Nic Hennessy and Sue Walsh, founders of Irish online gifting brand NearlySisters, open their first standalone store in Newbridge, Co Kildare with a beautiful curation of Irish products that can be lovingly presented for everyone on your gift list.

It’s been three-and-a-half years since sisters-in-law Nic Hennessy and Sue Walsh decided it was high time they went into business together. Fast forward to autumn 2023 and the pair have finally opened their first bricks-and-mortar store on Cutlery Road in Newbridge,
Co Kildare. They couldn’t be more ready for the brand’s next chapter, with their wonderful launch event hosted by Sue’s husband Keith Walsh, and RTE 2FM DJ Fionnuala Moran on the decks.

“It was always in the back of our minds to open up a store,” says Nic, while Sue adds, “We’d been looking for a premises in this area for ages, and one day saw a ‘for rent’ sign in the window of a recently vacated interiors boutique, which was perfect for us.”
Spotted at the opening were Gillian and Aisling Quinn, Brian Redmond and his wife Jennifer,  Roxanne Parker, Mandy Maher, Crona Byrne , Andrea Hayes, Tara O Connor , Rugby Player Sam Prendergast  as well as Sarah McDermott and Danielle O Brien.
The pair have collaborated with Oak Lane Home & Garden in Kilcullen, displaying their furniture in the Newbridge store, which in turn displays NearlySisters products and gifts, including luxury woollen and cashmere blankets and scarves by McNutt of Donegal and John Hanly; handmade mugs and gifts by John Ryan Ceramics, Diem Pottery, and Charlie Mahon Ceramics; clothing by the Linen Shirt Company and Polly & Andy; candles by The Fragrant Nest; beauty, skincare and aromatherapy by Jo Browne, Green Angel, Holos, Baressential, Pure Oskar, Oxmantown Skincare, AromaBuff, and Esker Fields; artisan food products from Bean and Goose, The Lismore Food Company, Buíoch Irish Chocolates, Lily O’Brien’s, Chocolatey Clare, and Niks Tea; giftware from Millbee, Paperlove, and Coolree Design; as well as NearlySisters’ own- brand products, which include natural plant wax candles, luxury Irish chocolates, Colombian coffee and a range of beautifully presented gifts like coasters and woollen socks.

 

Customers can hand-select their gifts in store and NearlySisters can wrap them to take away, or if desired, they can be shipped directly from the store to the recipient. Corporate gifting has been a big part of the NearlySisters success story. “We do a personalised service for businesses where they can hand-pick the products and we curate bundles and hampers for them,” says Nic. “All the brands we stock match our ethos,” Nic continues. “When we started out during the pandemic, it was really important to us that anything we were selling was Irish, so it was supporting everybody, from the person making it to the community they lived in, and this is still our mission.” Sustainability is another key part of the brand’s mission and the pair worked with Jigsaw’s Lean programme to learn how they could ensure their packaging and waste was as minimal as possible from the beginning and they’re now looking at ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint even further.

 

Plans are now in place to bring bespoke customer events to the new store, including a painting workshop with Irish artist Karen Hickey, whose paintings line the NearlySisters Curated walls and are for sale instore. These types of intimate events, collaborating with suppliers and local artisans to bring immersive experiences to customers are at the heart of Nic and Sue’s vision for the Newbridge store. “We’d love to use this space to bring people inspiring stories that will empower them,” says Nic.

NearlySisters Curated is now open at 13 Cutlery Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare

nearlysisters.ie