Showcase Weekend Round-Up: Behind the Scenes with Janni Bars

The week got away from me… but this story was too good not to share

This week’s blog didn’t land on time — but after the weekend I’ve just had, I couldn’t not sit down and write it.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was at Showcase in Dublin — one of Ireland’s biggest trade events for Irish-made brands. It’s the kind of weekend that’s exciting, exhausting, and honestly a little bit surreal all at once.

So here’s a proper round-up: the behind-the-scenes work, the moments that made me stop and take it all in, and what it’s really like showing up as a small business owner with a stall, a car full of stock, and a head full of hopes.

Saturday: set-up day (and the part nobody sees)

Saturday was all about getting the stand ready — and I mean ready-ready.

It was up to Dublin, straight into set-up mode:

• Painting the stall

• Painting on the bubbles (yes, actual painting — and yes, it takes longer than you think)

• Putting up shelves

• Decorating

• Unpacking boxes and getting every product into place

And then there’s the part that’s harder to describe: placement.

If you’ve ever walked into a shop and felt drawn to something without knowing why… that’s not an accident. The psychology that goes into retail is massive, and I’ll be honest — I’m not an expert.

I’ve spent years building Janni Bars online, where I can tell the story, explain the ingredients, and guide you through what’s best for your hair or skin.

Retail is different.

In retail, a product has to catch your eye, make sense quickly, and earn its space — all while being surrounded by other beautiful brands doing the exact same thing.

So I did what I always do: I focused on what I can control.

I made the stand feel like Janni Bars — natural, calm, a little bit magical — and I placed everything with as much thought as I could. And then I stepped back, looked at it, and hoped that the products would shine.

Sunday: a whopper of a start

Sunday started with a bang.

From early on, we had both national and international orders, which is always such a buzz — because it’s a reminder that this little business made in my workshop in Longford is reaching people far beyond where it started.

And on top of that, we’ve secured a few new locations in Ireland, with a few more conversations still to be had.

That’s the thing about events like Showcase: sometimes the biggest wins are the ones you can’t fully announce yet.

A lot of the best meetings are still open-ended. They’re full of possibility. You walk away thinking, anything could come from this.

The moments I’ll remember for a long time

There were a few meetings over the weekend that genuinely stopped me in my tracks.

Meeting Micheál Martin and Minister Peter Burke

One of the most surreal moments was getting to share my story with Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach, and Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise.

Both took a real interest in my sustainable business journey — and that meant a lot.

When you’re deep in the day-to-day of running a small business, it can feel like you’re constantly pushing a boulder uphill: making stock, packing orders, fixing labels, answering messages, trying to keep on top of everything.

So to have that kind of attention — and genuine curiosity — was a reminder that what we’re building here matters.

Don O’Neill: a ray of light

I also had a brilliant meeting with Don O’Neill, the Irish fashion designer.

Don was a huge support to everyone at the event. He came in like a ray of light — full of encouragement, pep talks, and that kind of energy that lifts the whole room.

It’s easy to underestimate how much those moments matter, especially when you’re tired and running on adrenaline.

Two big highlights: The Edit + a nomination

Two of the biggest “pinch me” moments of the weekend were these:

Featured in The Edit

Janni Bars was featured in The Edit, with the Vetiver Deodorant and May Chang Soap Bar on display right as you walk in the main door.

If you’ve ever exhibited at an event like this, you’ll know how huge that is.

To see your products placed front and centre — where everyone is walking past — is a mix of pride and disbelief.

Vetiver Deodorant nominated for a Wellbeing Award

And then… the Vetiver Deodorant was also nominated for the Wellbeing Award.

Seeing it — and seeing Janni Bars — displayed on the main stage was honestly incredible.

It’s one thing to believe in your products quietly at home while you’re making them.

It’s another thing entirely to see them recognised publicly, in a room full of buyers and brands.

The reality: long days, tired bodies, and saying yes anyway

The days at Showcase are long.

By the end of each day, both the mind and the body are absolutely wrecked — but it doesn’t stop when the doors close.

There are events to attend, meet-and-greets with potential buyers, conversations you don’t want to miss.

And while I’m there, I try to grab every opportunity that’s put in front of me.

Because that’s what small business life is a lot of the time:

You show up.

You do the work.

You say yes.

Even when you’re tired.

Especially when you’re tired.

The best part: the entrepreneur community

As amazing as the big moments were, the thing I take most to heart is something quieter.

It’s seeing my fellow entrepreneur friends.

And meeting new ones.

The support we give one another is just unreal.

There are no wrong questions. No wrong feelings. No pretending you’ve got it all together.

Because we’ve all been through the same things at some stage — the doubt, the overwhelm, the “how am I going to do all of this?” moments.

And without that support, the days would feel almost impossible.

A huge thank you

I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the LEO office in Longford for choosing to send Janni Bars as one of their appointed businesses.

I hope I did you proud.

And to everyone who stopped by, placed an order, shared kind words, or simply followed along — thank you.

I’m coming home tired, grateful, and genuinely excited about what could come next.

If there’s one thing I’m taking from Showcase, it’s this:

Small businesses might be small… but the dreams behind them are anything but.

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