Thomp2 Socks and House of Hofu are the winners of Vodafone Ireland’s Six Nations See Your Business Pitchside competition.
Worth over €25,000 in advertising value, the competition provides both family-founded SMEs with unrivalled exposure.
The winners will see their brand names appear pitchside and avail of digital screen advertising at the Aviva Stadium during Ireland’s Six Nations rugby fixtures.
House of Hofu, founded by fashion designer, personal stylist Ann-Marie Woods, is a sustainable brand based in Greystones in Co Wicklow.
Thomp2 Socks is a family-owned business founded by entrepreneur Thomas Barry. It started with a simple idea – to make great socks and use the brand to support individuals such as Thomas, who has Down syndrome, in an authentic, meaningful way.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us. Having started only three years ago, we’re still growing our business, and it takes time to get out there as a smaller brand,”
Ann-Marie Woods, founder of House of Hofu, said.
“I’ve seen the advertising for the different businesses supported by this competition over the last few years, and I can’t believe that House of Hofu is next,” she added.
“It means more than brand exposure. It’s a statement that small Irish businesses can compete at the highest level while doing good at the same time. Rugby is about inclusion, teamwork, and backing each other, values that mirror exactly why we started the company,” Thomp2 Socks’ Shane Barry said.
“Seeing our brand at a Six Nations game isn’t just a win for us; it will be a win for the community we represent and support,” he added.
Previous winners include Urban Aran, a Waterford-based company focused on sustainable fashion, Killadoon Milk, a family-run dairy farm in Kildare that sells milk through vending machines, and JANDO, an independent, Dublin-based printmaking studio best known for its Dublin landmark prints.
Jo Gilfoy, Director of Vodafone Business, said that thanks to its partnership with the IRFU, it is in a unique position where it can give back to Irish SMEs in a meaningful way for their business.
“House of Hofu and Thomp2 Socks are both fantastic businesses driven by purpose. This level of exposure will put both businesses centre stage for so many potential new customers and corporations,” she added.
