When designers Emma Manley and Jenny Huston in tandem with their accountant Paul Haycock decided to join forces for a retail adventure in October, it was the realisation of an ambitious but well researched dream.
That is, to sell top Irish design in a luxury space starting with Dundrum, one of Ireland’s top retail destinations. They called it Bloss after the phonetic spelling of “blas”, the Irish word for taste and launching with 30 carefully selected brands from candles to fashion, it offered a new destination, a one-stop shop for shoppers opening their eyes to home products of the highest standard, introducing new names alongside more familiar ones.
The pop-up continues in Dundrum in the Pembroke Quarter until January 7th and now has a waiting list of more than 30 designers wanting to come on board.
“We have learnt that you cannot predict anything when it comes to how people shop,” says Manley now months into the experience. Smaller items like Jane Darcy’s candles are some of their top sellers and that mix of homeware items, fashion and accessories for men, women and children all stylishly displayed has captured customer interest and impressed visitors.
“Customer service has been a huge part of our experience and telling the story behind the brands,” says Manley.
Though Bloss will close in January, Dublin has been their test model for more destinations. “We have put graphics and systems in place for sales reports and deliveries and so on. Irish design is not sustainable selling in Ireland alone – our aim is to push exports and we should be able to pop up anywhere as everything can be removed and put into a new situation.
"We will never compete with the big guys, but are trying to offer something different. We have incredible design talent on our island and each brand we sell we believe can compete with European, American and labels from around the globe.”
Here is a selection of Christmas buys from Bloss.
