Businesses to benefit from €5.3M through Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme

Meath businesses are among 145 retailers that will benefit from €5.3M in funding as part of the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English TD, today announced the successful applicants approved for funding through the second call of the scheme.

It is targeted at retailers who already have an online presence to strengthen their online offering and enable them to reach a wider customer base.

The scheme, which was announced in the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus package, received 204 applications. 70% of the successful applicants are located outside Dublin with 102 retailers from these regions approved for funding.

Under this Covid-19 competitive call, the successful applicants will receive funding ranging from €16,000 to €40,000 to strengthen their online offering. The average grant value is €36,700 and covers up to 80% of project costs.

‘The 1933 Furniture Company’, located in Beechmount Industrial Estate in Navan was one of the 145 companies to receive grant approval in the second call for the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme.

Conor Moran, Online Marketing Manager, The 1933 Furniture Company commented: “We are delighted to be approved for the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme. Our customers are spending an increased amount of time online, so the digital landscape is becoming an ever more important channel for us.

“We believe that the grant support will offer us the opportunity to create a new online platform that complements and integrates with our existing business model.”

Minister Damien English TD said: “I was very pleased by the positive response from the Irish retail sector to the second call for applications under the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme as Government continues to help Irish businesses deal with the impact of the pandemic. The economic value of operating in the e-commerce space and its convenience for customers has come to the fore in 2020 and this scheme aims to help companies improve and maximise digital sales prospects.”

Stephen Creaner, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland added:

“Grants through this scheme are being used by retailers to upgrade their systems to improve their digital presence and to become more competitive in the virtual marketplace.

“Ultimately, retailers who are investing in their online presence now are also strengthening their offering to help deal with the uncertainty and challenges that lie ahead.”

Enterprise Ireland will be opening a new call under the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme in early 2021.