Local companies up for TV prize

TWO local businesses, Slated and Red Rufus Sock Dogs from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, have been shortlisted for the

‘Your Business on Irish TV’ competition, which gives small companies the opportunity to get their products on television for the first time.

The competition has a

?¬60,000 prize fund and is a new joint initiative between Shopping from Home, a home shopping series aired on RTÃ?, and the County and City Enterprise Boards.

Slated, which is run by Tara Hammond, and Red Rufus Sock Dogs, which is run by Christina Sanne, were nominated by the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board.

In all, 20 small businesses from around the country have been shortlisted for the six top prizes, which are monthly presentation packages on Shopping from Home worth

?¬10,000 each.

The competition is the brainchild of Kathy Hoffman, founder and Managing Director of Shopping from Home. Each of the six winning companies will be given a monthly platform to promote and sell their products and services directly to viewers on television for the very first time.

As part of this package, the winning companies will also receive marketing and PR support during the course of the month.

The 20 finalists are all award-winning Irish businesses in their own right, which have been nominated by their local County and City Enterprise Board.

Screentime ShinAwil, the production company behind The Apprentice, MasterChef Ireland, Dragons’ Den and The Voice, will film the first presentation in August, which will then be beamed into thousands of Irish households on RTÃ? One from September 1.

The 20 businesses represent a wide range of industries, including food, giftware, children’s toys, flight simulation vouchers, jewellery, furniture, wheel locks, tanning products and DIY vegetable growing kits.

“This is the first joint competition of its kind in Ireland,

? said Kathy Hoffman.

“In collaboration with the County and City Enterprise Boards, we’re seeking home-grown businesses which can offer clever, innovative and affordable products to Irish viewers.

“We want our winners to be able to capitalise on the added exposure that this opportunity can give them and their businesses. If ever there was a need to Buy Irish it is now. We want everyone in Ireland to get behind this initiative, support these worthy winners by buying their product and service and helping them develop.

?

Michael Johnson from the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board added:

“Getting their products and services in front of consumers can open new doors for small businesses, giving them access to new marketplaces. This kind of unique opportunity can help small businesses grow and expand, potentially leading to job creation locally. We’d like to wish our local nominees in particular the very best of luck in the judging process in the weeks ahead.

?

Further information on the

‘Your Business on Irish TV’ competition is available from www.shoppingfrom home.ie or from www.enterpriseboards.ie.