Ten companies, all members of eTail Excellence Ireland (EEI), the digital division of industry group Retail Excellence Ireland, have been selected to participate in a Google-backed incubation programme aimed at helping established Irish retailers develop their online brands so as to capture the business and loyalty of local, Irish consumers.
The 10 companies are: the DAA, McElhinney’s, Butlers Chocolate Cafés, the Kilkenny Group, 53 Degrees North, Tony Kealys, Horkans Garden Centre and Petworld, Equipet, and Heatons Stores and Fields. These companies will go on to become mentors in subsequent programmes.
The programme lasts for eight months, and includes instruction from Google’s head of sales Cera Ward.
Sheila Buckley, EEI head, said: “Research last year told us that the Irish consumer would prefer to shop with Irish e-tailers if that option was available. This year we expect Irish consumers to spend €4.5billion online. We are determined to have that €4.5billion stay in Ireland.”