Retailers encouraged to avail of €3.4m fund

Minister Neale Richmond launching the next round of funding under the Online Retail Scheme at The Outdoor Scene in Goatstown, Dublin with Susi Monteagudo (left) from The Outdoor Scene and Teri Smith from Enterprise Ireland.

Retailers were encouraged this week to apply for funding to enhance their online presence and increase online sales, as the latest round of the Online Retail Scheme was launched.

Up to €25,000 in grant funding can be accessed by retailers to strengthen their ecommerce capabilities, in a scheme funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and administered by Enterprise Ireland.

Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, Neale Richmond, TD, strongly encouraged businesses to apply.

“Irish retailers have proven their resilience over the past few years, adapting to changing customer behaviour in many cases by developing an online presence. This not only serves customers in Ireland, but potential customers across the world.

“An online presence is no longer optional for many businesses, it is a key part of any business model and the benefits are huge. While it may be an intimidating prospect for some, the Government is determined to support businesses on this journey. The Online Retail Scheme is there to help ease this transition and I am delighted that it is again open for applications,” he said.

The Scheme provides direct financial support to retail companies to develop a more competitive online business offering to complement their in-store offering. The minimum project expenditure is €20,000 (minimum grant is €10,000).

The Online Retail Scheme opened for applications from April 4th and closes on May 3rd. For further information and how to apply, visit www.enterprise-ireland.com