Enhancing online business of Tipp retailers

New funding has been announced for Tipperary retail businesses to expand their online offering and presence to customers at home and abroad, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Maria Byrne was speaking after Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English announced more than 200 retailers who have been approved for funding under the Online Retail Scheme (ORS) administered by Enterprise Ireland.

This latest development under will see 216 retailers across all counties approved for funding of €9.29 million. The Scheme for retailers who already have an online presence and who have a physical store and is targeted at enhancing their online capability.

Senator Byrne said: “Many Irish companies have successfully made the digital transition in recent years and developed their online capability to sell their goods and services online.

“Consumer habits have also changed in recent years and it was great for them to know that that when they went online, they had local options instead of just the large international retailers, particularly when the pandemic occurred.

“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. 72% of successful applicant companies are based outside of Dublin.

“Tipperary businesses have been successful in this round of the Online Retail Scheme. They will receive grants 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.

“Nationally, 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.

“We have seen how businesses benefited from this scheme throughout the pandemic, this funding will continue that revitalisation,” Senator Byrne said.