The awarding of a prestigious POPAI accolade comes as a beacon of light in hard-times for one Carlow enterprise. On the outskirts of Carlow town one business is setting a golden example to oth- ers in the highly competitive world of retail marketing. Carlow Graphics Ltd, the forward-thinking enterprise of Mark and Natalie Dowling, have come home victorious from the annual POPAI Awards (Point-of-Pur- chase Advertising International) bearing top prize and the approval of their international contemporaries.

Carlow Graphics Ltd won Best of Ireland award for their True Light Atlantic Unit designed and built for Crown paints Ireland. They also received two silver awards for the Innovation Award category and Short Run and Flagship category for both UK and Ireland on the night and now go on to compete in the 2010 POPIA global awards.

The award presentation ceremony at Park Lane in London in October 2010. The POPAI Awards recognise excellence in the P-O-P market, a market worth in excess of £1bn per annum in the UK and Ireland. Entries were judged by a distin- guished panel of independent industry professionals at a Gala event in London’s Sheraton Hotel where the awards were announced. Their criteria was based on the effectiveness of the display in increasing sales, securing retail placement and working strategically to position the brand at the point-of-purchase.Judges’ of the Best of Ireland award commented on the True Light Atlantic Unit; “The standout excellence of the unit make it a deserving winner of this, the third award bestowed upon it at this year’s awards. Innovation in terms of providing real-life lighting conditions to help the shopper more easily determines their choice of paint.

The overall design and impactful sample display makes this an undeniable persuasive sales tool.”Crown Paints Ireland said; “We are absolutely thrilled with the awards, given the level of competition against tough opposition from leading high street and service industry brand names from the UK and Ireland, this is an outstanding achievement for Crown Paints Ireland and Carlow Graphics Ltd.” Originally established as a signage com- pany, Carlow Graphics Ltd have over the years learned that diversity and a core- team of dedicated staff would be the key to their success. 

Managing Director Mark Dowling had this to say; “When the recession hit, Carlow Graphics Ltd made the decision to diversify and began to design and build unique retail display solutions. With a team of such highly motivated, skilled product designers and craftsmen this was a natural progression for the company. This award belongs to all the hard-working and dedicated members of our team.” Whether Carlow Graphics Ltd will add another glittering prize to their awards collection we shall have to wait and see, but one thing is certain, Carlow Graphics Ltd have already proven their ability to compete and win on a global stage.