Sisters Vicky O’Dwyer and Sophie Cafolla are the founders of Stork & Co, a business participating in the Showcase Ireland 2021 Virtual Showrooms event.
Stork & Co is participating in Showcase Ireland 2021 Virtual Showrooms, from 25 to 29 January.
Showcase is one of the industry’s largest international trade fairs where designers and craft makers provide a choice of contemporary and heritage collections, offering innovation, quality, sustainability and a distinctive point of difference to retail buyers from across the globe.
“We have noticed it in store and also that people who had been trying for a while have found themselves getting pregnant over the last few months due to reduced work-related stress”
Showcase Ireland is an initiative of the Design & Crafts Council Ireland and is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. View the Digital Catalogue here
Stork & Co noticed a baby boom since the last lockdown and went from being totally online to opening a bricks and mortar shop – showing us all you have to be brave to be an entrepreneur.
Building an Irish lifestyle brand
Sophie Cafolla and her son Dominic.
Stork & Co. is an Irish lifestyle brand that creates modern clothing & accessories for little adventurers. The company was founded by Irish sisters, Sophie Cafolla and Dr Vicky O’Dwyer, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.
The sisters have five children between them and so continually utilise their personal and professional experience to develop products that are practical and fun.
Currently stocked in Kilkenny shops nationwide, online and have recently opened their first multipurpose retail shop.
Pandemic baby boom
During lockdown they found that online demand increased for the first few months but they found it steadied out once restrictions were lifted and shops reopened.
In a twist from other companies instead of going fully online, Stork & Co. opened a bricks and mortar shop in Donnybrook during the summer, complete with hatch and full window display to provide convenient click and collect services.
With the help of a Feasibility Study Grant from Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, Stork & Co. also developed a range of bamboo bedding, for children as well as parents, that is soft on the skin and is naturally antibacterial.
The recent baby boom from the pandemic, which Vicky as a Gynecologist has noticed over the past few months has really boosted their business
“We have noticed it in store and also that people who had been trying for a while have found themselves getting pregnant over the last few months due to reduced work-related stress, also couples who had been thinking of getting pregnant had decided to just go for it while at home!”
So there is a silver lining when it comes to the pandemic.
Published: 29 January 2021
