Case Studies - Telling It As It Is

Lisa Myers, Wig Clinic

Lisa graduated from UCC in 1994 with a Science Degree in Microbiology and continued her studies in Queens University in Belfast where she received a Masters.

After a 15 year career in the pharmaceutical industry she joined forces with her sister Fiona, a hairstylist and proprietor of Jordan’s Salon. In June 2007, Fiona had started to provide hairpieces to chemotherapy patients as their mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she found that the service she received could greatly be improved upon. By August 2007 Lisa joined her sister to build the business which at that time was coexisting alongside the salon. Their mother passed away very suddenly in December 2007 which was a life changing experience and motivated them further in their endeavours. The sisters went on to establish the Lilly Foundation, a registered charity in memory of their mother.

Their aim is to support cancer patients and cancer carers by providing workshops and rebuilding self esteem. Hairloss is probably the most traumatic side effect of chemotherapy. They entered into partnership with Boots Pharmacy in 2009 where they run clinics in Killarney, Wilton, Mitchelstown, and recently Waterford as well as in their own premises in Mallow and Cork City. They provide a holistic service to their clients who can also consult with a pharmacist under the one roof. They now also employ 2 part time staff and year on year have improved their product range and have recently introduced their own branded hair products which they provide complimentary to all clients.www.wigclinic.com

Birgitta Curtin, Burren Smokehouse

Birgitta Hedin-Curtin started the Burren Smokehouse together with her husband Peter Curtin in 1989 - 22 years ago. Burren Smokehouse produces world class Irish Salmon in a traditional way using only natural and pure ingredients in the Burren - a magical place in the West of Ireland. They believe in Finest Quality Food Products, good customer care and a good group of team workers to ensure that they keep up standards. They carefully source quality raw materials for the Burren Smoked Salmon, Trout, Mackerel, Eel and Cheese. They control their own quality and back this up with regular testing from independent laboratories and checks from organisations who certify them.

The Smokehouse currently employs a staff of twelve, and distribute to Ireland and to countries all over the world. They also sell directly to consumers through their Visitor Centre, through worldwide Mail-Order, to Irish Speciality Food shops like AVOCA, Donnybrook Fair, McCambriges in Galway, and Cafe Rua in Co. Mayo as well as international speciality food shops like Fortnum & Mason in London, KaDeWe in Berlin and BioLueske Organic shop in Berlin. Along with being Director of the Burren Smokehouse Ltd. Birgitta is a Member of the Taste Council, Bord Bia, Chairperson of the Irish Association of Seafood Companies, Chairperson of Slow Food Clare and a Member of Foras Organach Organic Marketing Board (DAFF).www.burrensmokehouse.ie

Gráinne Barry, Another Friend

Gráinne Barry is the Managing Director of www.anotherfriend.com, Ireland’s largest Online Dating website which caters for single Irish people looking for fun & friendship or love & romance. Celebrating its 10th birthday this year, www.anotherfriend.com has over 500,000 registered members and many happy couples as a result of their business, proving that love and business can sometimes mix.

Gráinne is an Honours Business & Science graduate of Queens University Belfast and University College Cork holding a Diploma in Management Practice. Grainne worked as Brand and Marketing Manager for Golden Vale plc (now part of Kerry plc) on a range of FMCGs in Ireland, the UK and Denmark, from 1993 to 1999. She then joined BDO Simpson Xavier as Business Development Manager from 1999 to 2003, until she felt the entrepreneurial bug and joined the best-man at her wedding, Kevin Greene, to develop www.anotherfriend.com into a commercial digital business.

In 2010 Gráinne set up www.lemonsplat.com where she advises web start-ups and SMEs on their online and digital strategies. Gráinne is recognised as one of the upcoming Irish Business leaders in the digital strategy space, and has an innate ability to recognise and implement key commercial opportunities that exist for businesses online. She is currently working with a number of companies across a variety of business sectors in developing their online strategies and assisting with implementation.www.anotherfriend.com

Elena Brennan, Elena Brennan Jewellery

Since she was a child, Elena has been designing, making and mending jewellery. Elena studied fine craft design and jewellery at the University of Ulster, Belfast and the Sir John Cass College, London. "I’m a jeweller, jewellery designer and wax modeller. Most of my pieces start out in wax first, so they are very three-dimensional. I love intricateness, delicacy and graceful flowing forms".

Elena has worked as a jewellery designer / master pattern maker for the jewellery trade in Dublin on and off for the last 18 years. The most important commission received by Elena to date was the creation of the successful "Children of Lir" collection of jewellery produced by T.J.H. in Dublin. Elena designed each of the pieces and created the master patterns. The collection was started in 1993 and is still selling well today. Elena does a lot of commission work, both for private special occasions, such as engagement and wedding rings, and also corporate work. In 2009, the National Museum of Ireland commissioned her to design a range of jewellery based on the Broighter Boat for the Museum shop, Kildare Street. In June of this year, she created a second collection for the Museum based on "the Fadden More Psalter", commonly called "the bog book". Elena’s Mi Angel, Gossamer, Farmyard Friends, Seascapes and Children of Lir collections are available on her website and from select outlets nationwide. www.elenabrennan.com