Newbridge gets marketing 'gold' for silverware

Established 70 years ago, the Co Kildare company turned a corner in 1995 when it launched its jewellery collection WILLIAM Doyle, who has built the Newbridge Silverware brand in Ireland and internationally, was yesterday named Marketer of the Year for 2004. The award was presented to Mr Doyle for growing the company's sales from ?1m in 1997 to ?19m last year. Employee numbers have increased from 25 to 95 people and products are now sold in 600 outlets in Ireland alone. Established 70 years ago, the company turned a corner in 1995 when it launched its silverware jewellery collection. Commercial director of RTE television, Geraldine O'Leary, who chaired the judging panel said: "In less than 10 years William Doyle has transformed Newbridge from a name synonymous with the manufacture of quality cutlery to one of the leading names in the design and manufacture of quality jewellery and lifestyle products." "To achieve this in such a short space of time is in no small part down to innovative and effective marketing campaigns," she added. The Marketer of the Year award is organised by Marketing magazine in association with public relations company Edelman. Robert Ward, group marketing manager of Roches Stores, received a commendation from the judging panel for his work on the relaunch of Roches Stores in Henry Street. Other judges of the awards include Michael Caraher of the Association of Advertisers in Ireland; Ann Corcoran, managing director of Limetree, and Bronagh Rooney, marketing manager with Dublin Bus. This is the twelfth year that the Marketer of the Year Award has been presented. Past winners have included Brian Goold of Slendertone, Simon and Amanda Pratt of Avoca Handweavers and John Foley of Waterford Crystal. - Samantha McCaughren

Four masked raiders steal jewellery, threaten family

GARDAI are hunting four men who broke into a house and threatened a family with pickaxe handles. The masked raiders entered the home of Paddy and Rose Campbell at Roseberry, on the outskirts of Newbridge, Co Kildare, at 8.15pm on Saturday. One was armed with a sledgehammer while the other three were brandishing pickaxe handles. Before leaving in a wine-coloured car, the raiders took some cash and items of sentimental value, including sports medals, an antique pocket watch and jewellery. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the gardai at Newbridge on 045-431212. - Niamh O'Donoghue