Pictured at the launch of a special pilot scheme by Cork County Council for Bantry businesses were Sharon Corcoran Director of Economic Development & Tourism at Cork County Council, Kevin Curran, Head of Enterprise,and Deirdre O’Mahony, Senior Business Development Officer, Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West.
Cork County Council this week launched a pilot Retail Support Programme in a bid to help local businesses thrive in the face of present and future challenges. Bantry Town has been chosen to pilot the scheme, which is being driven by Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr, Patrick Gerard Murphy. The programme, which involves a business breakfast and networking event on May 15 for Bantry retailers, will highlight the learnings of a number of experienced guest speakers in Retail, Food and Tourism to discuss the challenges facing the Retail sector and how to overcome them.
The breakfast event will mark the start of a series of Retail and Town support events to be piloted in the town in association with the Local Enterprise Office. The programme will include onsite mentoring and business development, one to one website advisory clinics and the opportunity to avail of a €2,500 online grand provided by the Local Enterprise Office. Participants will also have the opportunity to complete the Level 5 Retail Digital Marketing eLearning Course offered by Retail Ireland Skillnet to improve their Ecommerce offering.
Other supports under consideration by Cork County Council include free WIFI for the town and further festival support funding to drive footfall. The end result will be real life solutions and ideas in combating the current challenging retail conditions and increased global competition from online trading.
Among the speakers at the event on May 15 will be Jean McCabe of Willow, Vice Chair of Retail Excellence Ireland, and Winner of the Retail Excellence ‘National Store of the Year 2019’, who will speak about her experience of succeeding as a traditional shop combined with online retailing, proving that SME’s can compete against large retail chains. Also speaking at the event will be Bantry man James Burke of James Burke & Associates, who has worked in the retail and foodservice sectors for over 30 years and will put forward his plan for creating a unique position for Bantry retail and foodservice operators.
Mark Healy, proprietor of The Pantry Portlaoise will speak about his experience in developing a successful foodservice business in a regional town and Fáilte Irelands Don Colbert will also outline the need to link the tourism offering with existing retail and foodservice businesses.
Speaking of the programme, County Mayor, Patrick Gerard Murphy said, “Retail and small towns are facing increased challenges from more global competition and online trading. Bantry was selected as a peripheral county town which has an important mix of retail, food and tourism for the pilot. Retailers have to work harder than ever to compete but can have the edge when it comes to customer service which consumers are craving now more than ever. It is vital today to have a cross platform approach of both store and online, both of which need to be backed up with impeccable customer service, something that larger chains do not always offer. I look forward to seeing Bantry businesses thriving through this programme and look forward to seeing this pilot replicated in other towns.”
