Media Coverage

Keanes Jewellers Network Cork Business Woman of the Year Awards Winners Announced
www.keanes.ie

08 October 2008
Cork’s Businesswomen Keane to get top prize
Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Award Announced
Sarah Galvin, Managing Director of Heritage Hampers Limited, Ireland’s largest hamper company, has won the Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards in conjunction with Keanes Jewellers.
The awards were held at The Maryborough Hotel and Spa on Wednesday 1st October. Awards were given in two categories: Best Entrepreneur (two winners) and Best New Business with The Keanes Perpetual Trophy going to the Overall Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year.
Category award winners were Tuula Harrington and Sarah Galvin jointly for Best Entrepreneur, and Sandra Maher for Best New Business.
Keanes Jewellers celebrates its Diamond Anniversary this year and this sponsorship is part of a year-long campaign to give something back to the community that has supported the jewellers for the last 60 years.
“We are absolutely delighted with the caliber of entrant to this year’s awards, there are some exceptional women in Cork and we are thrilled to be associated with their achievements. We look forward to seeing them represent Cork on the national stage,” said Rebecca Birchall, Marketing Manager of Keanes Jewellers after presenting each of the winners with a stunning Longines Dolce Vita watch, worth €800.
The 3 category winners will now go on to represent Cork at the Network Ireland national awards in Portlaoise on 3rd October 2008.
Network Cork is an organisation for women in business, the professions and the arts. They provide support and an environment for business networking. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 6.15pm in The Maryborough Hotel and Spa in Douglas. Guests are always welcome.

Keanes Perpetual Trophy and Overall Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year 2008
Sarah Galvin is the Managing Director of Ireland’s largest hamper company, Heritage Hampers Limited (trading as Heritage Hampers & Gifts), a business she founded in 1994 to combine her twin loves of food and wine. The company markets its own range of quality Food, Wine & Spirits and Gift Hampers and an extensive range of “gifts for all seasons and reasons”. The company’s annual turnover is €2 million and it employs 48 full-time and part-time staff in its premises in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Sarah has a wealth of academic experience from Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations to Cookery, Wine and Personal Effectiveness & Leadership Management all of which she brings to her successful company. Sarah is a member of Network Ireland. She enjoys traveling and golf. Sarah is a native of Cork and presently lives in Passage West with her partner Frank and their son Louis.

Network Cork Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008 Joint Winner
Sarah Galvin, Heritage Hampers

Sarah Galvin, Heritage Hampers scoops Cork Enterprising Business Woman of the Year Award
www.corkceb.ie

Monday 17 December 2007
The award was created by the Cork City and South Cork Enterprise Boards, in conjunction with Network Ireland (Cork Branch). This unique award is the first in Cork to recognise emerging and promising female innovators and entrepreneurs with products and / or services that have excellent market appeal. Unlike other awards, it focuses on the spirit of enterprise and is open to both entrepreneurs and women in industry. The competition, a key part of the Enterprise Boards’ drive to increase entrepreneurship in Cork, focuses on areas of enterprise excellence: those women that have provided a clear vision for their business, created jobs and outsourced activities, supported business colleagues and, essentially, made a real difference to local businesses and local people. Applicants were judged on the originality of their business, their success, innovation and creativity within the business and sheer bravery and determination. There was huge interest in this innovative competition and it proved very difficult for the judging panel to narrow it down to seven short list candidates. However, after many days of deliberation and review Sarah Galvin of Heritage Hampers became a clear winner. Sarah was born into an entrepreneurial family with her entire family running their own businesses. She established Heritage Hampers in 1994 and employs over fifty full and part time staff today. Heritage Hampers markets its own range of quality food, wine & spirits and gift hampers. The company’s product range is primarily aimed at the corporate market in Ireland but it is also suitable for the general consumer market in Ireland and abroad. Clearly displaying a true flair for innovation and enterprise Sarah has made significant progress with e-business initiatives in the past three years and has placed a lot of emphasis on its website. Importantly it acts as a vehicle where customers in Ireland and throughout the world can place orders and has become a very active channel to showcase Heritage Hampers product range. In addition the company contributes substantially to the local economy working very closely with local food and drinks suppliers; the vast majority being owned and managed by fellow Cork business people. Speaking at the award ceremony Joanne Hession, Women in Business Network Coordinator and member of the judging panel stated: “We were delighted with the number who showed interest in this innovative award. The caliber of the enterprising women who submitted applications was extremely high and applications were received from across sectors. It was interesting to see that all applications received were from top business women in Cork, many who have grown their businesses from seedlings into well established organisations, some in a very short period of time. There is no denying that all applicants have faced and overcome enormous challenges during the course of their business, even those businesses that have been established more recently.” Continuing Hession commented “it was an extremely competitive process to shortlist the seven award candidates and, ultimately, choose a winner. Sarah Galvin, Heritage Hampers, showed to the judging panel great creativity and innovation with her hamper lines, proactive use of networking, true business management skills in areas such as finance, team motivation and, importantly, future planning. One of the key challenges faced by Sarah was the seasonality of her business. Embracing it with true entrepreneurial style Sarah, in 2004, reviewed her situation and took to difficult decision to transform the business into an all year round hamper and gift company, resulting in a custom built premises. She certainly is an inspiration to all budding entrepreneurs and very deserving of this award.” Delighted with winning the award Sarah Galvin stated: “This is a great honour for me to win the first Cork Enterprising Business Woman of the Year Award and have the hard work and dedication recognised by my peers. Setting up your own business certainly can be challenging, invigorating and very exciting and I have loved every minute of it! I would like to thank the Cork City & South Cork Enterprise Boards, along with Network Ireland, for creating this award and enabling Cork business women to be recognised for their great contribution.”

Heritage Hampers opens new Cork warehouse
www.rte.ie

Tuesday, 23 November 2004
Corporate gifts company Heritage Hampers today officially opened its new 12,000sq ft office, showroom and warehouse facility in Carrigaline, Co Cork. The new premises was purpose-built at a cost of €1.4m. Heritage Hampers, which was set up by Cork businesswoman Sarah Galvin in 1994, specialises in providing year round hamper gifts primarily for the corporate market. She said the new premises would allow the company to increase its fulfilment capacity and target new overseas markets.