Small Business

A product design graduate of Institute of Technology (IT) Carlow, Jack Gregan, has won the top three awards at the Universal Design Grand Challenge (UDGC) student awards for his design for a therapeutic aid that can be used in equine therapy for children with autism. Currently an intern with Carlow IT’s DesignCore design research centre, Gregan won the UDGC People’s Choice Award, the UDGC Judges’ Choice Award and the Enterprise Ireland Universal Design Commercialisation Award for his ‘Go Therapeutic’ horse riding aid. His project is an alternative to a saddle, ensuring the stability of the rider while enhancing all the benefits of equine therapy. The solution is proving to work…

Delphi Adventure Resort has won a contract to manage Aasleagh Lodge and Erriff Fishery in Connemara for the next five years. On the River Erriff just outside Leenane, Aasleagh Lodge is a restored 19th century Victorian country house, set in 36 acres of mature woodlands with views over Killary Harbour, with nine bedrooms, two self catering apartments and access to wild Atlantic salmon fishing on the river nearby in Erriff Fishery. The Erriff Fishery includes the Erriff River and the two lakes of Tawnyard and Derrintin. Previously part of the estate of the Marquis of Sligo, Aasleagh Lodge and Erriff Fishery was managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland until recently. “This…

An online business focused on allowing people to shop local online called Trafficattic.com set up in Co Mayo in 2014 now hosts 130 businesses and is selling throughout Ireland and worldwide. Husband and wife team Brendan and Sophia McHugh founded the business, which provides users with access to over 15,000 products on offer from Irish shops and businesses ranging from gifts to cosmetics to garden and commercial pool furniture . “Trafficattic.com supports Irish businesses by providing them with an easy to use, low-cost platform to sell their products online. It takes the fear and stresses away for small businesses,” said Brendan McHugh. “We help businesses to bring their products and services to a wider audience…

Owner of restaurant 37 West in Newcastle, Co Galway Gill Carroll is starting a new venture in Galway city – she is re-launching Lynch’s Café on Shop Street it as 56 Central once it is revamped. Lynch’s Café has been in existence for 20 years and it will re-open as 56 Central on 19 May. Carroll previously worked there for two years. She said: “I knew then I always wanted to return and put my stamp on this restaurant. 37 West is open two years now and is firmly fixed on people’s radar, for bringing healthy and ‘sexy’ food to the table and will continue to do so. “56 Central…

Irish mobile parking operator Parkbytext has reported that so far in 2015, 27pc of all parking transactions in Luas Park+Ride locations are originating from the app. It said Stillorgan is the busiest Park+Ride location for parkbytext, accounting for an average of 40pc of all parking revenue. Overall the Red Cow is the busiest Park+Ride location. Parkbytext and Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems started a five-year contract last November with public transport operator Transdev to provide managed parking systems in the Park+Ride car parks attached to the Luas. Since then, over 1,900 Luas Park+Ride customers have registered with Parkbytext, which accounts for 88pc of all Luas Parkbytext transactions – the remaining 12pc…

Three early stage businesses that took part in the Ignite Graduate Business Innovation Programme at University College Cork (UCC) are among the 81 recipients of Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Class of 2014 – Competitive Start Fund’. Uniwink, Ottera and Mohago are the three Ignite alumni that are receiving up to €50,000 each to help them expand and grow under the fund. Founded by Sarah Dineen, Uniwink is a peer-to-peer online learning platform that caters specifically toward the educational needs of third level students. Its objective is to help students to achieve high grades through the provision of tutorials and notes online. With aspirations to become the No 1 peer-to-peer online learning platform…

AIB and Frontline Ventures have announced their investment in Pointy, a new technology company that aims to help independent retailers get online fast, through the AIB Discovery Programme. Pointy enables retailers to create a website listing all of their products in just five minutes by connecting its technology with the retailer’s existing barcode scanner and point of sale system. The retailer scans the products and they appear automatically on their Pointy page.  Pointy also helps retailers to appear higher on search engines. “Almost 90pc of commerce is still conducted offline; the internet hasn’t really touched it yet,” said Dubliner Mark Cummins, who co-founded the company with Charles Bibby. “Finding products…

Figures released from the Direct Selling Association of Ireland (DSAI) have revealed that 75pc of the industry’s 20,000 direct sellers are now female, while 30pc are stay-at-home mums. Contributing €50m a year to the Irish economy, direct selling is where goods are sold direct to consumers outside of a fixed shop. Lynda Mills, director general of the DSAI, said: “There is a new type of female entrepreneur emerging in Ireland – women who are selling products they love and building really strong businesses through direct selling. “We are seeing more and more women being attracted to direct selling because it can fit so easily around other commitments – whether it’s…

Event management company Platinum Events is holding a ‘Campus bus tour’ for small businesses in April to help them to engage better with universities regarding accessing research and innovation. The one-day trip on 16 of April will take in visits to Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology. It will include a tour of each campus, shared experience and lessons from speakers, breakfast, lunch and a networking drinks reception.     Sorcha Corcoran