The West Cork Shared Story

Dear Chamber Member,

I recently attended a couple of Failte Ireland workshops aimed at preparing a ‘pitch’ for West Cork that could be used by anyone with an interest in promotion destination West Cork. The end result is linked here and above on the masthead. It can be used as is, or manipulated to be incorporated into individual marketing and promotion initiatives.  

The idea is to use the concept of the Shared Story:

“The most successful places have a simple Shared Story to tell.

It’s a commonly agreed way of describing the place, that everyone uses when they’re planning how to invest in improvements or new experiences for visitors, and when they’re talking to potential visitors.

It’s a short and simple story that makes it clear what is special and different about the place. But it mustn’t over promise. It must go with the grain of the place, and be authentic and true.

The Shared Story tries to capture the essence of the place by focusing on that place’s distinctive qualities: it isn’t a comprehensive list of everything that’s on offer.

If everyone uses the same broad ideas to develop the tourism product, and then ‘sings from the same song sheet’, the image of West Cork will be much stronger and more positive. And that will mean more impact, and more visitors. 

We’re not suggesting that everyone’s marketing has to be the same – far from it. Some people may want to use the Shared Story verbatim in their marketing. Others will draw on it for themes, ideas and inspiration.

We hope everyone will use components from it to bring out what is special and different about West Cork – both in what they offer to visitors, and in their marketing. This will help to build a stronger, clearer picture in a very competitive marketplace

Please do take the time to have a read (here) and consider it when updating promotional and marketing material / websites.

---  Mick Hanly

Networking at Emmet Hotel

We are pleased to announce that our next Networking event will take place next Thursday 14^th  June at 9am in the Emmet Hotel, Emmet Square, Clonakilty.  

We would like to build  on the huge success of our past events and would encourage all members / sectors & potential new members to attend.

Networking Structure.

·         Coffee morning style, it is intend to have relaxed / informal theme.

·         The event should also act as a forum for members to engage in local business issues / updates. 

·         It is anticipated that the event should run for around 45 minutes in duration

·         Participants should Sign-in at the event. Provide contact details, including business name, email & website(if available). This info is to be used to build a data base / mail shot & assist in logging of potential new members.

·         Participants should make extra effort to introduce themselves to new people / businesses. Groupings of old acquaintances / friends should be discouraged until towards the end of the session; in the case of new acquaintances being made, please introduce them into existing groups of friends. 

·         Over the next few events it is hoped that a short presentation slot for news, offers or promotions will be organized for members. Alternatively should you wish to make an announcement at the up-coming event, please contact Stephen Smith at Edge Architecture Ltd – 087 9213512    

--  Stephen Smith

Tourism Meeting - Monday, 10 June

 

 

 

 

The next tourism meeting takes place next Monday 11th June in the Boardroom, Hartes Courtyard at 7pm.

 

On the agenda

• Jungle City
• Clonakilty 400/Gathering 2013
• Michael Collins Festival
• Christmas Lights

Any other items to be added, email me at alanlowney@hotmail.com

---  Alan Lowney

General Information Meeting on 12th June in The Quality Hotel at 8pm

Dear Chamber Member,

As mentioned at our AGM, we’re looking at holding a quarterly general information meeting for the Chamber members.  The idea is to give you, the members, the opportunity to come along and be informed and to inform yourself about Chamber matters.  Everyone might not have the opportunity to keep up to date with emails and people may like the chance to ask questions, make suggestions or give criticism/advice.

 The General Information Meeting is on 12th June in The Quality Hotel at 8pm.

The Chamber is you, the members and we’d like to keep you fully appraised of matters relating to you.

Regards,

Mick Hanly, Administrator, Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce, 4 Harte’s Courtyard, Clonakilty, West Cork

Email:- chamber@clonakilty.ie Web:- www.clonakilty.ie Tel:- 353-23-8858910 Mob:- 086-8747558 Facebook: Facebook.com/ClonChamber Twitter @clonchamber

The Chamber is appreciative for the superb photography by Dermot Sullivan whose coverage of the recent Clon'trepeneur event was instrumental in promoting the program success.  

You can find other examples of his work at the website linked here.

OCEANABOOST TAKE FIRST CLON’TREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

 Fifth Year students win entrepreneurial award

The entrepreneurial spirit of Ireland’s youth shone bright at the inaugural Clon’trepreneur of the year awards at Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty on Thursday last (24 May 2012), as three fifth year students from Clonakilty Community College picked up the prestigious award for their innovative Oceanaboost product, which is a tasty and nutritional drink extracted from seaweed. 

The event, which was hosted by George Hook, was organised by Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce in association with West Cork’s top businesses to boost entrepreneurial spirit in the region.

Students Barry Holland, Declan Moore and David Ryan, creators of Oceanaboost, were overwhelmed by the positive feedback from West Cork business warhorses, Colette Twomey of Clonakilty Black Pudding, Diarmuid O’Sullivan of Irish Yogurts, Eugene Scally of Scally’s SuperValu and social media guru and philanthropist Bill Liao, who said their product had the best potential to create and sustain employment in the West Cork area.  

Commenting on behalf of the three, Barry Holland said, “We are so proud to win such a prominent award and to have the opportunity to develop a concept with the support of West Cork’s leading entrepreneurs.  Our generation in particular needs to pave our own path to build a sustainable future and these initiatives give us the support and confidence to do so.”

Oceanaboost competed against three other competitors, Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, Clonakilty Cocoa Company and Richy Virahsawmy at a Dragon’s Den style public event for a €20,000 cash and support package.  Each of the contestants made a 7 minute pitch to the ‘warhorse’ judges before being questioned in-depth on their products, marketing strategies, logistics and finances.

George Hook kindly offered each of the finalists 12 minutes on his Kickstart Your Business slot on Newstalk where they can showcase their products on the national airwaves.

“This is a very special night for Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce,” said Flor McCarthy the Chamber’s chairman. “We have seen industry names from the region come together to drive entrepreneurial spirit, innovative business ideas from locals and those further afield that will drive our economy, and creativity merged with a drive for business from our youth.”

Mairead O’Gorman of AIB, the project manager of the event, said, “This is the start of bigger things to come” as she closed the proceedings on a balmy West Cork evening.

Grand Prize Award

Attention all Chamber Members,

You are all invited to the long awaited:

Easter Promotion Grand Prize Giving

O’Donovan’s Hotel

Friday 1^st June 7:00pm

Wine and Nibbles

And Mighty Craic

With MC Jimmy Hayes

--  Philip Newton