Lisa Coen from Cross in Mayo along with her business co-founder and business partner, Sarah Davis-Goff of Tramp Press, won the Arts category of the 2015 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards last week.
Ms Coen and Ms Davis-Goff set up Tramp Press as an independent publisher to change the landscape of what Irish publishing is capable of accomplishing, and in so doing, brings great new writing to readers.
After college, Lisa Coen worked with Hot Press magazine for three years as production coordinator: managing copy control and liaising with contributors, sub-editing, proof-reading and copy-writing. She returned to college to complete an MPhil in Anglo-Irish literature, then a PhD on Irish theatre, continuing to work freelance as an editor and proof-reader. After finishing her PhD, Ms Coen worked for The Lilliput Press, where she met Sarah Davis-Goff and they came up with Tramp Press.
There are three categories in the awards – arts, business, and social. Each category winner receives €1,000 in cash, with the overall winner getting €10,000 in cash and mentoring.
Business to Arts, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, business innovation centres, incubation centres, and enterprise support agencies work with the David Manley Award Committee in implementing the award scheme. Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Ulster Bank are the main sponsors of the awards.
Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff set up Tramp Press in early 2014 as an independent publisher to change the landscape of what Irish publishing is capable of accomplishing, and in so doing, to bring great new writing to readers, where other publishers would shy away, assuming the market cannot support them. Their formula is to publish less and publish better in Ireland and beyond.
Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff say they will publish fewer than 10 titles a year, focusing only on excellent work, and – unlike other publishers – they will never reject a manuscript on the grounds that it does not have obvious commercial appeal.
Ms Coen said: “Readers benefit, both physically and financially, from the accessibility of Tramp Press books. Physically, in that we make our works available through both traditional and non-traditional means, and financially because, while maintaining high production standards, we strive to keep our prices low to ensure that our publications are as inclusive and accessible as possible. Our authors benefit from the larger sales opportunity offered by the UK market, as well as access to major literary awards. It’s also a win-win for Irish literary culture because we will bring great authors to a bigger platform, and further build Ireland’s great reputation for excellent writing.”
Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen were also both nominated for the 2014 Image magazine's Businesswoman of the Year Award, and were named 'runner-up' in the creative category.
