Waterford Creative Collective in running for national award

CC Creatives in Waterford, has been nominated in Ireland’s Favourite Local Business competition and there are €1,500 worth of 'Think Waterford First' gift cards up for grabs as a possible prize.

A spokesperson for the collective, which is comprised of six, local independent businesses, said their passion for providing unique products is at the heart of them being nominated for a national award.

Based in Meagher's Quay, CC Creatives incorporates Cementique, Huggable Home, Lisa Keane Art, Phat Poly, Sassy Jac and Polly & Andy and they are all housed together in one store. The group first met when trading at a local market, going on to set up a pop-up shop and finally, the Meagher’s Quay store.

Jac Sinnott, the owner of Sassy Jac, said they business owners are passionate about being a part of the Waterford community: “The name CC Creatives actually comes from our market days at Copper Coast Market, in Tramore. We’ve been permanently open for three years now and our products range from jewellery and greetings cards, to art prints, fine art, bamboo socks and homeware – we all bring something different and that’s what makes CC Creatives unique."

“We have a strong presence in Waterford city thanks to the store, and we’re passionate about being a local business in Waterford," she said.

"Customers support us because they know they will find something unique," she added. She went on to comment that all the products from the collective are unique to the creatives who design them: “Every card, every print, every item at CC Creatives has come from the imagination of the people who made it, and every item is made with love and joy. It’s a happy place to be."

She said one of the benefits of being involved in the collective is that everyone shares the challenges of running a business.

CC Creatives is part of the Think Waterford First Gift Card scheme and Jac said such initiatives are essential for encouraging people to shop locally.

“Once we’d opened the shop, we had customers asking if we accepted the Think Waterford First Gift Card, so we joined," she said.

"As an independent business, we want people to shop with not only our business but other local businesses in Waterford and that’s what the gift card is all about, as it can be spent with national and indies too," she added.

"We have people in the store spending them regularly and get a statement from Waterford Chamber showing how many have been spent with us." She also said everyone involved with the collective was delighted to be nominated: "It’s amazing that people have taken the time to nominate us as Ireland’s Favourite Local Business as it’s always lovely to know that people value what you do.” 

Shops, restaurants, salons, hotels and attractions from all over the country are eligible to be Ireland’s 'Favourite Local Business 2024'. People can nominate their favourite local business in the competition for free at lovelocalwin.ie

The 'Think Waterford First' gift card was introduced by Waterford Chamber of Commerce in 2023, with the support of Waterford City & County Council. Over 130 businesses in Waterford accept the new gift card, including shops, restaurants, salons, attractions, hotels and services.

Waterford Chamber CEO, Gerald Hurley said: “We’re proud to see nominations coming in for Waterford business, CC Creatives, in this national search for Ireland’s Favourite Local Business. Local businesses make our city what it is, bringing unique products and services to our city, and differentiating Waterford from other Irish towns and cities."

Fintech Miconex was the founder of the Town and City Gift Card concept across Ireland and its Managing Director, Colin Munro, said the awards initiative was designed to "shine a light on local businesses in the run up to the Christmas period". 

"It’s brilliant to see this nomination for a collective of six independent businesses, who are working together to create a unique retail store in Waterford," he said. The competition closes for voting on October 31.