First of all, let me all wish you a happy 2024! May last year I was in Germany visiting Leipzig ,as part of the Cyclist.ie delegation, to take part in the annual Velocity conference. You can read my report here or visit my other website www.gortcycletrails.com
When I was there, I took a picture of a till receipt. I had bought many things, including drink bottles, and noticed that every time I bought a plastic bottle, I was charged 25 cents for “Pfand” loosely translated as “Deposit”. And at the time I thought, I should write an article on the German Pfand System, knowing it was coming to Ireland in 2024! Life took over, the receipt remained on my desk, and every so often I thought about writing the article, but never got around doing until today…
Pfand on a German shopping Receipt
Recycling of plastic bottles and cans is coming to Ireland
The impetus to finally write the article was when I was in my local Aldi in #Gort where I noticed a brand new machine where you can deposit your drink bottles and cans and get your deposit… from February 1st! Hurray!
Image of a return vending machine( RVM)
So how does this machine work?
Check out the video below and visit the www.re-turn.ie website that has the finer detail what you bottles qualify/disqualify, how much you get and where.
My take-aways for now
It only starts February 1st 2024
Deposit : You will pay a deposit when you purchase a bottle or drink can ( see till receipt above) 15c will apply to containers from 150ml to 500ml inclusive and a deposit of 25c for containers over 500mls to 3 litres inclusive.
How do I get my deposit back? When you return it you get your deposit back
If you “find” a drinking bottle/ drinking can with the logo, you can also return it , cashing in 15 Cents/ 25 Cents ( nice fundraiser?)
Anything bought prior to February 1st doesn’t qualify, unless it has the recycle logo
Not everything qualifies, if the bottle or can is damaged, it doesn’t qualify ( not clear why this is)
Not every drink container is eligible for Deposit Return. Only drinks in PET plastic bottles, aluminium & steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres are included in the Scheme.
Glass drinks containers & All dairy products. Eg. Milk, yogurt drinks are not included but should still be recycled
Also : remember to clean the bottle/can before depositing
Learn from the Deposit scheme in Germany
There are plenty of videos on Youtube about the Pfand system in Germany, it was introduced there in 2002, so hopefully we can learn how to to make is also a success in Ireland. I just picked one of an American describing the trials and tribulations of the Pfand System, it’s quite funny! Start at 6:20 to see the machine in action 🙂
So how does the recycling process work ?
check out this video on how some Lidl bottles get recycled
Hope you are enjoying/have enjoyed or will be enjoying some downtime this summer. We are just back from the Bells on tour, spending some time in sunny Portugal, followed by a shorter breaker on Inishbofin( As it happens the weather was glorious there too ,which was really the icing on the cake). It was at the end of that trip I found a note on my windscreen with a parking fine… More about that later:)
We had been looking forward to our trip to Portugal, and as we are about to leave I reach for a raincoat. David says, why are you taking a raincoat? I said, well, just in case it rains.. It hasn’t rained in Albufeira in months, and the weather forecast did not allude it was going to rain anytime soon time either. So I left my raincoat at home. We left early morning from Shannon airport. It was raining. I got wet….
I am still struggling with the change of weather, you get on a plane and it’s lashing with rain. Fly for less than 3 hours, the doors open, and it’s blue skies all the way.. wonderful. We had booked a taxi online to bring us from Faro Airport to Albufeira, the driver turned up, and in less than an hour we were in Albufeira. It’s good to know that, in less than 4 hours, we can get to a sunny place, without having to travel to Dublin. We had a relaxing time, spent some time at the beach/pool, saw the sights, ate lots of ice cream , read books, drank blue wine, ate tasty Portuguese food and enjoyed each other’s company.
I was all excited to make use of the free roaming the EU recently announced. As it turned out, my SIM card wasn’t compatible, and for it to function , I needed to get a new SIM Card. So apart from Wifi in the apartment, I didn’t use my Phone. I didn’t miss it. It didn’t rain, in fact they are having a drought there, and farmers are struggling. If only we could send them some of our rain, we’d gladly share it.
Short video of the Catamaran tour we did – Enjoy!
Returning to Ireland was a temperature drop from high thirties to early twenties. It was as if they didn’t want us to have a too traumatic entry, as the sun was shining when we arrived in the airport.Once home, it stayed sunny for a while. Rain arrived soon after, you can’t beat the sound of rain. I sent it to someone we befriended in Portugal, she said she missed the sound of rain.
I briefly checked into work, to then start packing again for our annual Inishbofin trip, or Bofin as we call it. Packing for Bofin is an interesting exercise, as you need to pack for all seasons! So long trousers, sweaters, raincoats, rain trousers, hats/gloves and then a much smaller portion, namely a towel, swimming togs, t-shirts, shorts and suntan lotion. Co. Galway is one of the largest counties, and the trek to Bofin takes us well over 2 hours. And then there is a ferry to catch, to finally get to Bofin. Cars are parked in makeshift car parks in Cleggan.
Last year Co. Galway opened a proper asphalted car park , and parking was free there. I dropped of the boys with the luggage at the pier, and drove back. The usual car parks looked quite full, so I drove further to the car park where we parked last year.
This year the parking meter was switched on, so after doing some computations on how much I had to pay, I figured out how to operate the machine ( remember I was still very much in holiday mood) and got my ticket. And then I got distracted by a lady who also struggled figuring out how to use the machine. I helped her buying her ticket and without giving it anymore thought, I didn’t lock my car and walked to the pier. As I was getting on the ferry, I realized my mistake…. oh no…I was hopeful I’d figure something out once on Bofin, even if meant I had to go across again…
As we are unloading our luggage on the pier, I explained my conundrum to the host of the hostel. After some discussion with the ferry people, he said they would take care of it. I gave him the keys to my car and forgot all about it. Holiday mood fully returned. We arrived with sun, and for the next 3 days, it was there to stay. Met up with the regular families/friends at the hostel ( there is a gang of us going all at the same time), went pier jumping and snorkeling( did you know Ireland has 500 different types of seaweed??), listened to Mick Flannery in Concert in the Dolphin hotel( my new favourite Irish artist), spent a full day on Duach Beach- it felt like we were in Portugal( without the crowds and more bearable temperatures) – and I went swimming -several times- in the cold water – without a wet suite – what have I been missing!
The last night we went for a beautiful meal in Murrays with a beautiful view over the ocean, our skins glowing from the sun. And then it was time to pack. Slightly overcast we returned to the real world. If I didn’t get using my phone in Portugal because of the SIM Card, I don’t even try using it on Bofin, as I know from experience I have no reception there at all. A total social media detox. I did take some pictures, you’ll see them in this post. And then it happened. I arrived at my car , to find a 40 Euro fine between my window wipers.. for not displaying a parking ticket… What??? This must be a mistake..Upon further inspection, I notice that the parking ticket was on the dashboard, but it was turned upside down, so you couldn’t see the details of the ticket.
The following day I went back to work, and made a quick visit to the County Galway offices. The lady that looks after appeals was on holidays. I wrote a little essay on what happened, enclosing my parking ticket that I did purchase, asking her if I can ignore the fine. A few days later I received a letter from the said lady, with the good news that my appeal has been successful. Only in Ireland. How was your holidays? Where did you go? Any stories to tell? I’d love to hear them. Thanks for sharing if you liked this post.
Rainy greetings from Ireland ( the holiday feeling still lingering)
Some of you may have a public library card, others probably haven’t set foot in a library in ages. I fell into the latter category! I walk past the Galway Library twice (!) a day, and one lunchtime – yes, they are open over lunch as well 🙂 – I went in and I got myself a library card. These days it’s a credit card sized card, see below. How to join!
Image of a an Irish Public Library card
The card was free, and is valid pretty much around the country, meaning that if you rented a book in Galway City, you can return it to the library that’s nearest to you. My nearest library is in Gort, but as I am never in Gort during the day, I am now having access to a service I never had before. Actually, when the kids were smaller we did avail of the mobile library to rent children’s books( yeah, I think we still have them)..
So now onto the unexpected benefit parts. I am a keen listener to podcasts, but never really ventured into Audio books. Turns out there is an app you can download called “Borrowbox” aka Bolinda, that enables you to get free access to Ebooks and AudioBooks , using your library card. Just a quick note, your login is your library card, the pin are the last 4 digits of your library card number.
This resource provides a wide range of over 500 courses, including Yoga, Digital Photography, Computer Basics, Excel, and much more. You can learn at your own pace.
This resource is the world’s most comprehensive collection of news content. It’s database’s detailed indexing helps users quickly find the news information they need. Each issue of each newspaper is indexed thoroughly, so researchers have access to not only top news stories but also the information contained on the various sections of the papers. The indexing covers not only complete bibliographic information but also companies, people, products, etc.
I am enjoying my audio book, I am currently listening to the “Compassionate Achiever” on my daily commute – it’s interesting and look forward to listen to others!
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. It’s the start of a long weekend here and I took the kids and a few of their friends to Renville Park/playground in Oranmore yesterday. As it is the furthest away playground from where we live, we call it the “far away playground”. I was a bit apprehensive to head there with 5 boys (my own kids, two other 12 year old and a neighbour), but as it turns out it was all plain sailing. Pity I didn’t know about the little catering truck in front of the walled garden, I could have had a cup of tea whilst the kids were playing hide and seek 🙂 ( Note to self, bring my purse from the car next time ) Here are a few pictures of our trip.
There is a beautiful view from the parking lot, overlooking the Marina.
The 5 boys on their way!
We stopped off at the fitness equipment, they had great fun on all the equipment. I am hoping they’ll add equipment like that in Coole Park, it would be a nice activity to do.
Image of the playground in the walled garden at Renville Park, Oranmore
So it looks like that pre- teens still enjoy playing hide-and-seek!
The day started very wet, but by the time we arrived it was sunny( with some clouds) and apart from a short shower, we couldn’t have picked a better day to go to the “far away play ground”.
Today, Sunday, I ventured to cycle the Monastic Cycle tour,starting from Gort. Come back tomorrow to read my write up. All I can say now, I can barely walk !!!!
(Note many years later – I have done a lot of cycling since I wrote this blogarticle – check out the trails/loops I have mapped so far, the monastic trail is on my list of loops to write up!)
Time for a new interview! If you are new to my blog, I have been interviewing small businesses in the West of Ireland since 2016. Check out all the interviews I have done to date. The last interview was with An Mheital Rothar, Galway’s Community Bike shop and excited the present my newest interview with Gary Casey from Athastour walking tours in Galway. I was walking around Spanish Arch in Galway City, and just as I walked under the Arch I saw Gary, so I thought I’d go over and say hello!
So how does this interview work, and how can you get interviewed? I have learned that people aren’t responding to email anymore, and have gotten most of my completed questionnaires via Facebook or Twitter. The interview exists out of a number of questions that are stored in the cloud via Google docs. I then send a link , the interviewee clicks on the link, enters the answers to the questions and the beauty is there is no need to send documents over email. I love it! I then review the questions, ask for clarifications if needed, and then publish. So if you are up for a close-up 🙂 of your business/startup in the West of Ireland, please drop me an email here or connect me with on my Workinglivingtravellinginireland Facebook Page or Twitter. I do read my email! And remember, the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland. My name is Gary Casey, 40, from Galway. I run Athas Tours guided walks of Galway city.
Can you provide me with a description of your business? Athas Tours provided individuals and groups the opportunity to walk around and see all the main Galway city sights in a fun and energetic way. I am a sole trader at the moment and do the tours myself.
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?How did you get started in this business? I have been in business since February 2017 in this business. I did a course on setting up a business and decided to follow through on this idea.
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both? It is a bit of both, not quite full-time yet, but hopefully soon.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business? I have seen how well-run Galway is as a tourist city. The most necessary skill is telling a story with a bit of wit attached and I think I can manage that!
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business? They all have a bearing on it. Economic tourism is the key i.e. keeping the tourist economy competitive. The rest are secondary to this. Keep Joe Tourist interested by not ripping him off and giving him value for his notes.
Do you know who your competitors are? I know very well who they are the buggers. Seriously, I think they compliment me and vice versa. Room for all.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?
I market via social media but try to keep costs down as Facebook etc can be expensive.
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
I am just going week on week. I hope to be able to expand enough to eventually get a minibus and expand to driving tours.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not? I would love to but have not thought it fully through.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
It is really everything, just as in every other business.
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in? It is life itself. A flaneurs dream. People of all walks of life mixing in Galway’s tiny medieval streets, all searching for answers to questions asked forever.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where? I have talked to several historians and online is an invaluable source of opinion.
Can you describe your customers? Anybody is a potential customer. I just need to make them believe!
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
Karma.
What are the biggest challenges for running this business? Karma and cashflow.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down? Questionnaires from nice people I meet on the streets.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why? Yes and I fundraise. I have collected for the GRCC and GAA.
Anything special things planned for 2017?
Lots but I won’t share just yet!
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business? DON’T OVERTHINK. As Nike and Arnold say, Just Do It.
What did you learn from this interview? That questions lead to answers and sometimes more questions. Life is a big circle. That is good. Never let it get too square or triangular.
Just a quick reminder, please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! If you would like to be next, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.
Another week has flown and it’s time for my weekly Sunday #smallbusiness interview. Happy Easter to all my readers!! It’s Easter Break here, and we are enjoying some downtime. We visited the Galway Food Festival yesterday, boy, it was wet and windy! Go check out the videos on my Facebookpage I took, using this new gadget I found called Periscope.
I have started to interview small businesss in the West of Ireland, and have the pleasure to interview Jade Goodfellow from http://www.ziplines.ie
Please share the love and share this interview with your friends and family, as that’s the way these small businesses will get that little bit more of exposure and will help them grow!
If you are a small business( or know a small business) in the West of Ireland and would like to get featured, please drop me an email katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch with next steps.
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.
I am a mum of 3, 2 boys and a girl aged 16 months, 4 years and 10 years. My background is in fashion & costume having worked in film & TV for the past 8 years. I love adventure, spending time with my children and travelling. I live and work in Athenry, Co Galway.
Can you provide me with a description of your business?
My business, Zip-Lines Ireland is an online shop selling Kids adventure products for the home and garden, we specialize in domestic zip-line kits (with everything you need in the DIY box) but also sell Balance Toys and Carts. I am currently crowdfunding on kickstarter (You can help here! http://kck.st/1QE86IE) so I can produce my own brand of Zip-Line that will save on costs and create jobs.
Zip-Lines Ireland will be in business 2 years in April, we will be celebrating this with the launch of our very own brand! I have had 2 other businesses in the past so have brought valuable knowledge over from the experience of those. I also work on my husbands business BinStrap which has given me great insight into the areas of manufacturing, import and export among others.
How did you get started in this business?
In April of 2014 I was online looking for inspiration of things to do in my garden with our children and came across garden zip-lines, I thought this was a fantastic idea so set about trying to find one. When I couldn’t find anything it dawned on me that somebody should be doing this! So I contacted a supplier, did some calculations and went for it!
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?
It’s a full time job, but I also have mummy duties to attend to and a house to maintain 🙂 I still work periodically in film and TV when a project comes up that I feel really passionate about and I’m in my 3rd year of a BA in business. I’m super busy ALL the time but I make time for the things that matter.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?
As a parent selling to other parents, I feel that I can relate to my target market very well, I’m aware of their needs and wants and I know that my products address these needs. My previous businesses and working on my husbands business have given me a huge amount of knowledge on the workings of many different areas of business from services to retail and manufacturing. I am still learning and building my skills to improve myself and my business. I believe that no one person can learn or fully understand every aspect of business so I have surrounded myself with some very knowledgeable people, some of whom are friends, family or mentors and other professionals that I have met through networking groups like Irish Biz Group on facebook.
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
At present in my business the social affects are positive as the products promote health and well being, encourage outdoor play and physical activity. The economic side of things can be challenging as people don’t have as much disposable income due to the downturn or are skeptical about spending money on things they feel are not necessities. Environmental is positive, our products don’t impact negatively on the environment as they don’t use energy and encourage children to turn off the TV & electronic devices to go outside.
Legal –we need to be sure that our product are safe to use and are compliant with EU Regulations, there is risk involved in selling products of this nature so we are very tight on quality assurance.
Do you know who your competitors are?
I have little competition in Ireland right now, there are two other businesses that sell domestic zip-line kits, but none that specialize in this area or with the quality/ weight allowance/ style/ variety that our zip-line kits have.
How do you market your business?
I market my business through social media, in parenting blogs, in print media and through PR.
How are people aware of your business?
I try to keep engaged with my customers through the business Facebook and Twitter pages and have frequent PR pieces published.
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
This year will see Zip-Lines Ireland launch our own brand of zip-line kits. In the next 3 years my primary focus will be to market and export these zip-lines and add some new products to the range. In the next 5 years I hope to have a physical store (with a difference) where people can view AND try all of our products.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
Yes, I believe that there is a huge worldwide market for zip-lines particularlyin Europe where there are few manufacturers of domestic zip-lines and the products that are currently available are not very affordable, the ones that are affordable are of poor quality or cannot hold weights over 11 stone (ours hold over 17 stone).
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
Technology has always been a part of my business and I’m delighted that I can do most of my business from the comfort of my own home, this gives me the dual benefits of working for myself and being around to do the school runs and be here for my children.
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
The area I live in is very community oriented and my children go to school a kilometer away so it’s really lovely to be so close to people who relate to the businesses core values, Although our products can be used in any gardens it’s helpful to have a garden with more space and trees are a huge asset, there are plenty of these around our area so my target market is literally on my doorstep meaning I can get valuable feedback from the people who matter.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?
I attended a Lean Launch Programme run by the LEO with Declan Droney (founder of Kinvara Salmon) This sees a group of entrepreneurs start their businesses using lean methods – I found this to be an amazing experience, both in helping me create a vision for my business and communicating with like-minded people that are in a similar place with their businesses. Declan has been a huge support and motivating factor in my business!
My father in law Joseph Goodfellow (owner of Celtic Product Development) is my mentor in all things manufacturing, with over 50 years experience in the area his knowledge and expertise is invaluable.
I am a part of a really great business networking group on Facebook the ‘Irish Biz Group’ which is a fantastic resource for all businesses – there are people in the group from all areas in business who are more than happy to provide their knowledge and support, it’s also a great place to get business products and services that are known and respected.
Can you describe your customers?
My customers are parents/ child care practitioners of 3-14 year old’s with disposable income and the desire to get their children outdoors and active. My other group of customers are men and women 15-29 with a love of balance related sports (surfers/ yoga enthusiasts)
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
My products are better quality, more stylist and can take larger loads, they are competitively priced and I’m big on customer service!
What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
The biggest challenges involve getting the business well known,and keeping the market largely to myself. There will come a time when someone else tries to take the market but I’m aware of this and will strive to make sure I have the best product on the market by continuing to develop and grown the products and brand.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
My support network, I have fantastic family and friends who believe in me and give me a positive boost when I need it, particularly the women in my life, they themselves are hard working, inspirational ladies who are always there when I need them. It works both ways though, I wouldn’t expect anyone to do anything for me that I wouldn’t do for them I believe in always helping others fulfill their potential and lifting people up.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?
I support many charities, mostly children, family and homeless services as I feel that society needs to protect their most vulnerable, it’s important that we provide for our children and those less fortunate, to create hope and opportunities and fairness for all regardless of circumstance.
Any special things planned for 2016?
2016 will see the launch of my own brand of Zip-Line (lots of work to be done on branding, packaging etc) and our 2nd birthday which I intend to celebrate with a launch picnic.
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Do some research, make sure you have support (its 10 times harder without this), get as much help from your LEO or whatever resources are there for you to take advantage of (I highly recommend the ‘Lean Launch Programme’) . Learn your market and, when you know you have a viable product/ service that you are passionate about and willing to give your all to — go for it! And good luck 🙂
What did you u learn from this interview?
That I’ve come a long way and have amazing people in my life 🙂 But I also have lots to do! Thank you for the interview, I enjoyed it!
On Sunday afternoon, once we’ve been to a football match and eaten our Sunday lunch ( and everybody else has comatosed on the sofa) I get out my laptop and start writing my new small business interview. If you are new to my blog, my name is Katleen, and I have been writing this blog since 2009. As a new year’s resolution, I wanted to learn more about what’s happening with small business in my area, and have started to interview Small Business in the West of Ireland, to give them a chance to do their story and show the world their business.
Let’s get connected! Find me on Twitter : @ecotreasure, Facebook: www.facebook.com/workinglivingtravellinginireland Please share this interview with your friends and family, as that’s the way these small businesses will get that little bit more of exposure and will help them grow!
If you are a small business( or know a small business) in the West of Ireland and would like to get featured, please drop me an email katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com
Today I am interviewing Sandra King from http://www.meetthewool.com . Sandra and I go back a few years now, as I featured some of her crocheted christening gowns when my then business was showcased on the morning breakfast show Ireland AM. Here is just a small clip of the christening gowns! They are fabulous!
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.
I am located in Ballinruan, a small rural village outside of Crusheen in Co. Clare.. I relocated here in 2007 from North Carolina. I grew up in the city, but don’t think there is any way I could go back to city living.
Can you provide me with a description of your business?
I am a designer of speciality yarns that I dye and spin myself. The fibre that I use is sourced from my own sheep….2 Wensleydales(Daisy and Rose) and 1 Bluefaced Leicester (Hyacinth). I also spin some traditional yarns.
Blue Faced Leicester (Hyacinth)Wensleydale SheepWensleydale Sheep
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?
I have been in this business for about 4 years. I have been in textile and non-textile businesses intermittently since 1986.
How did you get started in this business?
Because I have always been an avid crocheter and have a keen interest in textiles, spinning was a simple progression. In the past I have found it frustrating to find yarns of the desired colors, textures, etc. so I decided to get some sheep, a spinning wheel, and make my own.
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?
It’s more a part-time job and a hobby. I run a boarding kennels, so sometimes my wool business is moved to the back burner for a day or two. However, most days I can find even a small amount of time to dye, spin, crochet or knit.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?
I am naturally an organized personality which I find very helpful in this business. The skills I learned from a very close friend who is a spinner and weaver and also from attending various workshops. Also, the woman from whom I purchased my Wensleydale sheep is a wealth of knowledge on both the animals and dyeing and spinning their fleece.
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
For me, the biggest impact is technological. I find it very challenging to keep up with social media networking and selling from my website.
Do you know who your competitors are?
Yes, there are many hand spinners but the secret is to design a yarn which is unique.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?
I have my website: http://www.meetthewool.com which I developed last year. Orders have been slowly coming in.
I recently started an Etsy shop,https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/MeettheWool which I need to do more work with. I am a member of an Arts & Craft co-op since April, which has provided me with the most sales. I am on the steering committee of Creative Clare which is organizing to allow artists and craft workers the opportunity to network and market their products through events and studio trails.
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
This next year will see an increase in sales from the co-op and the web site. In five years time, I will have designed and successfully marketed a unique line of yarns internationally. In ten years, I just hope to maintain the status quo.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
Yes, through my website and social media.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
It allows me to sell internationally through my website. I am now starting to network through social media.
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
I love being able to walk out my door, see the beauty of the countryside and work from home in my quiet studio.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?
I get some advice from my son, Gray, who is a CPA and who has a lavender growing business. Also, from personal contacts I have that are textile enthusiasts. I’m sure being a member of Creative Clare will give me many other contacts that I can draw from.
Can you describe your customers?
Anyone who knits, crochets or weaves.
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
I spin 90% of my yarns from either Wensleydale or Bluefaced Leicester fleece, obtained from my own sheep. Fiber enthusiasts look for speciality yarns (which I spin) and which come from local sheep. I always include a photo of the sheep that their yarn is from. Each sheep has a name and this personalizes it for the customer.
What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
Being a one woman show, time enough to spin and dye enough product.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
My husband and my animals.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?
I support Dogs Trust because I care so much for dogs and their welfare. I also support Hogsprickle, a hedgehog rescue.
Any special things planned for 2016?
Getting the “Art in Studios” trail going and launching Creative Clare.
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Know that things will not always work out as you planned and have a Plan B!
What did you learn from this interview?
It forced me to think through some areas of my business and put them in writing.
Just a quick reminder, Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.
Today I am interviewing Ruairi Devlin, who is the founder of Ireland’s first Micro Biz Awards. It’s an area close to my heart, as there are so many small/micro business in Ireland, and there are few (affordable)opportunities where these businesses can be showcased outside of their usual geographic area. I am hopeful a small business/micro business in the West of Ireland reads this interview and decides to pack up for the day to Dublin and showcase their business to the “other” side of the country and network, as much of business is networking with other people in business, and learn what works, what doesn’t, learn from mistakes, and also to inspire to push yourself just that little bit more out of your comfort zone and see how it can transform your business.
Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland or what would you like to share with businesses in the West of Ireland.
My day to day business is Devlin and Associates who deal in all things taxation and business development, but what I want to talk to you about today is my work as founder of the Micro Business Awards. These are awards aimed at creating awareness of Micro Businesses and the work they do.
Can you give me a description of your business? The Micro Business Awards are in their inaugural year with 7 categories up for grabs this year. Unlike a lot of the exhibitions out there ours is totally –. We are inviting small to medium-sized businesses from around the country to showcase themselves, giving them an opportunity to grow, prosper and network out of their normal networking area. This is an opportunity, to network and meet like minded business people that you may not have met before.
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses? This is the first year in this business but I have been in business with Devlin and Associates for a few years.
How did you get started in this business?
These awards started out as my brainchild, and with the support of Whatswhat Online Business Directory and Diamond Events we created the platform to give Micro Businesses a voice.
Is this your full-time job, a hobby or a bit of both? This is a hobby which has become a full-time job. I am lucky that I have great support in my day job to make time for my work with the awards.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business? I feel that the nature of my day job introduced me to the struggles facing small businesses and I was glad to give an outlet to make a name for them.
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
When it comes to awards everything is a factor. For this year we made social interaction a huge factor in the awards and the returns are showing from it.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you?
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years? We plan on growing from strength to strength with plans already happening for next years awards and a jump to up to 20 categories.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
There is no reason we can not expand the awards in the future
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
They are a huge part of our business as the awards look at websites etc.
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
I am fortunate to do business all over the country and love getting out into the West and meet all the small business owners and hear about their efforts.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where? Through our networking group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/irishbgroup where we have over 1500 business owners more than happy to offer support and ideas.
Can you describe your customers? Our customers come from all walks of life.
Why do your customers select you over your competitors? We are the only Micro Awards in Ireland.
What are the biggest challenges for running this business? What are your big successes.
As with all events money is always a challenge. As this is our first year getting sponsorship was particularly difficult. FREE registration here for our Biz Expo which we are running in conjunction with the Awards. A handful of exhibition spaces are still available.
Take part in Ireland’s first Micro Business awards
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
Feeling I have made someone else’s day.
Any special things planned for 2016?
With our first Awards Presentation coming on 19th April this is the first year of something special.
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business? Know your market. Get professional advice. Give me a call. 0831086692
What did you learn from this interview?
It is great to see someone doing this for the West. Looking forward to seeing its expansion around the country.
Just a quick reminder, Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland! My next interview will be with Dave Slaat from the Dutch Bakery in Sligo! If you would like to be interviewed, please drop me an email to katleen@workinglivingtravellinginireland.com and I’ll be in touch.
Last week I interviewed Philip Gleeson from Quickest Fox Marketing, and this week I am excited to share the interview with Jackie Queally from Earthwise. I would recommend you listen to her talk about the Burren, and lot’s of interesting aspects of the Burrenlowlands.
Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
Tell us a bit about yourself & where you are located in the West of Ireland.
My father is from the coast, close to Lahinch (Moy), and I moved over from Scotland where I lived for about 20 years to be nearer him. He is an elderly widow now. I used to run a very successful small tour company in Scotland that took people to ancient sites – anything from prehistoric to the Middle Ages. It included a lot of Templar places and I also wrote specialist guides, including two to the world-famous chapel Rosslyn just south of Edinburgh. I used to run workshops there too. I have always been involved on teaching adults and healing/therapies.
Can you provide me with a description of your business?
I adapted the knowledge I had used in Scotland as there is some overlap, to create local Irish tours that take people to hidden spots in nature. There we learn to dowse (divining energy lines and water lines), and also experience sound healing, using drums, gongs and voice. It helps people become more present. Most of us need to be more in the moment. These are slow tours as opposed to the speedy ones you can easily find that go to busy tourist spots.
I have written three books on the Burren in the last three years, and in the seven years since I came to Ireland I have written two other spiritual books too (nature photography with my poems and ley lines). Another aspect is the workshops I run along pilgrimage routes I create, using mindfulness techniques, sound healing and dowsing. Dowsing has many applications. You can learn to dowse for healing, or for making decisions. People find it very interesting.
How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?
I started this business in what I call sacred geography in 1999. I’ve been running local and all-Ireland tours as a guide since 2013. However I’ve also trained in sound healing, sonic acupuncture, naturopathic deep massage, tuning fork balancing therapy and gong healing. So I like to incorporate sound into my tours and also workshops. For instance I gave a group a sound healing participatory workshop recently. These were MS sufferers who loved it. I also do one-one sessions with the tuning forks and instruments. Clients find it is a very effective form of therapy. I used to teach reflexology and was a spiritual healer before I started the tours in 1999.
I give talks on many subjects, including the Burren landscape from a more spiritual perspective. This year I am giving a wide range of workshops and talks in Nova Scotia! I gave two talks recently in England too, one of them on the Burren’s mystical landscape.
How did you get started in this business?
That’s a fun question. In Edinburgh an elderly friend who since has died asked me to research the Picts and the Celts – after writing for six months we decided to offer day tours based on emerging local sites we discovered. I studied human ecology when young and I felt the early Celtic saints embodied the qualities we were advocating for human survival in the future!
Is this your full time job, a hobby or a bit of both?
I would say the talks and workshops are a hobby that pays. The tours pay more but are sporadic depending on when the discerning tourist is here. My aim is to do more tours this year so it becomes more lucrative. I was selling my books at Kinvara market last summer but that was to entice people to come on my unique tours. Unfortunately the market is held on a Friday when often people are returning to where they came from the following day.
Really I am combining various interests (healing, sounds, writing, trave)l into one overall business. The connecting theme is a deep appreciation of our earth as a living entity -so I changed the business name to Earthwise to encompass all that. I am also diversifying into Waterwise with a highly experienced engineer so we can educate people about the ways in which they can purify and enliven their water, as water is not in a good state often these days. Most diseases including cancer derive from the unsavoury water we drink. There is much that could be done using little money to improve our domestic water. We are not just looking at what is killed off in the water, but what healthy elements the water can contain. So many of the current products on the market are expensive and not so good for the water ultimately.
How did you get the background and skills necessary to run this type of business?
I love giving talks and my first one was when someone asked me to talk on the Celtic trees at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1999. I took people through the nature reserve in Holyrood Park and we visited each of the tree types. It’s been a theme I continued. Walking and talking and listening to nature.
How do the social, economic, environmental, technological, legal and political environments impact your business?
I arrived at the time the recession was starting up, intending to take a sabbatical from the tours. Socially there has been and still is a lot of social changes occurring. People in rural Ireland seem to have surplus money to spend on things that are considered luxury items. That is why I am concentrating my writing and talks on the international market more. Tours and workshops are still aimed of course at the local market, but probably more toward Dublin. I also am starting to work with the corporate market but that is slow to take hold, offering them eco-wellness tours on electric bikes for instance. Generally things are slow here as there is not a captive audience like you have in a large tourist city such as Edinburgh where I used to live.
I would not invest in my own transport again as local companies warned me they tried and failed even during the boom times.
Environmentally the lack of access to places can be off-putting. I was used to the right-to-roam in Scotland. However there are places where farmers are very congenial and that helps. Also we don’t walk too far. I remember visiting Holy Island with a group on a sunny Sunday and we had the place to ourselves last Autumn. I prefer to pick a few places and take our time soaking in its atmosphere and interacting with the place more. It’s important to do this.
I find Senator Lorraine Higgins in Loughrea a hard-working local politician who really wants to help her constituents find rewarding work that will keep them here.
Do you know who your competitors are?
I am unique. I do try to help people in businesses that are related if they are starting out and need advice – and for more established businesses or individuals they sometimes ask me for help from a specialist knowledge base.
How do you market your business? How are people aware of your business? Where can people find you? Website, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, Pinterest, etc. Please provide details.
FB Burrenspirit (Spirit of Burren Tours / Creative Ireland)
FB earthwise books (Earthwise Publications)
FB earthwiseconnect (Earthwise)
CelticTrails (Celtic Trails)
Youtube: Jackie Queally
Pinterest: Earthwise Ireland
Linked In – Jackie Queally Dedicated to being Earthwise
Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?
I hope to write a few more books that will be more international in flavour. These will sell more than local topics do. I also would love the waterwise business to take off as I passionately believe in its aims. Since I hope to travel more in the next ten years I have no long term plans for the business. The beauty of what I do is I can live elsewhere and continue my research. I have enjoyed the last seven years here. It’s a quiet and easy-going place to dream and create in.
Do you plan to compete in the global market place? If yes, how? If no, why not?
My customers have always been global for books and tours and talks. I have no plans to expand as I am based here for now due to my father being here. Neither does my kind of work lead to expansion as the product really is myself in various forms! The waterwise business is different- we would need to employ others if it expands.
How has technology, such as computers and the internet, impacted on how you conduct business?
I am not finding Facebook so easy to get actual customers through the door. It is time-consuming. I have heard that other media may be better. It is a full time job and I can’t afford to employ someone to do it… yet!
What do you love about the area you live in/do business in?
Every day is different according to who gets in touch and for what reason. It is demand-led to some extent you see. For instance, since beginning this article an international artist asked me to create an audio meditation for her jewellry website. I obliged with an Imbolc meditation created at a secret site that ties in with Brigit.
Whom do you seek advice from for your business/ do you meet up with other business owners? If so, where?
I use various meet ups in Galway for networking, occasional training from Galway Rural Development, and Enterprise Ireland in Ennis and Galway, and the local Bank of Ireland manager Damien Gardiner holds local business days. He also lets you have a stand in his bank on Friday mornings if you book it. I also meet tour business owners from around Dublin once a year.
Can you describe your customers?
Genuine, loving, intelligent, resourceful, and varied.
Why do your customers select you over your competitors?
Reputation and especially the book Spirit of the Burren
What are the biggest challenges for running this business?
All the admin and time spent on computer. It is hard to eat and exercise properly but one has to. This means the days are full just keeping it all going!
I also like to visit friends and family who live away from time to time and that can break the rhythm of the days.
What keeps you going, when the chips are down?
As a preventative to this occuring: Meditation – right now I am qualifying in mindfulness but have taught synergy meditation for 10 years and also Gaia Touch. If down, a hot bath, a walk or reading a good book, that inspires me with its spiritual knowledge. Also gardening and baking when I have the opportunity. I like mushroom foraging and seaweed foraging too.
Do you support local charities? If so which is your favourite charity and why?
I recently supported a local woman who created and then organised a supply of rocket stoves for refugees in the awful conditions at the camp in Calais. (https://www.gofundme.com/stoves4calais) Also Vincent De Paul here. I dislike extreme poverty and pity those who are searching for a better quality of life and are trapped at a young age due to political or social barriers to success.
Any special things planned for 2016?
Yes I met with a UN official in Gort recently as the creator worldwide of the geoparks wants their artist for peace Marko Pogacnik to start workshops in each of them, starting with the Burren geopark. Since I worked with Marko last Spring in Derry he invited me again to work with him again on this project. He is coming to the Burren as his first port of call and I am running some workshops to introduce people to his Gaia Touch exercises. The first one is on Saturday 27h February from 10am til 1pm and people must book through me at info@earthwise.me. These exercises help people work with the multi-dimensionality of the land as a way of helping the earth cope too with the many changes it is undergoing right now. Marko is well known internationally and this is an honour for me to help him. Also I am very excited about my work trip to Nova Scotia that is so connected to my old work in Scotland too.
Any tips for someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Follow your heart and don’t worry too much. Be prepared to work long hours though. If you have family demands too it is hard as the admin has increased so much compared to even the 90s so you need support in other areas of life to counteract the tedium of the emails etc.
What did you learn from this interview?
My life is busier than I thought, though I don’t do any one thing all the time and only do one thing at a time. I have a lot to be grateful for. Because I love what I do I don’t consider it a drain on my time.
Just a quick reminder, Please share this interview, as I’d like to start a small movement to highlight the brilliant businesses in the West of Ireland!
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The 5 boys on their way!
