Rosettes make memories and Tara Lane of Kilcock, Co Kildare is intent on being the best in the business. Through the use of quality materials and processes she wants her Centrepiece Rosettes to be something “you are proud to present and proud to keep.”

During her own competitive career, from Pony Club right up to senior level, she experienced a wide variety of rosettes and now strives to make her products as memorable as possible.

Beginning

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Tara caught the entrepreneur bug from her parents Stuart and Anne. She first gained business experience in fashion, sales and marketing before embarking on her present enterprise in 2015.

Tara and her husband John have three daughters – Emma, Lucy and Lily. Between family commitments and her mum now in need of a little extra help, she decided to base her enterprise at home in the amply spaced Bridestream House.

Tara had numerous steps to take before the dream became a reality. She recalls: “I had to do some mentoring with similar companies in England, who also helped me in accessing materials and equipment.

“I needed to get good working pleating machines plus ribbon and centre board printers before starting up.” That she did.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2016 she arrived at Dublin Airport with three trusty pieces of equipment that let the work begin. The following year she bought out O’Sullivans Rosettes in Limerick where she got a wonderful 1970 Brother Pleating Machine. I saw this in operation when visiting Bridestream House as it turned multi coloured ribbon into streams of artistic glory.

Tara insists on using high quality woven edge satin ribbon and ample Elizabethan luxurious pleats. One or two rows of that on a gold printed centrepiece and you have a thing of beauty that can be a joy for ever.

Work in progress

Tara was knowledgeable and proficient on Facebook and thus had orders on the books before she and the machines arrived home. In its first full year Centrepiece Rosettes produced 18,200 units for equestrian centres, Pony Clubs, agricultural shows and corporate customers.

Tara projects that the output for 2019 will be in the region of 50,000. Joining her in production is Becky Thomas on assembly while Marie Kavanagh does the sewing. She gives great credit to Kildare Local Enterprise office whose team has been truly supportive.

A great moral boost came last year when the Kildare Chamber of Commerce named her Networker of the Year. “Up against big companies like Intel and Newbridge Cutlery, I was proud to fly the flag for a small, rural, female run, equestrian business,” she notes enthusiastically.