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Selling online is now No 1

These are difficult times for many businesses, but the customers are still out there and the demand for most goods has not diminished.  What has changed is that connecting and selling online has become an even better way to trade safely with homebound customers.

Consumers are nearly all at home now and the internet is their chief contact point with the outside world.  Vodafone’s internet usage has already surged by up to 50%.  And buying online has become the new normal.  Since February Forbes has recorded that online sales of fitness product are up 55%, laptops and other computers are up 40% and BOPIS (buy online and pick up in store) orders are up 62%. Overall, Adobe says, e-commerce is up 25%.  And not to forget that online toilet paper sales are up 231%, though that may tail off over time!

So how can you get online in West Cork?  You can:

• Add more online functionality to an existing website
• Add online ordering and payment systems
• Blend online ordering with existing delivery systems
• Use e-marketing to reconnect electronically with your mailing list if you have one.
• Set up a new website to house these features
• Target local audiences effectively with Facebook ads or Google Ads.
• Increase your social media USE to connect with those many people online at home

Is this costly?

The return on investment at this time is well worth it.  There are two ways to do this.

1. Contact Fastnet for a competitive quotation to create or updgrade your existing online presence.

2. For existing businesse consider applying for the astonishing value for money Trading Online Voucher issued by the Local Enterprise Boards. Apply to your nearest LEO, attend an online seminar, complete an online application and if you qualify you can claim back 90% of the cost of going online, either to start a new or upgrade an existing online presence.  Send a quotation for the sevices required with your application.

Here is the release from the Cork and South West Cork LEOs about the scheme.

Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Two BIG changes have been announced for the Trading Online Voucher (the ‘Website Grant’

Co-funding Requirement

• The co-funding requirement is now just 10% – down from 50%, to a maximum of €2500
• This means that if you get €2570 worth of work done to improve your website or online commercial presence, you can claim up to €2500 of it back from the LEO

Second TOV

• Applications are now being taken for a SECOND TOV for the same company – with the co-funding requirement set at 10%
• The application process remains the same
• There is no requirement to attend a second TOV Seminar

South West Cork LEO Information  CLICK HERE

South West Cork LEO application   CLICK HERE