PuddleDucks Blog

We’re delighted to say that we at PuddleDucks have been voted as the winner of the Best Online Trader award at the Irish Internet Association/Enterprise Ireland 2009 Net Visionary Awards (quite a handful). The award was announced at a ceremony on Thursday 21st May at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dublin. Winning the award was very unexpected as we were shortlisted with four other great online businesses – some of them much bigger than us.

So we’d like to say a big thanks to everyone who voted for us. It will mean a huge amount to PuddleDucks to have the added credibility and recognition that the award provides.

Thanks too to the Irish Internet Association for organising the awards and for a fantastic ceremony and to Realex Payments for sponsoring the Online Trader category.

Below is the text of a Press Release we have sent out today:

Co. Cork, IRELAND, 25th May 2009 – For immediate release.
 
PuddleDucks.ie was voted Best Online Trader at the 2009 Irish Internet Association & Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards at a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin on Thursday evening.  A small family run business, PuddleDucks.ie specialises in selling waterproof clothing for children and adults.  
 
The award of Best Online Trader was awarded after a three-stage process of nominations from the public, judging by an industry panel of experts and voting by the public.
 
PuddleDucks.ie (www.puddleducks.ie) was founded in 2005 by husband and wife team, Suzanne Kingston and Aedan Ryan.
 
“We are delighted and honoured to receive this award.” commented Suzanne Kingston, “It gives recognition and credibility to small internet-based companies like us, that trade alongside much larger and better known companies. Our business model of secure online retailing of unique products combined with a high level of customer service seems to be paying off.”
 
The Cork-based business was set up in 2005 as a part-time home based business for mum Suzanne.  Two years later when Aedan was made redundant from a US multinational, the couple decided to invest the redundancy money into expanding PuddleDucks.  The product range was increased and the website redesigned and upgraded.   Aedan said ‘It was a lifestyle choice as much as a financial decision and it’s been a huge learning curve for both of us. Thankfully we now know it was the right decision and look forward to building on this in the future”
 
— ENDS