Buy Local & Support Local Businesses by getting your gifts in Dún Laoghaire

Joy to the world and you dear reader. Here we are at the end of another challenging year. But we made it and we deserve to start preparing for a holiday season, decorating our homes, and wrapping Christmas gifts. As we are passionate about helping Dun Laoghaire businesses, we can’t wait for you to see a great selection of businesses and their products with amazing recommendations for Christmas presents.

Our idea is that you don’t have to go far to bring the Christmas magic to your home. Our local businesses have something for everyone’s taste and we invite you to stop by their shops and show your support.

Let’s see some of their Christmas gift recommendations.

Horans Healthstore

Selfcare is important now more than ever so that’s why Horan’s Healthstore is a great shop to stop by and pick one of their fantastic products for your family and friends. Horans is a well-known Irish brand with fifteen locations across Ireland. We had a pleasure speaking to a lovely Dun Laoghaire store manager Claire and learning more about the business and what’s good this Christmas.

Horans was founded in 1988 by Dan Horan. The majority of the stores are in the southwest part of the country in Kerry, Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary. The Dun Laoghaire shop is their first store in the Dublin area, but hopefully, there will be many more. The business originally started years ago as a frozen vegetable shop, but it gradually moved towards the health food and supplements industry.

Claire and the whole Horans team are very mindful of the quality of customer care they provide. When you come into their shop looking for advice or insights on self care the team  always try to understand the background of any current issues so they can provide a holistic solution. They ask questions to get to the root of the problem a customer might be having to be able to give the best advice they can.

An exciting plan for 2022 is for the team to open a therapy room in the back of the Dun Laoghaire store where they will be doing allergy testing, kinesiology, massage, and various other complimentary therapies which would help their customers.

Claire Doyle, Manager at Horan’s Healthstore, Dún Laoghaire 

Christmas Gift Ideas from Horans

Horans are constantly getting new Christmas stock in, and they have a huge range to offer. Hampers are very popular at the moment according to Claire, they sell specialist hampers made to order.

If you have someone in your life who is vegan for example, or you need something sugar-free, dairy-free, or celiac, Horan’s will put together something special just for your needs. They have a great range of sugar-free chocolates, treats, and sweets for people who are diabetic. They also offer call and collect services. You can ring them and agree on what you want in the hamper and Horans will make it up for you.

Other popular items in their store include candles, personal care items, lovely hand washers and moisturisers, and Himalayan salt lamps. Himalayan salt lamps which are good to keep in the bedroom beside your bed.

How to Buy From Horans

Here’s where you can find Horan’s Healthstore:

74 Lower Georges Street, Dun Laoghaire

085 8591761

Website

Google Reviews Horan’s Healthstore

The Pen Place

Penmanship is not dead, and it is an age-old art that many love. Even with digital all around us, putting a pen to paper still helps us to focus better and be more productive, and not to mention the personal touch of the handwritten notes. That’s why we believe pens are a lovely and practical gift for the dearest people in your life.

Dun Laoghaire has a pen shop that has stood a test of time and that has supplied top quality pens for more than 40 years. The Pen Place’s owner Brendan Kerrigan was kind enough to share the story behind his business. He took over the business in 2003, however it has been going in the same location from 1976. It is one of the oldest shops in Dun Laoghaire shopping centre.

Brendan loves the product, he loves what it represents. It has endless opportunities as a gift. The design and style of pens are reinvented all the time and everybody loves pens. His customers range from young children getting their first pens, to older generations getting a nice pen for their life’s achievements. The Pen Place sells and also engraves pens for every occasion. Brendan’s pens are presented internationall, one example he shared was the story of a golden engraved pen that he recently prepared as a gift for someone who lives in London for this person’s 50th birthday.

Brendan always goes the extra mile for his customers. Waking up at the crack of dawn to deliver a special order is no bother for him. When he built his website he insisted that his personal phone number and the Irish flag be on it. The phone number is there as a way to provide the personal touch, for people to call him directly and discuss their needs and expectations over the phone with him as the owner of the website and the business. As a result of that half of his business comes from the website, and a significant amount of sales come over the phone directly to Brendan.

Pens are gift-wrapped with a handwritten ‘thank-you’ note from Brendan thanking his customers for their business, this small touch goes a long way.

Brendan Kerrigan, Owner at The Pen Place

Christmas Gift Ideas from The Pen Place

Pens are a wonderful gift for all seasons and occasions in our lives including Christmas. His special offer would be the engraving service which is free of charge and the gift-wrap is also free of charge.

The Pen Place carries all well-known international brands such as A.T.Cross, Sheaffer, Pelikan, Parker, Waterman, Lamy, Montegrappa, Caran d’ Ache, Mont Blanc, and Fisher Space Pens. They also carry the most extensive range of fountain pen inks with over 200 colours to choose from.

They offer limited edition pens from brands like Montblanc and Graf von Faber Castell for special occasions.

How to Buy From The Pen Place

You buy from the Pen Place in store on the 3rd floor in Dun Laoghaire shopping centre. Over their website, via email [email protected], or phone at 087 254 2932. Leading to Christmas the shop will be open seven days a week.

Here’s where you can find The Pen Place:

Unit 317a, Marine Rd, Dún Laoghaire

(087) 254 2932

Website

Google Reviews The Pen Place

Sahara

Join us in welcoming Sahara, a NEW BUSINESS in our town. Something different and full of colours that could be ideal for a Christmas present. We had great pleasure in speaking to Barikisu, the founder of this super new business.

An idea for the business formed when people started commenting on Barikisu’s baskets in her home. She brought a few to Ireland from Ghana and positive feedback encouraged Barikisu to form a new business and transform it into a reality. As Barikisu comes from where the baskets are made she wanted to try to make a go of it. Putting this idea into action meant new jobs for people in her community, so she went back home and spoke to her family and friends. She asked them to weave a few baskets just to see how it would go. She had a pop-up shop in Dun Laoghaire shopping centre and the feedback was great. So she had made an arrangement with women back home to start weaving baskets regularly.

Our community reacted positively to the shop in George’s street. Vibrant colors are attracting people to the shop in their droves. The products are unusual, not something we can see regularly. All products are handmade and unique, a product of creative and skillful hands. So many people commented that they feel like they are stepping into a museum when they come to the shop. And it is no wonder as every item in the shop is a unique work of art.

Barikisu Telfer, Owner at Sahara

Christmas Gift Ideas from Sahara

There are many interesting products in the Sahara shop that could be suitable Christmas gifts. Barikisu has ladies’ bags, Makola bag is very popular. You can use these bags when strolling, or shopping.

Barikisu recommends baskets for plants. If you have someone who likes flowers this could be a perfect gift for them. She also has wooden handmade animals, baskets for pets, traditional African musical instruments, and so much more.

How to Buy From Sahara

You can buy from Sahara in-store on Upper George’s St and online. For orders larger than €50, delivery is free and available anywhere in Ireland.

Here’s where you can find Sahara:

69C George’s Street Upper, Dún Laoghaire

(087) 773 4501

Website

Google Reviews Sahara

Footprints Bookstore

In a spirit of peace, love, and joy we are featuring one of our town’s favourites,  Footprints Bookstore. This Christian books and gift store is in Dun Laoghaire for a very long time and we had a great chat with its owner Dougie.

Dougie was in retail for many years, since 1970’s. Together with his wife, he became an owner of the Footprints bookstore more than twenty years ago. Previously the business was known as The Scripture Union and it was located on the main street. Dougie’s wife sadly died in 2012 and since then he is running the business on his own. He loves the business and his strong faith in God is giving him motivation to keep going. He is in the shop most of the time and he knows his customers very well. He’s been looking after our community for many years.

Dougie Hobson, Owner at Footprints Bookstore

Christmas Gift Ideas Footprints Bookstore

In Dougie’s shop, you’d be able to find a great range of products and gifts themed around Christmas. Advent calendars, Christmas cards, Diaries, Calendars, and other gifts that have a strong Christian message like wall plaques, mugs, etc.

How to Buy From Footprints Bookstore

You can buy from Footprints Bookstore in store. Delivery across all the country is available as well. People can reach out via phone (01) 663 8773 or email at [email protected].

Here’s where you can find Footprints Bookstore:

72 Convent Rd, Dún Laoghaire

(01) 663 8773

Google Reviews Footprints Bookstore

Organic Italian Hairdressing

Please join us in welcoming another unique NEW BUSINESS in our town. Organic Italian Hairdressing is a fantastic green living concept that cares about our body inside-out. We were very excited to meet the owners and learn more about their business. Ivana was very kind to share the story behind one of Dún Laoghaire’s newest businesses.

She and her partner Franceso just started the Organic Italian Hairdressing in October having been experienced hairdressers with an outlet in Dalkey. They moved to Dun Laoghaire because they wanted to expand into a concept store. They are zero chemistry hairdressers. They are the first salon in Ireland to use plants’ based colours.

They care about the planet and the health of people. What they use in the salon is not just organic, but also all raw materials are organic, they use 100% natural colors formulated with water. They have their own brand Conlemany for sale which includes shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, body care, and colour. They actually create their own colour and even their own coffee in edible cups. You drink your coffee and then, if the notion takes you, you eat your cup. How cool is that?!

Husband & wife team Francesco Piccolo and Ivana Margarini, Owners at Organic Italian Hairdressing

Christmas Gift Ideas from Organic Italian Hairdressing

Organic Italian Hairdressing is amazing option if you want to surprise someone who is passionate about environment and sustainability. The shop offers gift cards, and encourages you to make a sustainable present.

Everything they have in their concept is organic and recycled. They recommend a natural homecare kits, food, soaps, recycled jewellery handmade in Italy. People can come to the shop and make their own face masks, scalp treatments, and more.

How to Buy From Organic Italian Hairdressing

You can purchase from Organic Italian Hairdressing in-store on the Upper George’s Street. They advise customers to stop by to be able to get personalised care. The products are made that way that you have to get the feeling from them for the best results. That allows the Organic Italian Hairdressing team to create a bespoke treatment just for you.

Here’s where you can find Organic Italian Hairdressing:

64A George’s Street Upper, Dún Laoghaire

(087) 719 4495

Website

Google Reviews Organic Italian Hairdressing

Søstrene Grene

Søstrene Grene is an international brand and concept and it’s in Dun Laoghaire since 2015. We are grateful to the shop owner Niall who shared the story behind the shop in our town. Niall found the concept operating in Copenhagen, Denmark and decided to bring it home as he thought it would do very well in Ireland.

The shop is focused on the home and home comfort. It offers a variety of products from artwork to homeware, kitchenware, and products for hobbies. The store carries unique products which are priced reasonably.

Ligita Aleknaviciute, Manger at Søstrene Grene

Christmas Gift Ideas from Søstrene Grene

Niall recommends a great selection of toys from their shop and Christmas decorations. For artists they offer a great range of art supplies. You can also buy candles, napkins, lots of baking products.

You can also find nice furniture pieces particularly chairs. But hurry as their products change every week, so if you liked something in the shop, make sure to buy it there and then!

How to Buy From Søstrene Grene

You can buy from Søstrene Grene directly in the shop at the Georges Lower street. The website is coming in late 2022.

Here’s where you can find Søstrene Grene:

89 George’s Street Lower, Dún Laoghaire

Website

Google Reviews Søstrene Grene

Ready for the Christmas shopping?

We hope we gave you a good few Christmas shopping options and ideas for presents. Dun Laoghaire businesses are well stocked to accommodate everyone’s taste. You can choose from products of all kinds while supporting well-known local brands, but also new interesting businesses. Marry Christmas form everyone in dunlaoghairetown.ie team.

Thank you for supporting our Dun Laoghaire business community!

Please note that all participants in the above photos kindly met at their business location by appointment in a socially distanced manner and temporarily removed their face masks to pose for the photos for this feature.

For a list of all the retail outlets in our town please see our Dún Laoghaire Town business directory.

Would you like us to include your business in future Love Dún Laoghaire features?

We would be delighted to, please send an email to [email protected] with details of your location in Dún Laoghaire and we will be in touch. 

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