Supporting Irish businesses is vital this year, so in the lead up to Christmas Newstalk is featuring different local businesses around the country from a variety of sectors. Pat Kenny chats with Tara McGowan, Owner of Cait and I an Irish Design and Craft shop in Sligo.
Cait & I was founded and opened by sisters Tara and Kathleen McGowan in May 2016.Cait & I showcases Irish Design, Irish Makers, small independent businesses and gives them the opportunity to promote their products. The carefully selected range includes jewellery ceramics, textiles, home-wares, art prints, stationery, new baby and kiddy gifts and more.
Covid-19 affected Cait & I and ultimately was the deciding factor for the business to make the transition to fully online, this brought about new opportunities in the form of the business being able to increase the amount of designers they showcase.Owner Tara McGowan acknowledged that it has been a difficult transition and she is consistently exploring ways to keep connected with her customers who visited the shop pre-covid.
Each year Cait & I holds a Christmas event in store, to display the new Christmas items, this year the event will be held virtually.
Cait & I has the backing of their locality, as people pledge to buy Irish this Christmas, it leaves McGowan feeling excited to know they have that local support.
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