I was a full time glass artist before the Pandemic started. I would hold classes and do fairs. But when Covid hit all that stopped. My husband and I decided to try a different route and we invested in a laser machine. I first made a Memorial for my brother for the loss of my nephew and then was asked by others could i make some for them etc. So i did and then a friend who bought one from me recommend the Shop In Ireland Facebook page. I placed some of the Memorials and other pieces on the site and over night i had so many sales it was amazing i was so happy as i though being in lock down id never get to do the Glass Classes or fairs again so i was worried for my Business. but changing a slight direction helped me out and is keeping me on my toes more now then i have been. i have incorporated my glass with laser cutting and its been amazing the support and love Ive received from the Facebook group and on the Website. Check out Eddies store
Primarily I'm a stay at home dad to 3 kids. I just happen to run a small little business in the evenings, weekends and when they were in school. When covid struck I stopped making hurley holders and dedicated my print farm to producing face shields for the HSE, local doctors, nursing homes and anyone that needed them. All were donated and never charged for. 12 full weeks of non stop 24 hours a day production. As part of a large collective of makers we made and donated in excess of 50,000 face shields to the HSE. Once face shields were able to be produced more efficiently I was able to go back to my hurley holders and try make up for lost time. The first post I made on Shop In Ireland facebook page was in November. I sold out all the stock I had made for Christmas in little over an hour. I remember having to ask Teresa to block further comments on it as my phone just wouldn't stop pinging. All the messages asking to be notified when I had more in stock kept me busy right up to the end of January. Previously I used to have free time on my machines to make other prototypes, designs and custom orders. Since that post in November I've had to added more machines to try and keep up with the increased demand and I still don't have any free machine time. The best thing about it though has been that I have refined my processes. Every passing week my manufacturing, finishing, packaging and shipping all get more efficient. I now set myself production schedules, targets and goals. I wouldn't be doing that stuff had my wife not suggested I make that post back in November. I'd still be busy but not as busy or as efficient as I am now. With my kids back in school now I have time to prototype the additional products I have designed. I have a lot of ideas and products to come. Check out David's store
The restaurant I worked in shut its doors last March, I jumped into my art mainly to keep sane! I was so lucky I had it tbh. I've been painting for years and sold in fairs etc..I had discovered alcohol inks & was working a lot with them and thought I'd try them on silk scarves..And the results were really good! That was last July. They were popular with my friends & family I started thinking this was really something I could really go for and I posted in SII. That post was seen by someone in RTE who came and interviewed me and filmed my process - at the last view my segment had 43thousand views!! The following week Discover Ireland also saw my post and I was included in their Christmas list!! I was so busy after the RTE thing I didn't know what hit me. Iseult McCormack Creations I will always be grateful for SII and a massive thanks to Teresa Venables & team for all that you do. An amazing platform and you've definitely helped me in my small business Check out Iseult's store
