An e-commerce solution has been launched for Irish retailers and businesses designed for the online placement of goods and products and is fully equipped to take orders and process payments. It offers businesses, without this capability, a turnkey solution.
Digital Business Ireland (DBI) – the representative body for the Irish digital commerce sector – has teamed up with leading consumer finance company, humm by flexifi, to launch online platform Marketplace.
Allowing Irish retailers and businesses access to the lucrative online market, CEO of Digital Business Ireland, Lorraine Higgins, said: “In partnership with humm by flexifi, Digital Business Ireland is delighted to offer Irish retailers and businesses an opportunity to join Marketplace by humm thereby giving them access to more Irish consumers while negating the costs of establishing a website.
“Currently 47% of all online spend by Irish consumers, is going overseas and we need to do more to increase the share flowing to Irish businesses.”
“This initiative is timely as we head into the busy Christmas period when the opportunities to shop in person will be limited. The latest CSO figures show that Irish shoppers doubled their online purchases in the first half of the year. With the country in lockdown, the change in buying habits was most obvious in April when online sales increased by 500% compared to the previous year.
“The trend continued into May but reversed in June as lockdown restrictions were lifted and shoppers re-engaged with their favourite local shops. This shows the pressing need for Irish retailers to adopt an omni channel, Bricks and Clicks, business model.”
“We know that it can be difficult, and expensive, for retailers and businesses to pivot to an online sales channel. Our collaboration is a response to that and gives these businesses access to the infrastructure in a way that minimises their investment.”
Marketplace can be visited at marketplace.humm.ie
