Your Waterford, a website showcasing Waterford’s best products and services.

For years the Local Enterprise Office Waterford has encouraged Waterford shoppers to support local business in the run up to Christmas. It has aimed to put the spotlight on the vast array of retail and gift options within our county. From artists to designers, food producers to craft makers and everything in between that makes Waterford the first and last stop for Christmas shopping.  

Last summer it launched ‘Your Waterford’, an initiative for assisting businesses in Waterford. It showcases some of the best quality products and services designed or produced in Waterford and provides the platform which many businesses did not previously have access to.

The Local Enterprise Office often describes itself as a ‘First Stop Shop’ for business, now it has created a ‘First Stop Shop’ website for local business to display its wares, and customers to find the right product or service. Aimed at shoppers and business customers, ‘Your Waterford’ is a meeting place to identify and develop relationships with suppliers, foster local contacts and display the vast array of products and services available in our county.

‘Your Waterford’ gives shoppers the opportunity to explore a range of diverse and unique products, which they can buy online directly through specific companies’ websites.

Just because people can and do buy their Christmas gifts online it doesn’t mean they cannot support local businesses. Since its inception the Local Enterprise Offices approved over 800 Trading Online Vouchers which enabled small businesses in Waterford to set up an online trading presence.

Jacqui Gaule, Acting Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Waterford, endorsed the message. “Every €10 spent locally on Irish products generates more than €40 of benefit to the local community. Many of these small business owners and sole traders took the initiative to move their business to include an online selling platform as well as the physical store. Now and in the run up to Christmas, we can browse in store and online when choosing to shop local.”

The Trading Online Voucher scheme is a matched-funding opportunity with up to €2,500 available. Funding can be used towards eligible costs such as Digital Marketing strategies, developing or upgrading e-commerce websites, SEO, Google Adwords, App development etc

To find out more about the supports available from Local Enterprise Office Waterford to help your business plan for and thrive in 2023, call 051-849905 or visit www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford/