Dublin City Enterprise News Talks To...Eoin McDonnell about the Design Collective
In this issue, we chat to Eoin McDonnell from Precious about the new Design Collective for Dublin (http://precious.ie/retail-space/)
About Eoin....
Eoin McDonnell from Precious has been creating engagement, wedding rings and diamond jewellery since the 1990s, with a focus on positioning diamonds in designs to achieve maximum brilliance. Eoin is part of Dublin’s new Design Collective, focused on the beautiful luxury goods that Irish designers are creating, including fashion, jewellery and accessories.
How did the Design Collective come about?
Our new Design Collective has been launched to respond to an urgent need for retail space for Irish designers in Dublin City. As part of the Dublin City Enterprise Board and Dublin City Councils ‘Creative D’ initiative, I met several designers who were looking for space to showcase their designs to the public. “I was shown beautiful unique designs only to find that they are not on show in the city!”
We first researched international best practice in design collectives, then sought a suitable location, and now we are looking for talented designers to come on board.
We have found the designerdublin.ie initiative a great promotion opportunity, putting design on the map when people are thinking of buying a birthday or occasion gift.
What response have you received so far?
We have found strong support in Dublin for our collective, there has been a huge surge in interest in Irish design over the last three years. Dublin is an easy city to start a business and right from the start, Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB) provided us with experts as mentors who advised and supported the idea from concept to reality.
Dublin City Council has been supportive in exploring space opportunities and have published several reports highlighting the importance of creative industries in thriving cities. Dublin City Business Association have provided specialist advice and introduced us to other growing businesses in the city.
There is a great community of businesses in Dublin who are happy to support new ideas. It is good to talk to others about your business. Planning is essential in showing the path ahead, we have continuously revised our business plan as more information becomes available.
That a collective is greater than the sum of its individual members: By collaborating designing and marketing together we can achieve a greater public awareness.
What kind of supports have the Dublin City Enterprise Board given you?
DCEB vetted our business plan at the very start helping us rethink how a collective can become a viable entity. They have provided mentors to assess examine and develop the collective and they have also provided financial assistance with the start up phase of the collective.
Where do you see the collective in 5 years time?
We have created a design collective with retail space in the heart of Dublin city,
I see us growing members businesses by bringing the collective to an international audience, exhibiting at trade fairs around the globe. This has been achieved by other collectives around the world.
As a business owner (of Precious Diamonds), what is the best piece of advice you would give someone wanting to start a business for the first time?
Go for it! There is huge support for business in Dublin city.
Get good advice, take time to research your concept,
Make sure what you offer is what is wanted
And finally....
Through designerdublin.ie and our own Design Collective I have met so many inspirational people over the last few months, business people passionate about what they make, people seeing huge opportunity right now in Ireland and abroad.
Our thanks to Eoin for taking part in this interview. If you’d like to contact Precious, e-mail Eoin at eoin.mcdonnell@gmail.com or telephone (01) 671 0055. Alternatively, visit http://precious.ie/retail-space/
The Design Collective are looking for designers who would like to showcase their work off Grafton Street in Dublin. Please see http://precious.ie/retail-space/ for more information.