Corkwomen bring home the medals - Cork Independent News

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Corkwomen bring home the medals

Written by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Two Cork businesswomen stole the show at the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards, held in Galway last weekend. A delegation from the Cork branch of Network Ireland including current President Sandra Maher and incoming President Julia Lynes, travelled to the event on the west coast in order to support Pamela Morrissey of Sobe Brown and Yvonne Farrar of Kanvas Communications.

Nominated in the ‘New Business’ category, Pamela Morrissey beat off stiff competition to take gold in the contest.

“I was waiting patiently for the other name to be called out, I was polishing my finalist plaque, thinking, ‘well, I have this anyway’! I was absolutely shocked,” says Pamela of her win.

Asked why she thought she’d won, the hair stylist, whose salon regularly features on TV3’s Xposé and in fashion and society magazines like RSVP, said, “My first application came straight from the heart, having a salon has been my dream since I was 15 years old and I’m very passionate about it. I think I came across so passionate and genuine about my industry and what I do, on top of the structure of my business, that won it for me.”

She hadn’t intended to enter, and a computer glitch as she was applying almost made her give up, but she credits her friend and PR guru Deirdre Waldron of Fuzion Communications with giving her a push in the right direction, and encouraging her to enter.

“I really want to thank the staff at Sobe Brown for all their hard work, every one of them is there since the very start and they’re like a family now really, so supportive, there’s unbelievable talent, creativity and communications there.

“I also want to thank my clients, who have been extremely loyal, both new and old; we wouldn’t be where we are without them.”

Pamela has big plans for Sobe Brown, with a salon in London’s chic Covent Garden to complement the Cork outlet on the cards in the next few years.

Sobe Brown is Ireland’s only Bumble & Bumble salon.

Yvonne Farrar of Kanvas Communications returned to the rebel county with a silver award in the Self-employed category for established businesses. Kanvas Communications is in business five years this October,

“I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to be shortlisted. It’s great to be recognised at a national level and it’s not just me; thanks to all the support and the great team that we have at Kanvas.”

Kanvas is a creative design and marketing agency specialising in healthcare marketing and internal communications. In the past five years Kanvas has grown into a multi-award winning business with a reputation for excellence, a loyal and most importantly a strong customer base. Kanvas works with nine of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

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