Spotlight falls on local success stories for area’s Business Week

Brother and sister duo Sarah and Lorcan Quinn own ,Enrich and Endure, based on the Scarva Road which brings the historic legacy of linen weaving into the area.

Sarah and Lorcan were brought up in Banbridge and believe that it is a great town to run a business.

“Banbridge District is steeped with a rich heritage of Irish linen weaving,” said Lorcan.

“County Down was once the epicentre of the Irish weaving industry but over the last 50 years the mills have gradually shut down one by one leaving behind generations of knowledge and skill.

“We are very lucky in Banbridge to have one of the last remaining Irish linen weavers in the country right on our doorstep and are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with its weavers.

“Enrich and Endure use only the finest Irish linen and Merino wool in their products which range from linen napkins and tablecloths to blankets and throws.”

The pair were invited to attend a civic reception at Banbridge District Council Civic Building on Tuesday, October 14 where they were honoured by Council Chairman, Councillor Marie Hamilton.

Sarah and Lorcan signed up to the Bright Idea Programme, an innovative business start-up programme created by councils in the South East region of Northern Ireland, which offers guidance to people in the 18 to 29 age group.

As part of the Bright Idea Programme, Enrich and Endure were mentored by the Programme’s expert consultants, who helped with their digital media marketing.

Sarah and Lorcan have found that there can be both high and low points when starting a business.

“It can be difficult when things just aren’t going your way but at this point it is crucial to pick up the pieces and take what appears to be a negative and creatively turn it into a positive,” said Sarah.

“The greatest lesson learnt so far is that mistakes will not end your business you just have to learn from them and have faith.”

She discussed how social media helped their business.

“Used effectively social media can drive increased traffic to your website and possibly lead to an increase in sales. Plus, search engines are starting to take more notice of links from social media, so it could even help to increase search engine traffic.

For any budding entrepreneurs or established businesses in the Banbridge District who are keen to find out more about help and support sign up to the Banbridge Business Bulletin by emailing [email protected]