From kitchen table to £100K deal

INVESTMENTDragons Den contestant last guest on Cavan Business Women’s Club

A female entrepreneur, who impressed the judges on the UK Dragons’ Den earlier this year was one of the guest speakers at the final Cavan Business Women’s Club of 2021 over Zoom.

Dublin-based Sharon Keegan, founder and chief executive of athleisure wear brand, Peachylean, shared insights of how she has built her business since setting it up from her kitchen table in 2018 to selling products worldwide and having the confidence to apply for funding to the UK Dragon’s Den.

She received an investment of £100,000 or €115,137 on the popular tv show.

Also speaking on the night was Mary Sadlier of Meath-based Coole Swan Cream Liqueur, whose business has won numerous accolades including the ‘No.1 Cream Liqueur in the World’ and one of the ‘World’s Top 100 Spirits’. The theme for the Cavan Business Women’s Club event was ‘The future looks bright with a world of opportunities’ and the 30 business women who attended the virtual event heard from both guest speakers about how they always looked forward and embraced all opportunities afforded to them and their businesses.

They also said that customer service and having the right team is key to success.

The women on the Zoom call also had the opportunity to speak and introduce themselves and their business offering. Margaret McKeon-Boyle, Extensive PR Ltd, who coordinates the Cavan Business Women’s Club on behalf of Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cavan, was the MC for the evening.

Marcella Rudden, Head of Enterprise, LEO Cavan said: “LEO Cavan set up this professional business women’s network in 2013 as a platform to encourage and promote entrepreneurship for women and highlight the benefits of choosing self-employment.

“In the eight years since then, some 500 women in business spanning many different business sectors, have engaged with the network.

“At each event, members have the opportunity to network, to do business, be inspired by successful businesswomen guest speakers, learn in the CBWC workshops, showcase their business at the EXPO when meeting face to face, and enjoy the camaraderie and support they receive from other businesswomen. It is our intention to continue to run the Cavan Business Women’s Club in 2022 providing Cavan businesswomen with the support and advice they need to grow their businesses further.”

Membership of Cavan Business Women’s Club will open again in 2022. Any woman can join, whether a business owner, working in a company or those thinking of starting a business, all are welcome.

For more details contact the LEO Cavan on 049-4377200 or email CBWC@leo.cavancoco.ie