Funding for Meath retailers to grow online businesses

New funding has been announced for 21 Meath retail businesses to expand their online offering and presence to customers at home and abroad.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English announced M

more than 200 retailers around the country who have been approved for funding of €9.29 million under the Online Retail Scheme (ORS) administered by Enterprise Ireland.

The scheme is for retailers who already have an online presence and who have a physical store, and is targeted at enhancing their online capability. 72% of successful applicant companies are based outside of Dublin.

Local businesses that will benefit from this funding include BRETT SUPPLIES LIMITED, Choice Stores, DALEFERN LIMITED, FLOWERHILL FURNITURE, DESINO LIMITED, JENNYS BOUTIQUE, GEOGHEGANS NAVAN LIMITED, Geoghegans Of Navan, HUGH MAGUIRE LIMITED, KILQUADE PATIO CENTRE LIMITED, Kilquade Patio Centre Ltd, KJT MOTORS LIMITED, Fairyhouse Motors, MORAN'S HOMEZONE LIMITED, The 1933 Furniture Company, STEPHEN MURTAGH AND SONS LIMITED, Murtaghs/Topline Murtaghs, THE BUTCHERS EMPORIUM LIMITED, Bergin's Family Butchers.

Minister English outlined the potential benefits of the ORS to retailers, saying:

“Retailers are at the heart of our communities across the country so the Government are delighted to support an additional 216 businesses as they take this next step to increasing their sales capability by further developing their online offering. I’m delighted to see that ten local businesses from Co. Meath have been successful with applications under this round of the Online Retail Scheme.

“Such diversification is an important part of future-proofing a business as it allows retailers to explore new opportunities and reach new customers, both domestically and internationally. Through the Online Retail Scheme, we are enabling established retailers with a physical store the chance to compete for online sales that are currently going to businesses based outside the country.

“It is also pleasing to see that there has been a good spread of successful companies from around the country under this round of the Scheme with, 155 from the regions and 61 businesses based in Dublin.”

Niamh McMahon, Owner of Flowerhill Furniture in Navan, Co Meath, who have been approved for funding under this call, said:

“Flowerhill Furniture is family business which has had a physical retail presence for 40 years, and we are delighted to receive this grant from the Online Retail Scheme as it will support us on our digital journey as we continue to diversify our business. By improving our online retail offering, not only will it enable us to strengthen our resilience and enhance the experience for our existing valued customers, but it will also support us to widen our customer base and reach new markets.“

Including today’s successful applicants, since 2018 more than 700 projects from retailers based in Ireland have been approved for €28.3m in funding through the Government’s Online Retail Scheme. Successful applicants will receive a grant ranging from €10,000 to a maximum of €64,000.

Recipients from this latest call are based across all counties in Ireland and are from a number of sectors, including hardware, pharmacy, clothing and furniture.