The perfect storms of Covid-19, Brexit and a changing economic landscape have made the rapid uptake of e-commerce capabilities a prerogative for Irish SMEs.
Despite the surge in e-commerce activity by Irish firms before Christmas, the year ahead 2021 still presents retailers with a challenge to go online to not only deal with closed premises if they are deemed non-essential but to address the expectations of an increasingly digitalised consumer.
To get the message out to SMEs, Bank of Ireland recently collaborated with online shopping platform Shopify as well as Pointy, the Irish platform recently acquired by Google that helps shoppers find via the internet the products they need in your physical store, and the E-commerce Association of Ireland (eCAI), to highlight the opportunities that exist online.
ThinkBusiness also collaborated with the Local Enterprise Offices to highlight how local businesses across Ireland are making use of the Trading Online Voucher scheme to get selling online.
Advice, case studies and analysis:
Less of a difference between bricks and clicks
Bank of Ireland’s head of Retail Sector Owen Clifford says omnichannel is the future of retail and urges firms to stop differentiating between bricks and mortar and online.
How will retail chains change after Covid?
Retail chains are in a fight for survival. Gamma’s CEO Feargal O’Neill looks at how omnichannel will make a difference over the next decade.
Niall Bodkin: Give online shoppers a reason to buy local
Niall Bodkin, founder of the E-commerce Association of Ireland points out that the future of retail is not just digital, it is omnichannel.
DHL takes an analytical approach to e-commerce surge
The key to the omnichannel future is levelling the playing field for retailers, explains DHL Ireland’s e-commerce head Mark Meade.
Carroll’s Irish Gifts’ crafty pivot
A move to high-end Irish craft gifts and e-commerce holds the key to the future for Carroll’s Irish Gifts, says managing director Peter Hyland.
ChannelSight’s John Beckett on the future of e-commerce
Irish e-commerce supremo John Beckett, CEO and founder of ChannelSight, talks to ThinkBusiness about helping brands to sell more by knowing more.
How Jill & Gill fashioned its digital future
The omnichannel future: How art and design house Jill & Gill used the challenges of Covid-19 to fashion a new, sustainable future combining e-commerce with bricks and mortar.
How to get selling online with Shopify
Eamon Brett from Shopify offers Irish SMEs advice on how to get selling online and explains how the Shopify platform works.
Multyfarnham’s ingredients for online success
Omnichannel future: How Mullingar-based Multyfarnham Cookery School went from 10pc of revenue from online to 100pc in just a year.
How Pointy helps retailers build an online presence
Caroline Brady from Pointy, the Irish tech company acquired by Google last year, explains the ingenious tech that brings bricks and mortar retailers into the digital realm.
Bear Market Coffee expertly blends digital into its future
The omnichannel future: How popular Dublin roastery Bear Market Coffee embraced digital commerce as it battled the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis.
The ultimate guide to ‘Buy Irish’ 2020/2021
With 70pc of Irish e-commerce spend going overseas, it is vital we support local SMEs. In the run up to Christmas 2020 we looked at 127 Irish businesses in the areas of toys, food, drinks, health and nutrition, sports and fitness, clothing and fashion and beauty.
How Fancy Fungi made its online sales mushroom
The pandemic crisis created the perfect storm for Wexford’s Fancy Fungi to pivot its business from food service to retail and respond to a strong appetite from remote workers online.
SIAR’s picture perfect move to e-commerce
With 95pc of sales now directly from online channels and thanks to the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, Ennis-based SIAR Photography founder Gary Collins is in no doubt that e-commerce is the future.
How Salt & Soul positioned itself brilliantly for digital
Yoga Strandhill
Sligo yoga studio Salt & Soul overcame closures imposed by lockdowns to become a 100pc digital enterprise.
Edtech assists the inclusive future of work
Mayo-based Edtech has become a go-to source for assistive technology in the learning space and is using the Trading Online Voucher to pivot into workplace solutions.
Edited by John Kennedy (john.kennedy3@boi.com)
Published: 10 February 2021
