The Crafty Rock launches online Christmas market
This has certainly been a difficult year for all small businesses but like many others The Crafty Rock in Blackrock has made the best of it and looked for alternative ways to support their crafters.
The shop is owned and run by Rita Alves and Brenda Leary and provides a retail outlet for over forty crafters and artists, the majority of whom live locally in Co. Louth or the neighbouring counties. It sells a wide variety of work from original artworks and prints to handmade costume jewellery, knitwear, crochet ,natural beauty products, preserves, Christmas decorations, candles and cards.
It also stocks a wide range of materials used by those who like to make their own crafts, including wool, fabric, buttons, and threads.
Earlier this year, as we entered the first lockdown, Rita and Brenda began working on a new website which would allow selling online.
Availing of mentoring provided by the Louth Enterprise Board, they began the laborious task of uploading hundreds of crafts, craft supplies and collectables on to the website www. thecraftyrock.com .
Work continued during the summer months so that the online store was ready for the recent restrictions.
Now they have launched an online market just in time for Christmas.
Christmas is usually a very time for crafters as traditionally attend markets to sell their items.
As this is not possible at the present time, The Crafty Rock , who over the last few years have organised markets in Dundalk during Frostival, decided to go online with their own Christmas market this year.
They have launched The Irish Crafty Market on their website which will run until December 6. This will allow customers to meet a selection of their crafters and their products, browse the website, and order items which can be collected at the shop in Blackrock or delivered nationwide.