Katelynn head over heels with Best Start-Up award
THE beaming smile from Katelynn Murphy of Katelynn’s Hair Design said it all as she picked up the gong for the best Start Up Business at the sixth annual IRD Duhallow Business Awards.
In the Start Up Business category, Katelynn’s Hair Design was up against Kanturk Nutrition Club and DT Marketing. Katelynn said: “I am completely overwhelmed to win this award and I want to thank everyone and especially the judges. This is a great opportunity for me and really, all I want to say is a massive thanks again.”
Having amassed years of experience in hairdressing, Katelynn spotted an opportunity to open her own business and did so in Rathmore in February last year.
She had spent six years working in some of the top salons in Kerry and in North Cork but having come from a family of self-starters, Katelynn opted to grab the scissors with both hands. She said that Rathmore provided a prime location with a large population who had to travel outside their own village to get their hair done as there wasn’t a salon at the time.
However, great recognition must also go to DT Marketing which is spearheaded by Sarah McSweeny in Millstreet. DT Marketing provides digital and traditional marketing services to small business owners and marketing managers. She is looking to grow DT Marketing and expand the range of her services by including an in-house graphic designer and website/app developer and she also aims to move into a bigger unit in Millstreet town.
The other finalist in the Best Start Up category was Siobhan Spillane who set up My Local Nutrition Club in Kanturk in September 2016 with the aim helping people with their health and wellness. Siobhan also started the club to help people have a better understanding about their nutrition habits.
So far, her youngest member is 12 and her oldest is 84 and there are as many men as there are women attending her club. She said some people want to lose weight, some want to gain weight, some people need more energy, and some want to focus on sports nutrition. “And others, like me, love the social aspect it has brought to this community,” says Siobhan.