Sheelin Conlon, founder of eco-aware lifestyle brand The Kind, has been named the winner of this year's Champion Green Readymade Retail prize, in partnership with Aviva Life & Pensions.
The €50,000 retail opportunity is centred on a prime pop-up shop in the Blackrock Village Centre in south Dublin.
Champion Green is behind the annual competition which encourages local brands and businesses to expand into a retail space.
Online businesses looking to grow, regional stores eager to test the Dublin market and small manufacturers wanting to capitalise on the festive sales period were among the competition entrants this year.
"I am beyond excited at this absolutely incredible opportunity to showcase and sell our range", Sheelin Conlon said today.
The small business owner created her independent lifestyle brand in 2019.
Currently operating online only, The Kind curates crafted, sustainable and ethically-made products. Eco-friendly ranges include wellness and self-care, living and homewares, books and gifts.
The pop-up shop on the upper level of Blackrock Village Centre is worth €21,550 (including rent and rates and excluding utilities).
It is provided free of charge by Aviva Life & Pensions on a six-month rental licence, from now until March 2023.
Shopfitting advice and equipment, valued at €5,000, is supplied by fit-out specialists Roccul.
The business also wins free parcel-sending for a year within Ireland, from An Post Commerce, to support online retailing, as well as a free direct-mail campaign, worth €10,000 combined.
Carina Galavan, Property Fund Specialist, Aviva Ireland said the company was proud to have supported Champion Green since it first launched in 2020, encouraging the growth of local businesses and start-ups.
"The opportunity for a brand or business to experience the potential of retail, risk-free, is unique, and we wish Sheelin and her team every success, as they bring their very original sustainable consumer range to Blackrock Village Centre," she added.
The chairman of the judging panel was Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Excellence.
He said said that, as inflation bites, the country needs to rally to the support of local businesses.
"Champion Green encourages the public to shop and to click local, as well as seeking local service-providers first. This is now more important than ever. We need businesses in local communities to provide jobs and local services, and to remain vibrant for future generations," Mr Graham added.
Business consultancy with entrepreneur and SMEs champion, Bobby Kerr, is also offered to the prize winner, while complimentary membership of Retail Excellence, the Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland, all Champion Green supporters, is included too.
Store marketing and PR, worth €15,000, is also in the mix, along with business planning and professional mentoring from MentorsWork, the Government-backed SMEs productivity scheme.
Previous winners of the prize include Irish design brand, Jill & Gill, and Ambr Eyewear.
