Finalists Profiled: Best New Business
This years Meath Style Awards Best in New Business 2014 finalists are Little Topper Cakes, TLC Hair and Shoe Be Do. The winner will be announced at awards on Friday April 4th at the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells. Here we have each of our finalists profiled
Little Topper Cakes
Wilkinstown
With a bit of confidence to ditch her full-time job and start a new business, Niamh Curran has proved that you really can have your cake and eat it too! What started out as a hobby for the Wilkinstown resident has turned into a hugely successful cottage industry in just a few short years.
Little Topper Cakes offers a variety of style cakes to suit all ages and interests in a range of sizes from small personal cakes to large parties. Niamh takes her time to get to know each client to ensure the cake is as personal as possible and as memorable as can be. She said: “I always had an interest in baking – most often using it as a stress reliever. Eventually, though, just baking a cake was not enough to satisfy my creative thirst. I invested in a box of sugar-paste and was hooked. “I now specialise in creating custom cakes and cupcakes for all occasions and get amazing job satisfaction from the reaction of my customers.”
Little Topper Cakes only uses local free-range eggs and good quality chocolate, flours and jams because Niamh believes that “fresh and local is best for both taste and the local economy”. Niamh is determined to keep her passion in Wilkinstown, an area she has described as “a small village with a big community feel”.
TLC Hair
Trim
Tina Leonard has ‘oceans’ of experience when it comes to hairdressing, having worked on some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. Tina decided to drop anchor and offer some TLC to customers in Trim and surrounding areas just over a year ago. As well as working on the high seas, Tina has managed hair salons and worked as a technical educator for Wella Haircare as well as obtaining a degree in colour under Vidal Sassoon in London.
She has gone to great lengths to create the feel of a top-class salon in Trim and for each client to experience a unique, personal and friendly touch from her staff. It’s obviously working as, according to Tina: “In the short time since TLC Hair commenced trading, the salon has successfully achieved a comparative advantage over its competitors with the provision of superior colour and creative colour techniques. “This has enabled TLC Hair to build up a repeat client base of over 1,000 loyal customers.”
TLC’s talents even led to the salon being asked to provide styling for Ireland’s Wedding Journal Magazine’s photoshoot at Trim Castle recently. It’s rising success means it’s safe to say that TLC is ‘hair’ to stay.
Shoe Be Do
Ashbourne
Shoe Be Do is putting its best foot forward in making sure Ashbourne residents are well-heeled when it comes to shoes! The independently-owned family run Irish retail business has gone from strength to strength since opening the store in the town in 2012.
Already behind two hugely successful outlets in Limerick and Clare, Mary and Leonard Adams decided their third would be in Mary’s County Meath hometown where many of her family still live. The bright, spacious store specialises in ranges including Dubarry, Start Rite, Geox, Lelli Kely, Amy Huberman and Tommy Bowe collection. According to the couple: “The core ethos of our business is based on quality, affordability and service.
“We constantly strive to ensure that we listen to our customers needs and are always willing to go the extra mile to give our customers the best possible shopping experience. “By doing so, we have a high volume of repeat custom and we are delighted to be able to support the shop local campaign in the town.” Shoe Be Do caters for all ladies, men’s and children’s footwear and offers a professional measuring and fitting service for children. Shoe Be Do has established a foothold in the town since opening and is now a firm favourite with Ashbourne shoppers
Roll of Honour
2011 Beauty By Laura
2012 My Studio
2013 Forever Amber