TUESDAY: TOV

Highlight on the Trading Online Voucher Scheme

Consumer behavior is changing and online spending is increasing rapidly. There is a big opportunity for Irish businesses to grow and access a wider market, expand their business and create more jobs. Statistics suggest that only 23% of small companies are engaged in E-commerce sales in Ireland and that 70% of the €8 billion spent online by Irish consumers in 2014 is going overseas. In order to help Irish businesses capture some of this market, Local Enterprise Offices now offer the ‘TradingOnline Voucher’.

The “Trading Online Voucher” aims to encourage small businesses to develop their online presence through a website or digital marketing strategy by availing of a Trading Online Voucher grant of up to €2,500 or 50% of their eligible expenditure. Businesses must be trading for a minimum of 12 months.

LEO Wicklow runs a number of Trading OnlineSeminars during which business owners get some top tips from social media guru Noel Davidson for selling online, followed by an explanation of the Voucher Scheme that allows businesses to apply for up to €2,500 in funding towards enhancing their business website.

The next TOV seminar is this week as part of Local Enterprise Week. It will be held on Friday 11th March at Wicklow County Campus from 9am-1pm. The seminar is free so do come along to find out for yourselves what the voucher is all about.

Please note: If you are thinking of applying for the Trading Online Voucher, you must attend this TOV Information Seminar. The deadline to apply for the grant is typically about three weeks after the seminar. See www.localenterprise.ie/wicklow for more information and the deadline dates.

If you need further convincing do read here about the experiences of two Wicklow based companies that availed of the TOV last year:

 

Shane Cradock Consulting

TUESDAY-ShaneCraddockOriginally from Kilkenny, Shane Cradock lives in Ashford, Co.Wicklow with his family and dog! Thanks for talking to us for Local Enterprise Week Shane.

What service does your business provide and what is unique about your business?

My business provides services to help business people achieve their goals in a balanced way.

Services include Business and Executive Coaching, Training, Facilitation and Mentoring

What’s unique is the approach we take - we have a lot of our own IP and models, and we have a very strong track record over 16 years of great results. Clients include large multi-nationals like Apple, Dell, Prada as well as household business names in Ireland and the UK.

 

Why did you decide that you needed to develop an e-commerce website, and overall online presence?  To help leverage existing IP by selling products online. To extend out reach and awareness in international markets. To grow my profile online.

How did you find the process, both in dealing with the LEO office but also your web developer?   The entire process is a no-brainer for anyone with their own business. It’s a brilliant idea that for me was very easy to get done.  The LEO made the entire process very simple and clear.  There were no hidden surprises or loop-holes. The instructions were very clear and the funding was timely.  I’d highly recommend to anyone. My web developer found the process very straightforward and the LEO support allowed me to increase the budget, thereby adding more commercial features to the site.

 

Have you found that the Trading Online Voucher and your new website have impacted on your business? Have you seen an increase in sales/client base / new markets? If yes can you describe? The new website, which was enabled by the voucher scheme has achieved the following since launch:

-         Increase in mailing list by 50%

-         Increase in web traffic of 100%

-         Store sales now exist as a proper metric: 

-         We now sell Workshop tickets online, products and my book.

-         Estimate 3 fold increase in sales

-         Big saving has been with time - have saved massive time

-         in emailing people with sales - this is now done automatically with the site.

-         SEO/Search:

-         Have generated more enquiries online since launch because the website

-         is built on a better platform for SEO/Search.

-         Enquiries have trebled from online related searches

-         Intangible Benefits:

-         Positive brand impact (good comments from clients and prospects)

Shane’s easy to navigate and clear website now acts as his shop window and business card at the same time.

http://shanecradock.com/, Tel: 01-442 9412Email: support@shanecradock.com

 

Old Court Linens

Asta Gauronskyte is an interior designer based in Manor Kilbride, Co. Wicklow, importing high-quality linens from her native Lithuania to create her custom designs of kitchen ware, bed linens and curtains. Having set up her own company in 2008, Asta who works out of her own purpose-built studio has established an excellent reputation for creating beautiful hand-made products. Thanks for talking to us for Local Enterprise Week Asta!

“It became obvious that the best way to sell my products was via an e-commerce website, as it could keep my overheads low at the same time as reaching both Irish and export markets.”

TUESDAY-OldCourt

 As a result of this realisation, Asta applied for and received a Trading Online Voucher through the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow in July 2015. “The process dealing with LEO office and with web developer has been easy and straight forward. The LEO office is very helpful, with the seminars provided to explain the process and the LEO is also very helpful in regards to filling out all application forms.”

Her website now acts as an attractive, user-friendly showcase for her products with the all-important e-commerce platform to make purchases directly through the website. In addition to an increase in sales and client base, Asta feels “the website is an essential ‘tool of the trade’, it helps cement the look and feel of the brand and enables me to go to the next level.”

Asta Gauronskyte, http://www.oldcourtlinens.com/, email: sales@oldcourtlinens.com, tel: 083 1298368