, and in August 2017, a severe flood devastated their premises, destroying machinery, stock and materials. “The next morning was one of the toughest we’ve ever faced,” James says. “We didn’t know if we would recover, how we’d pay staff, or keep customers supplied.” Despite a prolonged and difficult insurance process and the further challenges of Brexit and Covid-19, the business has now rebuilt and emerged stronger, supported by loyal customers and staff.

Now, as they celebrate 20 years, James and Margaret are choosing to show their gratitude through a fundraising campaign that reflects experiences in their own personal lives. “These charities are very close to our hearts,” Margaret says. “All three charities have impacted our family and loved ones in different ways. We were incredibly grateful they were there in times of need.”

One of the chosen beneficiaries, The Children’s Health Foundation in Dublin, holds a particularly special place in the family’s story. In September 2011, their son was admitted to Letterkenny with what initially appeared to be a hip issue, but he was quickly transferred by ambulance to Crumlin for urgent care. After days of testing, he was diagnosed with Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis, a serious condition affecting the hip during growth. What followed was months of pain, rehabilitation and being bed-bound.

“As parents, it was incredibly tough to watch,” James says. “But the care we received in Crumlin went far beyond medical treatment. Margaret was able to stay nearby instead of travelling every day, and a hospital teacher came to our son’s bedside to keep his education going. The staff were unbelievable, and it made an unbearable situation a bit easier.”

Regular trips to Dublin continued for almost two years, creating lasting connections with the hospital team. “That experience never leaves you,” James adds. “The Children’s Health Foundation supports services that make those moments more manageable for families like ours, and that’s why we wanted to give something back.”

The couple have also chosen to support the Breast Care Clinic at Letterkenny University Hospital and Friends of Letterkenny University Hospital, both of which provided care and support to James’ mother.

“The care my mother received locally was exceptional,” James says. “The Breast Care team provided not just treatment, but reassurance and compassion at a very difficult time for our family. Friends of Letterkenny University Hospital do incredible work behind the scenes, providing equipment and support that directly impact patients and families every day. These are services that touch so many lives across Donegal.”

To mark the milestone, North West Labels has launched an iDonate campaign - called North West Labels Charity Drive to mark 20 years in business - with a target of €20,000 in support of the three charities. “This is our way of thanking our customers, staff, suppliers and family,” James says. “Who knows, any one of us may need these medical services someday. They’re there for everyone.”

Reflecting back on the company’s journey, he adds, “We simply wouldn’t be here without our customers. From those who took a chance on us in the early days, to the many who have stayed with us over the years, their support has carried us through every high and low.”

Twenty years on, North West Labels continues to evolve, grounded in the same values of hard work and a can-do attitude.

“We’ve learned to expect the unexpected and roll with the punches,” James says. “But whatever comes next, we’ll face it the same way we always have; head on.”