Business group commends Ireland and Old Lace

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – Kelly Coleman, owner of Ireland and Old Lace on the Village Greene in Historic Smithville, was awarded the New Jersey Small Business Development Center of Atlantic and Camden Counties award for excellence and growth in business for 2007.
The SBDC awards were presented at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township Friday, Nov. 30 at a ceremony attended by some 250 leaders of business and government.
“Ireland and Old Lace LLC was formed in January of 2002 from a love and pride in my Irish heritage and a desire to be my own boss,” Coleman said. “The ultimate decision to leave my career in New York City was the aftermath of Sept. 11 and the urgency to spend more time with my family, friends and, most importantly, my husband.”
Since opening Ireland and Old Lace more than five years ago, Coleman has taken the store from an Irish imports shop with two floors of goods to a haven for all things Irish.
“I have run a successful campaign with local radio stations using a jingle created by a local Irish band,” she said. “I’ve turned my wraparound porch into a stage several times a year for performances by Irish artists, and have even had national acts such as Ronan Tynan, the Dropkick Murphys, the Celtic Tenors and Flogging Molly make an appearance for CD signings. My background of creating international events for MTV helped me develop the skill of taking an MTV-style promotion and scaling it back to fit the needs of a local retail shop.”
The store, Coleman said, provides not only a retail environment but also a source of information for Irish history and Irish cultures.
“At least once a week I am helping a student with a project or helping someone trace their ancestry,” she said. “I truly believe in providing as much service for my customers as I possibly can. If I don’t carry something I will do my best to research and provide the information to the customer.”
This year the store has taken its services to a new level and is offering everything to create an Irish wedding, from wedding bands and engagement rings to kilt rentals and even bagpipers.
She said Ireland and Old Lace is the only source in South Jersey for bagpipe supplies.
“The SBDC has schooled me in the basics of opening and maintaining a business,” Coleman said. “They have also paired me with executives in the necessary industries that really have helped me develop a successful business and an extremely rewarding change of careers.”