Kildare’s best craft & design businesses set for Showcase 2026

A number of County Kildare’s most exciting emerging craft and design businesses are gearing up to take part in the Local Enterprise Showcase 2026 event at the RDS, running from Sunday, January 18 – Tuesday, January 20.   

An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the Local Enterprise Showcase provides a dedicated platform for Ireland’s newest design talent. 

Over 100 companies from across Ireland will exhibit, meeting buyers from all over the world. This year, County Kildare will be represented by three outstanding craft businesses: 

• A Little Bit of Scents (Susan Kelly) – features beautifully designed and hand-made natural soy wax candles and scent-based products that bring calm and inspiration to everyday spaces. 

• Buff Barrier (Robert McNamee) – is an all-natural Irish skincare brand with a range of products designed to protect and soothe active skin from friction and irritation. 

• Chubby Cherub Co. (Frances Johnson) – features high-quality stationery, paper goods and gifts with original illustrations created by lettering artist and designer, Frances Johnson.

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Local Enterprise Office Kildare has been supporting these businesses with merchandising, marketing, and sales techniques to ensure they maximise opportunities during the three-day event. This is the largest Kildare representation to date, with established businesses also taking part, including Pickled Pom Pom, Kildare Candle Barn, Loinnir Jewellery, Pure Oskar, Sam agus Nessa, SIOG Botanicals, Fiadh and Finn: Fine Art Keepsakes and Duck Blue. 

This pinnacle event in the global design and crafts calendar generates millions of euros in sales orders during the show. 

In 2025, thousands of national and international buyers attended with numbers expected to rise again for 2026.

Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. 

Jacqui McNabb, Head of Economic Development, Enterprise, Retail and Tourism, Kildare County Council says: “This is an opportunity like no other for up-and-coming craft and design clients like A Little Bit of Scents, Buff Barrier and Chubby Cherub Co who are looking to make a breakthrough and join our established clients.

“To be exposed to this many high-quality buyers in one place is an incredible opportunity for any business starting out. If things go well at this event, a business could fill their book for the year and may well establish a partnership that could extend longer than that and help them grow.

“While that won’t happen for every business, just to be here, see other clients, get new ideas and develop their skills in marketing and sales will stand by them going forward.”

The Local Enterprise Showcase is one of several enterprise initiatives run by the Local Enterprise Offices across the year to foster entrepreneurship and help small businesses to start and grow.

Other events include Local Enterprise Week, National Women’s Enterprise Day, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme and the Local Enterprise Village as part of the National Ploughing Championships.

For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices and the supports they can provide, please visit LocalEnterprise.ie  

For further information, please contact: 

localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie / 045 980 838