Local retailers avail of Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme
Mike Walsh Pharmacy, Fermoy along with 132 other businesses nationwide will receive funding via a grant scheme that aims to drive Irish retailers’ online sales at home and abroad.
In total, 133 retailers have been approved for the €5 million funding as a part of the scheme targeted at retailers who already have an online presence to strengthen their online offering and enable them to reach a wider customer base.
Other Cork-based retailers approved include Crowley’s Pharmacy, MacCarthy Interiors, O’Sullivan's Pharmacy, The Baby Shop, McGregor Homefront Ltd, Neville Jewellers, Murray and Son Ltd, Glengarriff Pharmacy, Perry Street Market Café Ltd, Rosscarbery Pharmacy Ltd, and Here’s Health.
In Limerick Ela Maria Fashion store and Savins Music Centre were approved for funding while Waterford retailers included Ardkeen Quality Food Store and Mulligans Pharmacy. No Tipperary applicants were announced among approved companies.
Approved applicants were announced on Monday through the third call of the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland
Under this Covid-19 competitive call, the successful applicants will receive funding ranging from, €14,080 to €40,000 to strengthen their online offering. The average grant value is €37,500 and covers up to 80% of project costs.
The scheme received 292 applications in total and 68% of the successful applicants are located outside Dublin, with 90 retailers from these regions approved for funding.
Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English announced applicants on Wednesday, stating that there was a positive response from the Irish retail sector.
“We know that consumers are keen to support their local retailers when shopping in-store and online, and these grants will help businesses to really maximise the opportunities in the eCommerce market. Of course, this market is not limited by geography and we know that ambitious Irish businesses with strong online resources also have their eyes on selling to customers right across the globe.
“The economic value of operating in the e-commerce space and its convenience for customers has come to the fore since the onset of Covid-19 and the Online Retail Scheme will help companies improve and maximise their digital sales potential,” Minister English said.
The Online Retail Scheme was open to Irish-based retailers with a physical store and a pre-existing online presence who employ 10 or more people. In addition, the scheme focuses on retailers predominantly selling products to individual consumers as opposed to those selling mainly to business customers. Grants can be used to fund fees for service providers, develop and implement a digital strategy supported by in-house training and enhance the retailer’s website.
The scheme is complementary to the Trading Online Voucher Scheme by the Local Enterprise Offices that offers funding of €2,500 to businesses of up to 10 employees.
The 133 retailers awarded funding, operate across a broad spectrum of sectors including jewellery, fashion, sports, homeware and furniture, healthcare, electrical goods and equipment.