Craft businesses to pitch for success at Inveraray
CRAFT businesses could win a free trade stand at Inveraray Castle’s Best of the West festival in September.
Business Gateway Argyll and Bute will give the region’s craft businesses the opportunity to showcase and sell their products at the popular Best of the West festival.
Now in its fourth year, the competition invites local businesses to pitch for a free trade stand within the Business Gateway sponsored craft tent. The pitch should include what is special about their venture and why their products would be a good fit at the festival.
The annual Best of the West festival will be held at Inveraray Castle on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, with music on the evening of Friday September 8.
More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival during the weekend and this competition allows up to six local crafters the chance to raise the profile of their business.
Last year, the competition attracted a strong response from across the area, with all six winners proving popular with festival goers.
One of last year’s winners, artist Ruth Slater, said: ‘It was fantastic to win the competition and sell my products in the craft tent. It was a huge success and gave me the chance to meet and show dozens of new customers displays of my work.’
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges, including festival host the Duchess of Argyll, Fergus Murray, Argyll and Bute Council’s head of economic development and strategic transportation, and Councillor Aileen Morton, Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead for economic development.
Eleanor Argyll, Duchess of Argyll said: ‘We are very excited to be running the competition with Business Gateway again. There have been a fantastic range of businesses over the years and each winner has been hugely the wealth of creative popular with the Best businesses that we of the West visitors. have right here in Argyll I’m really looking forward and Bute, as well to seeing this as aiding the overall year’s entries.’ development of local
Councillor Morton businesses.’ added: ‘This competition To enter, craft businesses helps showcase are invited to describe in no more than 250 words why their business and the products it sells represent the ‘best in the west’.
Also included must be a link to relevant websites or social media to support the entry and up to five photographs of the products and a film clip of no more than three minutes.
Entry is via email to business.gateway@ argyll-bute.gov.uk. The closing date is 5pm on July 12, 2017.
Competition terms and conditions are available at www. argyll-bute.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-gateway-service.
For more information on the festival and to buy tickets, visit www. bowfest.co.uk. To find out more about how Business Gateway can help set up and develop a business call 01546 604 555 or visit www. bgateway.com/argylland-bute.