Tell It Like It Is
Five successful women in business share their experiences at National Women’s Enterprise Day 2009. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan and Ann Kelsey, the Dublin city based Econatual.com at the launch this week.
As part of National Women’s Enterprise Day on November 20th, the opportunities and challenges facing five female entrepreneurs from around the country will be highlighted, to encourage more women to consider setting-up their own business.
The conference, which takes place at the Mullingar Park Hotel, will include video case studies with questions and answer sessions with Jill Fitzgerald from Cake Toppers Ireland in Dingle, Limerick-native Marion Murphy Cooney, a dress designer based in Nenagh, Ann Kelsey from Econatural.ie in Kimmage, Lesley O’ Mahony from Babypotz in Cabinteely and New-Zealand born Danette Connolly from Nursing and Allied Services in Waterford.
Organised by all the County and City Enterprise Boards, including the (please insert name of Enterprise Board) Enterprise Board and co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Irish Exchequer, the aim of National Women’s Enterprise Day is to put the role of female entrepreneurship in the national spotlight.
Speaking ahead of National Women’s Enterprise Day on November 20th, Greg Swift, Chief Executive Officer of Dublin City Enterprise Board said: “By sharing their experiences and insights into doing business in Ireland, these successful entrepreneurs will help give others a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing women in business today.”
Tickets are now available to buy for National Women’s Enterprise Day through www.nwed.ie and are priced at €100 each. Further information about the enterprise supports on offer to all small businesses in Dublin city is available by logging onto www.dceb.ie
Ann Kelsey, Econatural.ie
Econatural.ie was started by Ann Kelsey in 2005 when she noticed a gap in the market for easily accessible natural, organic and eco-friendly alternatives throughout Ireland and further afield. Ann has always had very sensitive skin and developed mild eczema in her early 20’s. She found it difficult to source skin care and household products that were free from chemicals and artificial perfumes and that wouldn’t make her feel ill. She often had to travel to various locations to do her shopping as a result.
Ann felt that, if it was this difficult to source these products while living in Dublin, it must be even more difficult for people around the rest of the country. It was then that she set up Econatural.ie, a one-stop on-line eco store, stocking a broad range for natural, organic and eco-friendly products for home and personal use. Her customers simply order their products on-line or over the phone and they get them delivered to their door by courier or post the following day. To make it even easier for her customers, she offers free delivery throughout Ireland for all orders over €100.
Econatural.ie has grown and developed over the past 4 years, particularly with the addition of their Eczema Clothing – a range of mostly nightwear for both children and adults with eczema. Made from soft 100% organic cotton and with natural silver ions added throughout the fabric, this clothing provides quick, natural relief from night time itching. The flat seams and tear-off labels on the outside of the garments, as well as enclosed hands and/or feet on many items, add further to their comfort. Econatural is Ireland’s sole agent for Eczema Clothing and Ann aims to broaden her market for the clothing throughout Europe and the U.S. over the coming months.
Econatural’s broad range of products include domestic cleaning and laundry products, natural personal care products, eco nappies and natural baby products, eco starter packs, green gifts and much more.