Welcome to the Chamber

CONNECTED is highlighting some of the Chamber’s newest members. Let us introduce you to the wider range of members that the Londonderry Chamber represents across the North West. Will your business be featured in the next edition?

#GrowingBusinessNW

Alley Kat Design are a web development and design company based locally and specialising in custom website builds and ecommerce sites.

Kal Kler has been operating under the name Alley Kat Design for the last eight years after working for a design company for seven years previously. Given his experience in graphics he expanded into web design and web development and has been very fortunate to come into contact with an array of interesting clients from startups to established businesses. Alley Kat Design takes great pride in the service they provide to their customers all of whom we value greatly.

Civic Dollars is a community currency app that was developed after winning Smart City projects in Belfast and Dublin to provide a way to improve public health and wellbeing by incentivising activity.

The app is now launched in the Foyle region so users can earn 1 civic dollar for every 30 minutes they spend in selected parks in the city / region. We use a time-based solution so that we didn’t discriminate against users with health or mobility issues and to reduce health inequalities as users with health or mobility issues can still take part in the project.

The users can then get rewards for themselves or donate their civic dollars to local community groups, who can access separate rewards to get skills and expertise from businesses like legal, marketing or IT support, business consultancy or logo/website design. The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Northern Ireland hub is dedicated to supporting Northern Ireland businesses to boost exports, grow internationally, support inward investment and create high value jobs in Northern Ireland.

Our team including Sector Leads in Advanced Manufacturing and Technology, Creative Industries, AgriFood and Drink and Health and Life Sciences, works in close collaboration with local partners to ensure DIT Northern Ireland’s focus and services are aligned with the Department for the Economy’s 10x Innovation Strategy.

We have a detailed and extensive package of support for all Northern Ireland businesses that are looking to export and succeed in a global marketplace, including the UK Export Academy and UK Tradeshow Programme. With a global network in over 100 markets across the globe, businesses of all sizes across Northern Ireland can benefit from DIT’s strongly established connections, sector knowledge and market specialists. Diversity Mark are the awarding body of the Diversity Mark accreditation. Our mission is to help businesses across the UK and Ireland build more diverse and inclusive workplaces, through accreditation, insights, best practice and peer support. Whether you are new to workplace diversity or already seeing the array of benefits it brings, we will be with you at each and every step, committed to helping your organisation make a positive impact on people’s lives by transforming culture and attitudes for the better.

ARC Fitness transforms lives through sobriety and hope. We are a Derry based, not-for-profit organisation established in 2019 to provide innovative abstinence-based recovery and ongoing professional support for individuals and families overcoming substance use. We aim to reduce harm within our society using a practical, compassionate health focused approach.

Find out more at:

www.arcfitness.co.uk

Belfast International Airport is Northern Ireland’s principal airport and the second largest gateway on the island of Ireland, flying you to over 60 domestic and international destinations.

Founded by Louise Carey and Laurie Schneider Keegan, Embodied Pilates Studio is a boutique Pilates Studio in the heart of the city helping people to find greater comfort and confidence in their movement. At Embodied Pilates Studio we are pleased to offer Pilates instruction to everyone, regardless of your starting point. We have private sessions on the suite of Pilates equipment, as well as matwork, Ballet Barre and Slings classes. Sessions are available both in person and online. Our goal is to help you find joy in your movement.

Pristine Clean NI is a carpet and upholstery cleaning company, providing high quality cleaning for households, holiday parks, and commercial properties.

Eyegloo productions produce TV quality videos and provide marketing services for businesses looking to promote themselves online.

To see some of our work visit

eyegloo.co.uk

Hidden City Café believe that we all need to do our bit for the planet and local economy, so ethically source and support as many local, in-season fresh, organic, fairtrade, producers and businesses as possible. All alternative dietary requirements are catered for, promoting an extensive healthy plant-based menu with fish, chicken, gluten free and halal options. Hidden City Café provide a suspended Lunch/ Coffee Scheme supporting charities such as Foyle Food Bank and Foyle Women’s Refuge. As active members of the Conscious Cup Campaign and Legendary Food network, Hidden City Café promote food sustainability and the circular economy.

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.

We Plant – Creating new woodland is at the heart of what we do. We mobilise communities, landowners, and volunteers to get trees in the ground, and aim to plant a tree for every person in the UK. We Restore – Ancient woods have rich, irreplaceable ecosystems, but they have been damaged by non- native planting and invasive species. We work to restore them to their former glory. We Protect – Standing up for trees and woods across the UK is why we’re here. We campaign to stop the irreversible destruction of ancient woodland and unnecessary loss of trees from our cities. We Care – We look after 50+ woods across Northern Ireland, all just waiting for you to explore. Access to our woods is free of charge and we welcome thousands of visitors each year. Ferry Clever has become a household name in Derry due to the connection that the people of the city feel with our products and our unique brand of marketing.

At the heart of our business is humour as we feel it is important to make people laugh during some very difficult times. We try to do so with originality and creativity, mixed in with that famous Derry mindset of seeing the funny side of everything. Be it birthday cards, mugs, t-shirts or bespoke products, the unique way that Derry people see life is represented in memorable and exclusive ways.

Our unique marketing strategies include working with some well-known local celebrities which create plenty of laughs, resulting in each Ferry Clever advertisement becoming highly anticipated by an online audience of 12.3K followers on Instagram and almost 10K followers on Facebook. These videos, which already have over 1 million views, emphasise the relatability of Ferry Clever to the local community as well as raising the profile of the city along the way. We were also delighted recently to become an official partner with well-known English card manufacturer Moonpig.com. As a result, we are now the only Moonpig supplier in the country, and in just two months, we have sold over 3,000 units with our new partner.

We also believe very strongly in supporting local. We have our products in 20 supermarkets throughout the city, and have hired three members of staff as we continue to grow thanks to the support of the community.

We are also an official partner of the John and Pat Hume Foundation and we run a different charity campaign every month to help raise vital funds for local organisations. Ferry Clever was started in my bedroom less than two years ago, and has grown to an extent that we have opened our first shop in the city centre. This has been an exciting adventure, made possible by the people of Derry, for which we are extremely grateful. Food Guard is an innovative software platform that modernises traceability and HACCP compliance processes in food manufacturers. With over 30 years’ experience in the food industry and having relevant expertise, you can be assured to receive the highest quality standards when engaging with Food Guard and its professional services, including micro-sampling, full HACCP set-up and food safety training.

Le Foyer des Artistes is an ensemble of musicians from across the world, founded by Derry native, Darren Hargan.

During this exciting restoration period of St Columb’s Hall, international stars, together with a new generation of emerging young singers and instrumental soloists, will visit Derry to perform on the stage of this historic theatre.

Our residency at St Columb’s Hall opens a brand new chapter in the 135 year history of music at this grand theatre, during an exciting period of restoration.

International stars, together with a new generation of emerging young singers and instrumental soloists will visit Derry to perform on the stage of this historic hall.

Le Foyer des Artistes is also passionate and committed to providing opportunities for professional development and education through local and international collaboration.

Four concerts celebrate key dates connected with St Columba and the patrons of Ireland: 7 December, 4 February, 16 March, 9 June.

Just last month we were awarded Winners of the ‘North West Retailer of the year 2022’ and winners of ‘Best use of Social Media in the North West 2022’

Owner of Little Acorns Bookstore, Inishowen-born Jenni Doherty, began as a market stall of 100 books in 2011 (due to a house move) to now boast over 45K new and used books of all genres in 2022, specialising mainly in local literature, Irish history and politics plus children’s books, along with a gift and stationery section.

Jenni’s background includes sales, marketing and editorial with Guildhall Press Publishers, library assistant with Waterside Library, bookseller with Eason & Son and the former Bookworm Bookshop. She is an award-winning published author, and has contributed to and compiled various books and facilitated creative writing workshops.

Having moved shop six times throughout the city of Derry, Little Acorns plans to move one last time before year end, and with a collection of over 120 typewriters, plans to open Ireland’s first Typewriter Museum once relocated. Additional attractions to the bookshop include two reclaimed chairs known as the LegenDerry Writers’ Chair and the Theatre & Media Chair, which boast over 350 signatures from such luminaries as authors to actors, directors to broadcasters, musicians to comedians, illustrators to singers and journalists to politicians.

Little Acorns Bookstore was awarded the Regional Bookshop Winner (for Ulster) in the An Post Bookshop of the Year 2021 (the top five of Ireland), was one of the six finalists (representing Ireland) in the British Book Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year 2022 and was the overall winner of the North West Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 2022.

Currently located in 11 Foyle Street, Little Acorns Bookstore is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Online service and international book orders available.

For more details, please see:

www.littleacornsbookstore.co.uk

Mahlo Lean Renovations Ltd is a Franchisee of Refresh Renovations UK

What we do We are a building / landscaping company specialising in residential renovations. We operate in NZ, Australia, the UK and USA

Why we do it Homeowners typically have a very poor experience when renovating / landscaping their homes. Refresh Renovations is here to change how the world renovates so that homeowners get a result to be proud of with the minimum amount of pain.

How we do it (Design and Build) By delivering a business model that connects customers to the best people and processes, via a unique technology platform that makes life easier for everyone. Our scale and our relationships give any homeowner access to world-class project management, customer service, attention to detail and workmanship.

We are a family owned pest management business established in 1975 by Charlie Page.

We currently provide reactive and preventive pest management services to FM companies, housing associations, and letting and estate agents.

We provide IPM servicing contracts to sectors including commercial, domestic, educational, housing, and industrial.

Our current owner/director, Patricia Page, recently became a Fellow of the Royal Association of Public Health, which is testament to her longevity and academic success within her chosen field. She is also the first female technician in the UK and Ireland to achieve the RSPH Level 3 Award in Integrated Pest Management. MJ Flood is the largest indigenous supplier of Managed Print Services, Digital Technology and Security Systems to the Irish marketplace. Privately owned, the company has successfully reinvented itself down through the years by preempting market change and putting the customer at the center of everything it does.

MJ Flood’s Head Office is located in Dublin’s Baldonnell Business Park, where it occupies its own purpose-built offices, showrooms and warehouse. Eight regional branches in Athlone, Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Wexford and Waterford underline the company’s strong commitment to the business community by employing local staff with the highest industry accreditations.

MJ Flood is the exclusive distributor for Konica Minolta in Ireland. This solid industry partnership recognises the company’s long track record in delivering quality print management solutions and technical expertise to the Irish market. With its solid financial standing, MJ Flood customers can purchase with the confidence and knowledge that their chosen equipment provider will be here to take care of business for many years to come.

Established in 2008, Seating Matters set out to create clinical, therapeutic seating that would cater to the holistic needs of patients - providing comfort, postural support, pressure management and improving quality of life. Seating Matters design and manufacture clinical, therapeutic seating for patients and caregivers, selling our products throughout the UK & Ireland, Canada, Australia and the US. As a company, we are passionate about the continuous improvement of our product, our processes and most importantly our people. Seating Matters is committed to helping millions of lives a year through their products and global partnerships.