Almost 140 businesses across Ireland joined eBay’s Up and Running programme in May, an initiative developed to support small to medium sized (SMEs) Irish businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 restrictions, including two businesses in Tallaght and Knocklyon. The initiative was developed by the global e-commerce site to help local SMEs sell products at a time when many had to shut up shop due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The programme supports Irish businesses that are new to eBay by setting them up on the platform, removing all fees for the first three months, offering guidance and mentorship, and providing a direct line of communication to a dedicated eBay Ireland team.
For chocolate maker Clare Tait, the ecommerce opportunity has allowed her business, Chocolatey Clare, to continue operating and selling, despite many of the cafés and stores she supplies, closing due to COVID-19 restrictions. The food producer, who supplies luxury, dairy-free and gluten-free chocolate bars to retail outlets like The Butler’s Pantry, believes that an online sale presence is paramount following COVID-19.
Speaking about the Up and Running Programme, Clare said: “I knew that Ireland was heading for a lockdown and I immediately started looking for online platforms to sell on in order to achieve as wide a reach as possible for my brand. I was delighted to find out about eBay’s Up and Running programme as it is an international marketplace and allows me to access a new array of customers who might not be looking on my own website. We’re only getting started but the potential is huge.” As phase two of easing lockdown restrictions begins across Ireland and stores and cafés slowly begin to reopen, Clare is confident she will continue to sell on eBay.ie in the months ahead.
Another Dublin business that joined the Up and Running programme is Tallaght-based Uncanny Collectibles. The business, which sells genuine collectors’ items and action figures from brands such as Marvel, DC and NECA, was one of the first to join the eBay programme after its usual means of selling was put in jeopardy due to COVID-19 government restrictions. Speaking about the Up and Running Programme, Kim Mooney, owner of Uncanny Collectibles said: “Joining eBay’s Up and Running Programme has been a very positive move for my business, I started my own website selling collectables in 2017 and know how difficult it can be to develop shipping rules, postage policies and everything else that comes with selling online. But the eBay team’s help and guidance have been brilliant, they really helped make the process so easy so I could get selling on ebay.ie as quickly as possible.”
Irish businesses, with or without an existing e-commerce presence, are invited to use the ebay.ie marketplace with the following benefits:
* Free listings on ebay.ie
* No Final Value Fees (the commission paid to eBay based on the final value of sales)
* Free training that will cover eBay selling basics, how to get the most out of the platform, digital skills, search and listing optimisation and marketing. The training will be delivered through a series of webinars and mentoring programmes from eBay’s dedicated team in Ireland, helping ensure a smooth transition online for those with no or limited experience
With 174+ million buyers across the 190 markets in which eBay operates, the Up & Running programme will give Irish retailers the opportunity to reach new customers, both at home and overseas, at a time when consumers are looking to online channels to fulfil many of their shopping needs.
Companies interested in the Up & Running initiative are invited to:
1. Create a business account on the sign-up page HERE.
2. Complete the eBay Ireland business questionnaire here to activate the programme
3. Email the eBay Ireland team if you have any questions ebayireland@ebay.com.
