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The Gift of Enterprise

Monthly Blog: The Gift of Enterprise

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The Gift of Enterprise: Supporting Local Businesses This Festive Season

As the Christmas season approaches, there’s no better time to celebrate the spirit of community and enterprise here in Wexford. Every euro spent locally is more than just a purchase, it’s an investment in keeping our shops open, our restaurants thriving, and our town buzzing with life. This Christmas, let’s give the gift of enterprise and ensure Wexford continues to flourish.

Shop Local, Gift Local

Instead of clicking “add to cart” online, why not explore the incredible range of gifts available right here in County Wexford?

Workshops and classes are another unique option — for example, Helen McClean’s Wreath Making Workshop is a festive, hands-on activity that lets participants create something beautiful while supporting a local artisan.

Restaurant vouchers from Wexford’s many eateries give the gift of memorable dining experiences.

County Wexford Chamber Gift Vouchers make the perfect present, offering flexibility while supporting a wide network of local businesses. More information here

By choosing local, you’re not just buying a gift, you’re helping to keep the doors open for small businesses and ensuring our town thrives.

Festive Family Experiences

Wexford is brimming with magical Christmas events that families can enjoy together: (source visitwexford.ie)

-Santa’s Christmas Cottage (Dec 3–23) brings festive cheer to little ones.

-Santa’s Magical Christmas Adventure at the Irish National Heritage Park (Dec 6–21) offers an immersive seasonal experience.

-Evening Christmas Market at Johnstown Castle (9th Dec)

-A swinging’ Christmas with the Melanie O’reilly Trio (10th Dec)

-A Christmas Party Night in a Wexford hotel or bar

These events not only create lasting memories but also support local tourism and hospitality businesses.

Other Ways to Support Local Enterprise

Corporate gifting: Source hampers, treats, or branded items from Wexford suppliers.

Event hosting: Book local venues for holiday parties or team-building workshops.

Social media shoutouts: Share your favourite Wexford businesses online to boost their visibility.

Festive fundraising: Partner with local enterprises for charity drives that give back to the community.

This Christmas, let’s remember that supporting local businesses is about more than shopping, it’s about sustaining the heartbeat of Wexford. Whether it’s attending Helen McClean’s wreath-making workshop, gifting a Chamber voucher, or enjoying a festive day out with family, every choice we make strengthens our community.

This Christmas, give the gift of enterprise, and help keep Wexford thriving.

The Smarter Choice

Monthly Blog: Co-working: The Smarter Choice

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Over the past few years, remote work has become a permanent fixture in the way we do business.  But while working from home offers flexibility, it also comes with its own set of challenges — distractions, isolation, and blurred work-life boundaries being the most common.

For many professionals, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and even remote employees, co-working spaces have emerged as the ideal middle ground.  Here’s why choosing a co-working space over working from home could be a game-changer for your productivity, mental wellbeing, and business success.

1. Structure Without Rigidity

One of the biggest drawbacks of working from home is the lack of routine.  Co-working spaces offer the structure of an office without the rigidity of the 9-to-5 grind.  The act of leaving the house, setting up your workspace, and getting into a focused mindset helps you mentally transition into ‘work mode’.

2. Fewer Distractions, More Focus

Home is where the heart is — and often, where the laundry, dishes, kids, pets, and deliveries are too.  Co-working spaces provide a distraction-free environment designed specifically for productivity.  Quiet zones, meeting rooms, and breakout areas help you focus on the task at hand without being pulled in a million directions.

3. A Professional Setting for Clients and Calls

Need to take a video call without your dog barking in the background?  Want to meet a client in a professional setting that isn’t your kitchen table?  Co-working spaces provide meeting rooms, high-speed internet, and a polished environment — helping you present yourself and your business professionally.

4. Networking and Community

Working from home can be lonely, particularly in the long-term.  Co-working spaces offer a built-in community of like-minded professionals.  Whether it’s sharing a coffee in The Coffee Dock, swapping business tips, or collaborating on new projects, being surrounded by others fosters creativity, accountability, and opportunity.

5. Work-Life Balance

When your home becomes your office, it’s harder to switch off.  By working in a co-working space, you create physical and mental boundaries between work and home life.  Leaving the office at the end of the day — even if it’s just a few miles away — helps reduce burnout and promotes healthier routines.

6. Access to Amenities and Resources

From high-speed Wi-Fi and printing facilities to coffee docks, private pods, and event spaces, co-working hubs like The Cube at Wexford Enterprise Centre, offer amenities that boost your workday without the overhead costs of running your own office.  Wexford Enterprise Centre also offers support services like reception, mail handling, or business mentoring, if required.

7. Scalability and Flexibility

Whether you need a co-working space or a dedicated office for your growing team, Wexford Enterprise Centre have a number of office spaces that are designed to scale with your needs.  There’s no long-term rental agreements or contracts, allowing you more flexibility.  A smart financial move for small businesses and solopreneurs alike.

Final Thoughts

Working from home might seem like the most convenient option — and for some, it is.  But for many, the long-term benefits of a co-working space far outweigh the comfort of working from home.  If you’re looking to elevate your workday, improve focus, and feel more connected, it might be time to make the move.

If you’re interested in learning more about The Cube at Wexford Enterprise Centre – please contact enquiries@wec.ie

Sharon Ginnetty, Marketing Consultant and Founder of Optimise Marketing

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Marketing Consultant and founder of Optimise Marketing, Sharon Ginnetty, decided to open her own business 8 years ago after working in the field for 16 years prior to establishing her own company. With a broad range of experience in national and international roles across a variety of sectors, Sharon uses a variety of digital tools to assist other businesses in implementing their marketing plans. She notes that 2020 has been a big challenge and yet one that also proved to be the most rewarding since she began Optimise Marketing in 2013.

“One positive aspect of 2020 was that it propelled the adoption of digital routes to market at a much faster pace. In some ways the total upheaval threw the rulebook out and businesses tested and tried techniques that they may have been more cautious about pursuing in the past. Those who were quick to accept change and adapt to reaching their customer by digital means, discovered that they could get closer to their customer, get real-time feedback and adjust the tone of their communications accordingly. This enabled them to follow through to increased online sales.

During the first week of March 2020, I was involved with National Enterprise Week, delivering a number of talks on Digital Marketing for the Carlow and Kildare Local Enterprise Offices. At the time, I had some great clients in the hospitality sector with lots of exciting projects in the pipeline. Then in less than a week, everything was put on-hold. This didn’t last long thankfully and I was suddenly thrust into assisting as many companies as possible to help them transition to online trading and/or to further develop their range of products and services online.

2020 was a challenging year in so many ways, but for my business it was also the year my client list grew beyond compare. I am so proud of the businesses that I worked with who made tough decisions early on, protected their businesses, “pivoted” and now have strong market offerings for the times ahead. I’m proud to have helped so many businesses discover and benefit from online sales during a time of crisis. I’m proud of the way Irish people got behind the #shoplocal #buylocalonline #madelocal campaigns which ensured so many businesses survived and even thrived in 2020. But it’s important to understand that marketing is not a once off activity. It should be an integral part of your business and consistency is key.

Running a business is a constant learning process. If I was to offer any advice, I’d say: get support; join networks; ask for help; build a support network for yourself. Peer to peer learning is superb. My brother-in-law once joked that the first 10 years are the hardest! I’d have to concur! If 2020 has taught us anything it is the importance of being flexible and embracing change which is crucial to our survival and success. Being able to adapt to changing market conditions is vital.”

For more information on how Optimise Marketing can enhance your marketing strategy, visit www.optimisemarketing.ie or contact Sharon directly on 087 204 3486 or sharon@optimisemarketing.ie