Creative Connections: Connect, Network and Grow
In collaboration with and funded by the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office and The Leitrim Design House.
FREE 3-Hour Interactive Session
Date: 17th April 2026
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: The Dock Arts Centre, St George Terrace, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. N41 T2x2
Are you a maker, designer or creative business owner looking to grow your visibility, sales and confidence at markets, fairs and showcases? Join a community of like-minded creatives for a dynamic, hands-on and networking session focused on turning creative output into commercial success — from standing out at weekend markets to building meaningful customer connections and brand awareness.
What you’ll explore:
- Creating a market stand that catches the eye and reflects your brand
- Getting the word out about your market dates — locally, online and through your own community
- Pricing, packaging and presentation that feels right for your product and your customer
- Using simple tools like QR codes, business cards and click & collect to make buying easy
- Networking naturally, sharing ideas and learning from other creatives
- Creating a market stand that catches the eye and reflects your brand
- Getting the word out about your market dates — locally, online and through your own community
- Pricing, packaging and presentation that feels right for your product and your customer
- Using simple tools like QR codes, business cards and click & collect to make buying easy
- Networking naturally, sharing ideas and learning from other creatives
The day will be structured to allow generous time for breakout group sessions, allowing makers to share their own experiences, challenges and feedback. The session will be facilitated by Fran Best, an experienced business facilitator specialising in supporting creative enterprises, alongside guest mentor Meabh Ring, a creative sector expert working with Irish gift, craft, art and design businesses in retail and at trade shows. Lynda Jones, graphic designer and founder of Yelo+, will also share practical branding insights drawn from her own journey as a maker.
Light lunch is included; please mention any dietary requirements when booking.
Facilitated by:
Fran Best – Experienced facilitator and networker with over 20 years’ business experience, helping creatives turn passion into profit and build meaningful customer connections.
Guest Mentor:Meabh Ring – Creative sector expert with over 25 years’ experience supporting Irish gift, craft, art and design businesses in retail and at major trade events including Showcase Ireland.
Lynda Jones: Graphic Designer and Founder of Yelo+. Lynda will share key learnings from her journey, including practical branding insights for makers who want to stand out at markets and trade events
Expect practical insights, fresh inspiration, real-world advice and valuable connections.
More about the speakers
Fran Best is an engaging facilitator and networker with over 20 years’ business experience working with a wide range of local, national and international clients across diverse industries. She specialises in helping creatives turn passion into profit and build meaningful customer connections and brand awareness. Fran combines practical commercial insight with hands on, energising learning to help people grow confident and sustainable brands.
Meabh Ring has worked in the creative sector for over 25 years, first as a product designer, later as a retailer and now as a business advisor and mentor. She works with designers and makers in the various stages of business development as they define their brand, craft products and seek sales. Meabh has worked on key international trade shows in the USA and UK, as well as Showcase Ireland. She has worked as a trainer and mentor with Enterprise Ireland, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, UCC, MTU, as well as the Local Enterprise Offices nationally to support creative businesses.
Lynda Jones
is the founder of Yelo Studio, where she designs and creates colourful jewellery inspired by patterns from ancient stone carvings. She originally trained in graphic design, building a nearly twenty year career as a brand designer with a global sports organisation in Dublin, where she collaborated with international design agencies and brand teams.
After relocating to Leitrim in 2018, Lynda reconnected with her love of making through painting, printmaking, stained glass and mould making workshops. A jewellery making class introduced her to polymer clay, leading to the creation of her home studio and the development of her distinctive jewellery collections.
