Irish start-up In Hand Guides (IHG) this week announced an alliance with North American AudioConexus, securing the Cork-based company with an estimated US$1.2m deal throughout 2011/2012.

IHG, which designs low-cost embedded audio players, will provide branded bespoke devices for the clients of AudioConexus across North America and in certain countries outside the US.

Toronto-based AudioConexus specialises in GPS solutions for mobile tourism, fixed venues and interpretive walking tours throughout numerous destinations and applications. These systems will enable automated (GPS-triggered) sightseeing experiences in multiple topics and languages. IHG audio players will open up major sales opportunities for AudioConexus.

“In Hand Guides are delighted to announce this alliance, as I believe AudioConexus are a perfect fit for our sales development into the tourism markets of North America,” said Trevor Winckworth, CEO and founder of IHG.

“The alliance represents two young and innovative companies working together to provide memorable visitor experiences.”

Last November, IHG announced an agreement with Twin America, which operates CitySights NY and Gray Line New York, to design and manufacture audio devices for Twin America’s 3m annual customers. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, IHG will support AudioConexus from its office in the USA.

New York, NY/Cork, Ireland – In Hand Guides (IHG), an innovative Irish company based in Cork providing low cost embedded audio players, and Twin America who operate CitySights NY and Gray Line New York, today (Friday 29th October 2010) announced a major affinity partnership. Under the terms of the deal, which was secured with support from Enterprise Ireland’s New York Office, In Hand Guides will design and manufacture a branded bespoke audio device for their 3 million annual customers with City Sights and Gray Line New York.

IHG estimate that this deal will generate over €500,000 in the next twelve months, which will allow IHG to employ technical and support staff in their Cork base. Publicity has already generated interest with similar tourist companies in Chicago and Orlando. Bus tours in New York City were valued at $3 Billion in 2007 by the City Council. The city licenses 12 sightseeing companies, which operate 250 tour buses.

The agreement represents a groundbreaking deal for IHG which now has operations in four continents.

Trevor Winckworth, CEO and founder of IHG, said today, ‘In Hand Guides are delighted to introduce their product into the USA in conjunction with a company such as Twin America who provide tourism services to over three million visitors annually in New York and whose blue CitySights NY buses and red Gray Line buses are an icon on the streets of the Big Apple”

Enterprise Ireland’s Director of the Americas Gerry Murphy added: “This is a significant contract for this specialist Cork-based company. In securing this high profile New York partnership, InHand Guides demonstrates that small Irish companies can secure significant, prestigious international contracts by focussing on providing quality, innovative products tailored to specific customer requirements. We will continue to support them as they build on this success and work to break into other important US markets.” (more…)

Awareness of the importance of using sun creams and sun blocks has grown but there is still some confusion about which creams to use and how often they need to be applied.  A study published in the Archives of Dermatology states: “Sunscreen users are only applying 50 percent of the recommended amount, so they are only receiving 50 percent of the SPF protection.” Because of the need for liberal application, expensive sunscreens can be dangerous to your skin’s health; after all, how likely are you to liberally apply a really expensive sunscreen! According to the cosmetics guru and beauty writer Paula Begoun ”there are brilliantly formulated sunscreens in all price ranges, expensive definitely does not mean better when choosing sun protection creams”

It is dangerous for your skin not to have UVA protection and many sunscreens do not have ingredients that can provide true full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage. In most countries, including the U.S. and Canada, there are no numbers to tell you about protection from UVA radiation. For that protection you have to check the active ingredient list to see if either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb (Tinosorb is only available in products sold outside the U.S.) If one of those isn’t part of the active ingredient list (it doesn’t count if it is just part of the regular or “other” ingredients) you are not applying adequate UVA protection and that is dangerous for your skin.

The SPF number does not tell you anything about a product’s quality. The SPF number is just a time limit number. A sunscreen rated SPF 2 blocks about 50% of UVB rays; an SPF 10 filters out about 85% of UVB rays; an SPF 15 stops about 95%; and an SPF 30 stops about 97%. An SPF that’s higher than 30 does not provide any more UV protection, it just offers more time that you can stay in the sun without burning.

One company has come up with a new product that offers an innovative way to deal with some of these sun bathing problems. The Cush’n Shade® provides a comfortable cushion and 50+ UPF (ultra violet protection) shade for your face and hair. No longer do you have the hassle of having to cover your face with a towel or baseball cap to protect you from the ageing effects caused by the sun.  The shade can be angled as the sun moves around to provide full shade, all day and attaches to any lounge chair for use by the swimming pool or in the garden.  Sunbathe in complete comfort while the head is supported by the cushion; allowing you to read in complete comfort. The unit is extremely light, robust, and portable and disassembles so it can slip easily into a suitcase.  Cush‘n Shade® is being launched exclusively by Bed Bath and Beyond this summer where sales have been impressive and  is now set to become the latest ‘must have’  summer accessory in the US. It offers retailers a unique new line bringing incremental sales to their business and makes for an exciting ‘ in and out’ in store promotional item during spring/summer months.

The suntan continues to have appeal as a physical attribute and as a symbol of health, associated with success, travel and a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Stronger bones, a better immune system, protection from some cancers, lower blood pressure, clearer skin, and a healthier brain . These are just a few of the apparent benefits of vitamin D. Vitamin D is made by our bodies and it requires sunshine. The problem is, we’re just not getting as much sun as we used to and consequently not enough to make the vitamin D our bodies need. We spend too much time indoors, and when we do go outdoors, we’re using sun block, which blocks the ultraviolet rays that create vitamin D. Exposing skin to sunlight presents both health risks and health benefits so what we need to do is to find the safest way to avail of this natural resource.

Today’s retailer shopper is on the go and constantly moving.  They are more likely to leave home or their office and forget their wallet than their mobile phone.  Retailers that want to expand both sales and customer loyalty have to explore all retail channels including store-front, web and now the mobile phone.

MobileAware is redefining the way enterprises engage their customers, harnessing the power of their customers’ mobile devices to deliver a compelling customer interaction channel.  Based in Dublin, Ireland, MobileAware has been providing mobile solutions across many industries since 1999.  Their customers include more than 20 Mobile Operators and some of the world’s largest Airlines, Banks and Retailers.  MobileAware is unique in offering our solutions on a traditional licensed platform basis for on-premise deployment, on a hosted/managed outsourced basis. (more…)

New initiative will build on historical and cultural ties

Dublin, Ireland, May 18, 2010: A delegation of Irish publishers will arrive in New York City next week on a mission to captivate American readers and build trade ties with local publishers.

The delegation consisting of representatives of Ireland’s leading publishing houses, and supported by Publishing Ireland and Culture Ireland, will be promoting Irish literature and publishing at the annual BookExpo America (BEA) in New York, from 25 to 27 May. This will be is the first year that Ireland has an official presence at America’s largest book trade fair.

The delegation will also host a networking event in association with Culture Ireland and the Irish Consul, at the Consul’s private residence in New York City on Tuesday, May 25th. Eminent Irish American business people, US publishers and a number of literary figures will attend the event.

“Literature and writing are some of Ireland’s most successful exports, and we are hoping this initiative will help Irish publishers to benefit from our country’s rich cultural output,” said Jean Harrington, President of Publishing Ireland.

The island of Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to the world of literature, producing some of the 20th century’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw and Seamus Heaney.

“Despite the fact that Ireland continues to punch well above its weight in the world of literature and writing, Irish publishers have yet to see significant sales in the US,” said Ms Harrington.

She added that even though Irish publishers nurtured the talents of, and published early works by renowned Irish authors such as Maeve Binchy, Roddy Doyle, Colum McCann, ColmTóibín, Joseph O’Connor, Eoin Colfer and Neil Jordan, British publishing houses ultimately reaped the dividends of their international success.

Ireland has strong historical and cultural ties with the US – over 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry and St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in dozens of cities and towns across the US. Ms Harrington said these links provide an impetus for increased trade contact between Irish and American publishers.

A number of Irish publishing houses have already established successful partnerships in the US; recent successes include: Little Brown acquiring Celine Kiernan’s Moorehawke Trilogy from the O’Brien Press and St Martin’s Press purchasing rights in Ken Bruen’s break-out Jack Taylor novels from Brandon.

Jean Harrington, President of Publishing Ireland, is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on +353 86 176 9287, or email gert.ackermann@gmail.com.

TIPPERARY CRYSTAL APPOINTED OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF SOLHEIM CUP

Tipperary Crystal has been appointed official crystal, glass and ceramics supplier of the 2011 Solheim Cup, the premier match play competition in women’s professional golf, which will be played at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland from Sept. 23-25. The company will also be official supplier of the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the AIB Ladies Irish Open in 2010, 2011 and 2012

The contract signing took place in Tipperary Crystal’s showrooms in Dublin today (Thursday, 29 April). Attending the signing was one of the world’s leading women golfers, Alison Nicholas MBE, former US Open Champion and Solheim Cup European Team Captain for 2009 and 2011.

Declan Fearon, managing director of Tipperary Crystal said: “The Solheim Cup is one of our most prestigious contracts to date and the fact that a player of the stature of Alison Nicholas is here for the signing of the contract underlines that it is very much a big deal. This will further enhance the profile of Tipperary Crystal in the US market. We opened a new office in Orlando, Florida, in February to spearhead a major marketing drive. Following our debut at the New York Tabletop Show earlier this month we secured significant new US retail business, including department stores like Dillards and Neiman Marcus.”

The Solheim Cup is the biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best 12 US-born players from the LPGA and the best 12 European-born players representing the Ladies European Tour (LET). The Solheim Cup is named in honour of Karsten Solheim, founder of the Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, parent company for PING golf equipment. Just like The Ryder Cup for men, being picked for one’s respective Solheim Cup team is the aspiration for every female professional golfer.

Tipperary Crystal was established in 1988.   The company has a highly successful strategy of ‘innovation through design’, working with talented Irish designers of international renown, which include Sybil Connolly, Louise Kennedy, Graham Knuttel, Peter O’Brien, Patrick Guilbaud, Rachel Allen and legendary Irish golfer Christy O’Connor Snr.  It is now a recognised leader in creating high-end designs, both classical and contemporary in crystal, glass and ceramics. The company employs 60 and had annual sales of €10 million last year.

Ends.

For further information contact:
Mary Quilty
MQ Communications
Tel: 00353 1 4539207 Mobile: 00353 1 872488280

Tipperary Crystal has been appointed official crystal trophy supplier of the Sony Ericsson Open 2010 –2011, which is taking place from 22 March 2010 to 4 April at the Tennis Center, in Crandon Park, Miami.

The 2010 trophies were created by Greg O’Sullivan a designer of many iconic trophies with an illustrious career spanning thirty-five years.  Greg says  ” Foremost in my mind was my desire to capture something of the action and energy of the sport. I wanted the trophies to have a fresh, contemporary look while still retaining the classic elegance befitting such an important tournament”.  

The Sony Ericsson trophy stands 18” tall and took over one week of intensive labour to complete. The process of designing the trophy involved using copper wheel engraving to create the detailed tennis effect on the trophy. This bespoke design dates back thousands of years to its roots in gemstone cutting.

Declan Fearon, managing director of Tipperary Crystal said: “We are thrilled to be involved with such a prestigious event and we believe that our new trophies will match the individualisation and creativity of the players who will become champions.”

The Sony Ericsson Open is a prestigious event and one of the nine ATP Masters Series events on the ATP calendar and it features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world and is also a premier mandatory event on the Sony Ericsson, WTA Tour calendar. The ATP has awarded it “Tournament of the year”  in eight of the last ten years.

Tipperary Crystal is a recognised leader in creating high-end designs, both classical and contemporary in crystal as well as ceramics.  Tipperary has pioneered a winning strategy of ‘innovation through design’, working with talented Irish designers of international renown, which include Sybil Connolly, Louise Kennedy, Graham Knuttel, Peter O’Brien and Rachel Allen.

For further information contact
Mary Quilty
MQ Communications
01 4539207 Mobile 087 2488280