In the shower one day, DCU student Aoife O'Driscoll came up with the simple idea of a shower step. Now she's selling the product around the world Looking to flatten the flab before you bare your midriff around the pool this summer? A few sessions in Jamie Myerscough's Educogym could be called for A simple idea that necessitated not very complicated software development has attracted €600,000 in outside investment for Office Metrics Many young entrepreneurs naturally gravitate towards music and television. But developing a successful business model centred on youth culture can be difficult Cork company Kedco has racked up big losses with a Latvian sawmill and selling ‘green' boilers. Now the company wants to tap investors with a fresh idea Nicola Byrne is taking on two telecom goliaths with her directory assistance venture 11890. It's a big spending, high-risk strategy Amanda Cahalan and her brother Patrick McDermott profited from UK property and now they've launched a new hotel, bar and club in their native Ashbourne Internet discussion forum Boards.ie has meagre revenues but an investment by Daft values the site at €3.3m. Gerry Shanahan tells Business Plus about the site's commercial potential When Thomas Marry and Declan Lennon were made redundant by Siemens, they came up with the idea of making internet kiosks. Now they're all the rage in Irish airports Online ventures that entertain young people can gain traction fast. For entrepreneurs such as Playza's Peter Lynch and Nimble.ie's Per Jacobsson, the challenge is to make them pay their way Convenience food retailer The Butler's Pantry is on the expansion trail, but the cost of new premises is proving to be a bugbear The credit crunch may be bad for banks but it is good news for Luke Nestor and his software firm Rockall Technologies Ivan Eustace and John McHugh used credit card finance to start their wholesale business. Now TNS Distribution has spread its tentacles across Europe As the property slump rolls on, Upstage's Sinéad Considine is hoping that more vendors will turn to her for home staging Developer Pat Doherty's gift to his native Donegal is Solis Lough Eske Hotel, which is putting it up to Harvey's Point Price comparison sites for financial products are big business elsewhere. Business Plus wonders if MyCash.ie can gain traction in Ireland Making fresh juice and smoothies has been a remarkable success story for Zumo Juice Bars founder Cathal Power Emmet O'Neill and partner Hugh Bradley have taken dental services to where consumers can see them Abrakebabra is one of the country's most successful franchise businesses. Now founder Graeme Beere is going for growth by rolling out franchise concepts from the UK Gene McMahon's baler company Mac-Fab Systems is expanding fast with assistance from Enterprise Ireland. Now the agency has launched a €60m fund to disburse to growth-minded SMEs Refilling print cartridges is a growing sector but Cartridge Green founders Niall McConnell and Nik Healy are determined to carve out a niche Why Can't Women Be More Like Men? Men are much more likely than women to become entrepreneurs. Forfás has some ideas as to how to address this gender gap but do they go far enough? Father and son team Peter and Richard Cullen have a global business making jelly beans in Dublin Mobile services are finally moving beyond music and entertainment and into health, thanks to the efforts of a consultant at the Blackrock Clinic Linda Smith, proprietor of Bijou Restaurant, tells Business Plus that consumers now want a different type of night out Tycoon Sheldon Adelson is betting over $9 billion that he can create a Las Vegas clone in Macao Gerry Fagan's Oceanico Developments is betting big time that the golf can help sell hundreds of its properties on the Algarve Executive Coaching Solutions' Paula King; Ciara O'Brien of eTrip Services; Kudos for Orlagh Nevin; and more Young go-getter Domhnall Slattery is planning a pan-European air taxi service, JetBird, using Very Light Jets Joe McBreen, one of Galway's most successful entrepreneurs, sold out recently to French firm Valeo. Business Plus profiles a remarkable success story Paddy Kelly, his son Simon and partners are trying to create a sort of upmarket Centra convenience store chain Restaurateur Ronan Ryan hopes that dining out in an industrial estate will become chic in South County Dublin Suzanne Quinn's Holiday's Home Direct website venture; Ann-Marie O'Sullivan Expands The Family PR Firm Eileen Buckley and Michael Cussen moved from Limerick to Dublin to open a small wine shop in Sandycove How has a textile manufacturer based in the Liberties in Dublin, founded in 1934, morphed into a global player in its sector? Computer integrator Calyx lasted just two years as a plc. Founder Maurice Healy tells Business Plus why he took his company private ‘Slow and steady wins the race' could be the motto of IT security firm Renaissance. Business Plus finds out more about a 20-year low-growth success story Architect Gar Holohan has a growing sideline in managing municipal fitness and leisure centres Gervaise Slowey named as new Ogilvy & Mather boss; The changing face of secretaries and PAs; Network Ireland's play for women in business, the professions and arts; Mary McKenna's Tour America, from Vegas to Beijing; Networking with Irishbusinesswomen.co David Phelan went up against the big boys with Boru Vodka. Now he's doing it all over again with Coole Swan Turning excess hotel inventory into consumer getaway promotions has proved to be a money-spinner for Dominic Considine Brenda Jordan's National Energy Assessors; Executive women like fast cars; Gabrielle O'Malley‘s Splash International offers overseas properties; Rhonda Byrne's The Secret Olga Gashi is one of Ireland's most successful immigrant entrepreneurs. But access to funding remains a key issue for others who want to emulate her success The Sunday Times and RTE say tycoon Sean Quinn is Ireland's wealthiest man. That may be the case - but he also owes €2 billion Funded by National Irish Bank, U Store It is on the expansion trail as consumers and businesses become clued into the benefits of self-storage Did you know that 70% of Charlie Bird's salary in RTE is paid for by your licence fees? The pensions hole in Forfás highlights the growing gap between Them and Us Has Donal Geaney got the right investment strategy for the National Pensions Reserve Fund? There has been no magic carpet ride for investors in Dublin procurement software firm Marrakech Probably the most successful Irish software entrepreneur you've never heard of