CRAFTS BODY FASHIONS NEW STRATEGY - A new consumer focused approach at the Crafts Council of Ireland is among the initiatives decided on after a review.
Nicola Doran, marketing manager at the Crafts Council of Ireland, said that previously the organisation was focused on helping its businesses in areas such as design, marketing and education.
But she said research had shown big changes in the marketplace in the last five years and this had prompted the shift in strategy.
Ms Doran said the body needed to raise awareness and make sure crafts were available in more retail outlets.
The body is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and will spend €2.5m this year. It wants to increase turnover by 42% by the end of 2009, and increase the number of craft enterprises by 29%. There are currently about 1,400 business registered with the council.
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FINAL SSIAs MATURE ON MONDAY - 538,000 special savings incentive accounts, or SSIAs, mature on Monday and all weekend too all of the main newspapers are filled with SSIA supplements, spending advice and the latest spending surveys from the banks.
The average amount maturing on Monday is €14,000. Recently Irish Life & Permanent has noticed a change in spending patterns - spending on holidays and overseas property has fallen and there has been an increase in spending on home improvement.
Irish Life Retail's Kevin Murphy says people whose SSIAs mature on Monday are likely to spend 24% of their money on home improvements. 46% of those people are likely to keep saving.
