New funding has been announced for Kildare retail businesses to expand their online offering and presence to customers at home and abroad, according to Fine Gael Minister and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon.
Minister Heydon was speaking after Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English announced more than 200 retailers around the Country who have been approved for funding of €9.29m 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.
Speaking today, Minister Heydon said: “5 Kildare businesses have been successful in this round of the Online Retail Scheme. These include The Elms Furniture Ltd, The Newbridge Cutlery Company, Willoughby’s Hardware, Orchard Garden Centre, Celbridge and NCBI Retail. They will receive grants ranging from €10,000 to a maximum of €64,000.
“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 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.
“We have seen how over 700 businesses benefited from this scheme throughout the pandemic, this funding will continue that revitalisation and allow these companies to enhance their online offering. This will help to future proof their businesses, reach new customers at home and abroad and explore new opportunities,” concluded Minister Heydon.