IEDR calls on small businesses to apply for €150k e-commerce fund

23 Apr 2013

Irish small and micro-business owners who already have a .ie web address and who are looking to boost their company’s online presence have two more days to apply for support and training under the IEDR’s €150,000 e-commerce OPTIMISE fund.

The IEDR (IE Domain Registry), the managed registry for Ireland’s official internet address .ie, has 20 places for SMEs and micro-enterprises under the fund.

Small business owners who have an existing .ie website that is currently accessible to the public can apply for places up until 25 April. The IEDR will work with companies that are in the early stages of their online development.

The fund will provide the 20 successful small businesses with a combined €150,000 worth of professional consultation, training and development support services to improve and develop their existing online presence.

In terms of e-commerce, the fund aims to help companies come to grips with features such as real-time payments, online catalogues, order processing and booking facilities.

“I would encourage any small business owner with a .ie website looking for practical, step-by-step support to grow their business online to apply for a place on this year’s OPTIMISE fund,” said David Curtin, chief executive of the IEDR.

Online retail image via Shutterstock

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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