Run by Inventorium and the Irish Internet Association, the ‘Clicktailing’ programme brought together recent graduates from Job Activation programmes, small indigenous craftspeople, retailers and a group of experts to provide hands-on support for participating businesses with product photography, online payment systems, logistics advice and marketing skills, at no cost to the participants. The intensive accelerator programme ran over a five week period and concluded with the launch of the online stores with full ecommerce and logistics capabilities. Partners included An Post, Realex Payments and the Crafts Council of Ireland (see www.clicktailing.com for a full list of partners and sponsors).Participants including retailers as diverse as Irish organics Brooke and Shoals to design jewellery stores to bridal boutiques and craft shops (full list at end). At the culmination of the programme, a competition was held where a group of judges deemed Kennedy & McSharry (www.kennedymcsharry.ie/), one of Ireland’s oldest menswear stores to have the best online merchandising and product photography. A public vote also named Barry Doyle Design (www.barrydoyledesign.com/) as having the best overall website.
Mark Kearns of Inventorium said:
“……the Clicktailing programme has proven itself to be an effective model to achieve the government’s objective of getting 2,000 businesses trading online as part of the overall Action Plan For Jobs.
“The most important aspect of the programme is that we dealt with the key challenges retailers face when making the move online, namely product mercahndising and photography, logistics, marketing and technology.
We are already seeing these retailers taking international orders online and bringing revenues into the country. This is about securing existing employment and the Clicktailing retailers expect to employ more staff to support their new online businesses.
“I would like to thank all our partners who so generously gave their time and expertise, especially An Post, Facebook, Realex Payments and the Crafts Council of Ireland.”
Joan Mulvihill, CEO, Irish Internet Association said:
“Clicktailing shows that in a short period of time, small businesses can achieve an immediate impact and develop their web commerce capabilities. Statistics show that 140,000 Irish businesses still don’t engage in any type of e-commerce and developing this business channel will be vital in Ireland’s economic recovery drive. It ties in with the Government’s disruptive reforms as part of the Action Plan for Jobs and all 20 of the participants are well-positioned to grow their businesses.”
Some 190,000 SMEs in Ireland employ two-thirds of the total workforce, according to CSO figures. The majority of these are micro businesses employing up to 10 people and accounting for 27% of all employment (over 360,000 people). SMEs account for half of all business turnover in the economy indicating there is room for further added value to be created by these companies.
Internet technologies can disrupt business models by changing market dynamics and driving efficiencies. Most of the economic value created by the Internet falls outside the technology sector - companies in more traditional industries capture 75 percent of the benefits as a rising tide lifts everyone. The Internet is also a catalyst for new jobs. Among 4,800 SMEs surveyed by McKinsey, it created an average of 2.6 jobs for each lost in the economy to wide technology-related efficiencies.
The Irish internet economy currently accounts for roughly 3% of Irish GDP and this is set to double to 6% or a value of €11.3 Billion euro by 2016 (Figures from the UPC Report on Ireland’s Digital Future). This will be underpinned by 2.6 m online shoppers spending €5.7 Bn (7% of all consumer spending) in 2016. However, over half of all Irish online shopping currently goes abroad, mainly to the UK so it is imperative for Irish businesses to capture an increased proportion of these sales while also attracting export orders. Apart from the online export potential of Irish goods, over 60% of people say that they would buy from an Irish website if they knew about one that matched similar offers from international sites.
List of participants:
Kennedy & McSharry
Dublin - Fashion Accessories for Men
www.kennedymcsharry.ie/
Barry Doyle Design Jewellers
Dublin – Jewellery
www.barrydoyledesign.com/
Notionz
Dublin - Giftware and Jewellery
www.notionz.ie/
Melanie Hand Design Jewellery
Dublin – Jewellery
www.melaniehand.ie/
Brooke Shoals Irish Organics
Wicklow - Candles and Body Products
http://www.brookeandshoals.ie/
Adare's Old Creamery, Old World Store
Limerick - Fashion and Home Products
www.oldcreameryco.com/
Rosewater
Mayo - Fashion and Household Furniture
www.rosewater.ie/
The South East Regional Craft Centre
Tipperary - Pottery and Soft Furnishings
www.craftgranary.com/
French Scarves
Dublin - French scarves
www.frenchscarvesonline.com/
The Whyte House, Westport
Mayo - Fashion, Footwear and Homeware
http://www.thewhytehouse.ie/
Abelle Bridal Boutique
Meath - Bridal wear
abellebridal.com/
Crafty
Wexford - Woollens and Crafts
www.craftywexford.ie/
ME - Mary Enright - Goldsmith & Jewellery Designer
Jewellery
www.maryenright.com/
The Corkage Group
Dublin – Wine
www.corkage.ie/
Twice Smitten
Dublin – Clothing
www.twicesmitten.ie/
Trop Belle
Drogheda - Ladies fashion
Casa Design
Dublin - House Interiors
Ciara O' Keeffe Ceramics
Kildare – Ceramics
Trains, Planes and Toys
Wicklow - Toys