News & Events

Minister English announces €5.3m in grants to retail sector through COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland

145 retailers will receive funding via the scheme which aims to drive Irish retailers’ online sales at home and abroad

70% of successful applicants located outside Dublin

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English TD, has today announced the successful applicants approved for funding through the second call of the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, which is administered by Enterprise Ireland. 145 retailers have been approved €5.3M in funding as part of the scheme, which 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.

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.

We know that consumers are keen to support their local retailers, even when shopping online, and these grants will help businesses to really maximise the opportunities in the e-commerce market. Of course, this market is not limited by geography and physical location and we know that Irish businesses with strong online resources also have their eyes on the international marketplace.

The Government continues to focus on helping businesses to get back on track in the coming months and as more of our workplaces and businesses can reopen in the coming weeks, in line with public health guidelines, we will do everything we can to support retailers in creating safe shopping spaces, in store and online, for customers and staff.”

Stephen Creaner, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland added:

The Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme has proven to be a very attractive scheme for retailers and it’s clear that Irish businesses are keenly aware of the growing e-commerce opportunities both at home and abroad for online retail. They also understand the necessity of operating an updated and efficient online sales platform that complements their physical stores.

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. This is helping to broaden their customer base and grow sales with some companies reporting that they are recruiting extra staff as result.

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.”  

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.”  

The Online Retail Scheme was open to Irish-owned retailers with a physical store and a pre-existing online presence who employ 10 or more people.  In addition, the scheme focuses on retailers predominantly selling products to individual consumers as opposed to those selling mainly to business customers. Grants can be used to fund fees for service providers, develop and implement a digital strategy supported by in-house training and enhance the retailer’s website.

The scheme is complementary to the €2,500 Trading Online Vouchers, provided through the Local Enterprise Offices for companies with up to 10 employees.

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

The 145 retailers awarded funding, operate across a broad spectrum of sectors including healthcare, jewellery, fashion, sports, homeware and furniture, electrical goods and equipment.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Brigid Burke, Press and Media Relations, Enterprise Ireland, 087 1803995 brigid.burke@enterprise-ireland.com

About Enterprise Ireland:

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness.  In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development, and help create and sustain employment in Ireland.  www.enterprise-ireland.com

About the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme:

Supporting the Irish retail sector to embed a more sophisticated online trading (e-tailing) strategy in its business model can contribute to the continued viability of a cohort of retail companies affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and help position them for recovery. Applicant companies must be an Irish-owned retail enterprise that had 10 or more employees on or before 29 February 2020 and has the potential to sustain or create jobs, generate growth in online transactions and with an ambition to internationalise their business in future.

The business must also: • have an existing online presence (e.g. website or social media) • have a retail outlet and derive the majority of revenue from retailing products directly to individual consumers:

  • Where a company provides both products and services, the applicant must provide a breakdown of sales revenue showing that products account for more than 50% of total revenue for a recent trading period, which may be up to the call close date;
  • Where a company has a mixture of business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) operations, the applicant must provide a breakdown of sales revenue showing that sales from B2C activities account for more than 50% of total revenue for a recent trading period, which may be up to the call close date;
  • Must employ at least 10 employees in the Republic of Ireland (on a full-time equivalent basis on or before 29 February 2020)

The Scheme originated in the work of the Retail Consultation Forum which is chaired by the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English T.D.

Building on two previous successful calls of the pilot Online Retail Scheme, introduced by the Department arising from the work of the Retail Consultation Forum, applications for the two 2020 schemes were open to indigenous retailers to develop a more competitive online offer in response to the Covid-19 crisis and to strengthen business resilience.

List of 145 approved companies under Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme

Company Name

County

Abbey Convenience Retail Ltd

Dublin

Acepharm Ltd

Dublin

Annacotty Consulting Ltd t/a Green Cross Pharmacy

Limerick

Anthony Ryan Ltd

Galway

Bellasy Ltd t/a University Pharmacy

Galway

Blackberry Hearing Ltd

Kildare

Bluebell Pharmacy Ltd

Dublin

Brett Supplies Ltd

Meath

Briarcroft Ltd t/a Lambert's Homevalue

Carlow

Bushell Interiors Ltd

Dublin

Butlers (Chemists) Ltd

Cork

Callistoy Ltd

Dublin

Carey’s Pharmacy Ltd

Dublin

Carroll Newsagents Ltd

Louth

Castle Davitt Furniture Ltd

Mayo

Castleblayney Plant Hire Ltd

Monaghan

Cavanagh Nets Ltd

Donegal

Cell Again Ireland Ltd

Dublin

Chapter and Verse Books Ltd

Meath

Conways Sligo Bookshop Ltd

Sligo

Corcorans' Furniture & Carpets Ltd

Kerry

Cordar Pharmacy Ltd t/a Molloys Lifestyle Pharmacy

Mayo

Cordners Shoes Ltd

Sligo

Cullinan & Sons Ltd

Clare

Custcare Ltd t/a The Bookmark

Donegal

DAGG Procurement Ltd t/a Johnstons Pharmacy

Longford

Daverns (Cashel) Ltd

Tipperary

Declan Dowling Ltd

Waterford

Deks Opticians Ltd

Dublin

Dingle Fashion and Gifts Ltd

Kerry

Doonshean imaginings Ltd

Kerry

Eason Ltd

Dublin

Edward Slevin and Company Ltd

Donegal

Electro City Ltd

Kilkenny

Ennis Electrical and Gas Supplies LTD

Clare

Eurasia Ireland Distribution Ltd

Dublin

Explore Marketing Ltd t/a Trespass

Wicklow

Facet Ltd

Dublin

Fennariv Designated Activity Company

Waterford

Flanagans Interiors Ltd

Wicklow

Fonez Ltd

Galway

Formwave Ltd t/a Hifihut

Dublin

Foy and Company (Ballyfofey) Ltd

Donegal

Franks Interiors Ltd

Louth

Freezer Queen Ltd t/a Redmond Electric

Wexford

Fun Tech Ltd

Dublin

Future Forests Ltd

Cork

Gardiner Grain Ltd

Wexford

Ger Gavin Home Interiors Ltd

Tipperary

Gerard Anthony Ltd

Roscommon

Gleeson Sport Scene Ltd

Limerick

Glendalough Craft Centre Ltd

Wicklow

Greenes Letterkenny Ltd

Donegal

Hals Golf Ltd

Dublin

Hanley's Garden Sheds Ltd

Cork

Healthplus Ltd

Galway

Healthwave Ltd

Dublin

Hickey & Company Ltd

Dublin

Hillcastle Sales Ltd t/a The Gift and Art Gallery

Louth

Industry Lifestyle Ltd

Dublin

Jabez Holdings Ltd t/a Stacks Pharmacy

Dublin

James E. Hegarty and Co. Ltd

Donegal

John Atkins & Co. Ltd

Cork

John P. Hopkins & Sons Ltd t/a Hopkins Toymaster

Wicklow

Joyces Wexford Ltd

Wexford

JPD Pharmacy Ltd

Monaghan

Keanes Jewellers UnLtd Company

Cork

Ken Black Ltd

Laois

Kennys Bookshop & Art Galleries (Holdings) Ltd

Galway

Kerrigans Factory Shop Ltd

Dublin

KETA Products Ltd

Cork

Kintbury Ltd t/a 53 Degrees North

Dublin

Landers Outdoor World Ltd

Kerry

Lemap Ltd

Dublin

Limegreen Ltd t/a Jim McLoughney Menswear

Tipperary

Little Italy Ltd

Dublin

Livy Issue Ltd t/a McGuirks Golf

Dublin

Louis Copeland & Sons Ltd

Dublin

Lovely stuff Ltd t/a Kinvara Skincare

Galway

Luxury Treats Ltd

Meath

M.P. Doyle Ltd Carlow

Carlow

Mac Eochagain Ltd

Mayo

Magees Pharmacy (Letterkenny) Ltd

Donegal

Mahers Chemists Ltd

Louth

Maurice Graham Ltd

Monaghan

McDaid Pharmacy Ltd

Cavan

Meadows & Byrne Ltd

Cork

Melfer Ltd t/a McCormacks Pharmacy

Tipperary

MGM Interiors Ltd

Dublin

MICHAEL BEATTY & CO LTD

Galway

Mods & Minis Holdings Ltd

Kerry

Montekin Ltd t/a Town Centre Pharmacy

Louth

Moran's Homezone Ltd t/a The 1933 Furniture Company

Meath

Morrisseys Medical Hall Ltd

Carlow

Murphy and O'Connor Unltd Company

Cork

Murphy Larkin Timber Products Ltd

Waterford

Murphy's Ice Cream Ltd

Kerry

N17 Discount Electrical Ltd

Galway

O'Connor Pharmacy (Cork) Ltd

Cork

O'Mahonys Booksellers Ltd

Limerick

OSG Property Developments Ltd

Kerry

O'Sullivans Pharmacies and Beauticians (Sarsfield Street) Ltd

Limerick

P. Boland Ltd Wicklow

Wicklow

Patrick Rogers Ltd

Sligo

Patrick Sweeney (Chemists) Ltd t/a Roches Chemist

Dublin

Paul Lynam

Offaly

Queenpharm Ltd

Cork

Quills Retail Ltd

Kerry

Radharc Concepts Ltd

Galway

Ranove Investments Jervis ltd

Dublin

Ratoga Systems Ltd

Dublin

Records & Discs Ltd t/a Tower Records

Dublin

Rolsford Ltd t/a McSport

Dublin

Ronaghan's Pharmacy Ltd

Monaghan

Seagreen Ltd

Dublin

Seahorse Aquariums Ltd

Dublin

Serena Boutique Ltd

Dublin

Simon Hart Ltd t/a Korkys

Dublin

Siopa Rince Teoranta

Dublin

Skinfull Affairs (Dublin) Ltd

Dublin

Solar Spa Ltd

Dublin

Soma Clothing Ltd t/a Carousel

Dublin

Sortatron Ltd t/a McGorisks Pharmacy

Westmeath

South Link Road Pharmacy Ltd

Cork

Standum Teoranta

Galway

Stephen Murtagh and Sons Ltd

Meath

Sullivan's Quay Health Co Ltd 

Cork

The Edge Sports Ltd

Cork

The Elms Furniture Ltd

Kildare

The Greedy Pig Ltd t/a Hen's Teeth

Dublin

The Outdoor Scene Ltd

Dublin

The Templecrone Cooperative Agricultural Society Ltd

Donegal

Thomas Archer (Ballina) Ltd

Mayo

Thomas H. Kean Ltd

Mayo

Tilestyle (Irl) Ltd

Dublin

Torpedo Construction Ltd t/a Grange Builders Providers

Dublin

Treshar Ltd

Galway

Triona Crafts Ltd

Donegal

Tynestyle Trading Ltd t/a Here's Health

Cork

United Retail Trading Ltd t/a Eurocycles Eurobaby

Dublin

Vibes & Scribes Ltd

Cork

Villa Rotunda Ltdt/a The Garden House

Dublin

Walsh Brothers, Ltd

Kerry

Wolrac Ltd

Carlow

Zest At Ltd

Clare