My First Bloom!
What It Really Takes, What I Learned, and Why It Matters
A couple of weeks have passed since my first Bloom, and I've finally had a chance to catch my breath and reflect on the experience.
As part of the DCCI Craft Village, I spent five wonderful (and very busy!) days meeting customers, chatting about colour and creativity, and sharing my handmade jewellery with thousands of visitors.
But what struck me most wasn't just the event itself. It was everything that happened before the gates even opened.
What You Don't See
Most visitors arrive to a polished event filled with stunning gardens, beautiful displays and hundreds of businesses ready to welcome them.
What they don't see is the enormous amount of work that happens behind the scenes.
As exhibitors, we arrived while Bloom was still being built. Everywhere you looked, people were planting, building, wiring, painting, unloading and problem solving. It was fascinating to see! Watching Bloom come to life from the inside was one of the highlights of the whole experience.
I shared a space with the lovely SinĆ©ad O'Moore Ceramics. For us it also meant months of making stock, ordering signage, making stock, designing, building and testing displays, organising packaging, making stockā¦ š
And while we were busy at Bloom, arranging displays and unpacking stock, all around us there were others like us putting the finishing touches to their displays and transforming empty spaces into beautiful showcases of their work. It felt a bit like being backstage before a major production.
What Bloom Taught Me
One of my biggest takeaways from Bloom was the incredible sense of community within the Irish craft and design sector.
I've been part of this world for a number of years now, but spending five days surrounded by makers from all over the country gave me a renewed appreciation for just how supportive and generous this community is.
There was no sense of competition. Instead, there was encouragement, advice, shared experiences and genuine excitement for one another's success. There was a real spirit of kindness throughout the event. It was equally heartening to see how much visitors value handmade work and the stories behind it.
I came away feeling inspired, grateful and very proud to be part of such a vibrant creative community.
Why Events Like Bloom Matter
In a world where almost everything can be bought online, there is something special about meeting customers face to face. To see which pieces people are most drawn to, to share the story behind Culu Design and the fully handmade process, and most importantly, just to have the chats!
When you buy directly from a maker, you're not just buying a product. You're supporting skills, creativity and small Irish businesses.
Events like Bloom create those connections. They allow visitors to learn the stories behind the products and give makers the opportunity to meet the people who support their work.
Looking Back
Bloom was exhausting, exciting and hugely rewarding all at once. Iām incredibly grateful to DCCI for selecting my brand to exhibit, and to everyone who stopped by the stand, shared kind words or took home a piece.
If you visited Bloom and came home with a pair of Culu earrings, I'd love to see them in the wild.
Tag me on Instagram @culudesigns so I can see where they've ended up!
Big Love,
Lou xx
