What makes the Latin Quarter stand apart from other place is its uniqueness and its ability to attract businesses and services that seem such a natural fit with its overall ethos. 2 Wild Geese opened their doors in November 2018 in the Corbett Court Shopping Centre when they realised that there was a need in Galway to provide a premises where local designers and crafts people would have a route to market, be it through the traditional retail or by shelf-to-rent premise.
Following a meeting with some Galway designers and discussing the difficulties finding a route to market and the lack of opportunities to get their crafts and designs into stores, they decided to open a store that would cater on a shelf to rent or traditional retail basis. And during lockdown, they have found themselves in a wonderful new store at Kirwans Lane.
The concept of a shelf to rent basis is a Godsend for artists and creatives who understandably are focused on honing their products but may not wish to be restrained by the tasks of distribution, selling, or marketing their products. Co-owner Maggie Murphy told me that they are also delighted with their wonderful website https://2wildgeese.ie which has been inundated these past few weeks as customers throng to snap up the finest of arts and gift.
“It has been a tough year, but it worked out well as we ended up moving to the Latin Quarter and it has been a great move for us. The community here is amazing and there is a wonderful sense of camaraderie among fellow businesses. Many of the pieces we sell are unique one-off pieces, so no sooner are they placed online, but they are gone, giving a great platform to both well-known and up and coming artists.
Now 2WildGeese rub shoulders with long established stores like Judy Greenes and Tempo Antiques and the help and advise they share is heartening.
“We are now in this artistic community. We are in the business of selling wants not needs so we lend a hand to the customers to point them in the direction of what it is they are looking for. We create an experience around that and have that banter with the customer. We find too that it is really important to just laugh with people at this time.
Maggie feels that the shop local campaign has been absolutely amazing.
“There is a huge sense of community behind the retailers, supporting each other. Before the second lockdown people were coming in to make lists for kris kindle as people just want to keep the economy of Galway going. It is a fantastic sentiment and
people just want that atmosphere to be maintained,” she said.
Even over the weekend and despite the torrential rain, the atmosphere has been amazing. Tables outside, people enjoying themselves. It lifts your heart to see everyone again, to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
She is looking forward to 2021 and the optimism of a return some sort of normality.
“It won’t happen overnight. It will take time but Galway is well placed to benefit from the number of staycationers who discovered us again this year.
Maggie highlighted the plight of artists and creatives. We feel for the artists, since we reopened we have been inundated with local artists and designer. We are likamuetd for space. They have been badly hit. This year without the Christmas market, they have fewer routes to market, so we aim to be a bigger platform for them to make it easier for them
