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UPDATE: ‘Shop Limerick’ online platform helps retailers through Covid-19 crisis

‘Shop Limerick’ online platform is aimed at supporting retail in the city and county.

UPDATE: ‘Shop Limerick’ online platform helps retailers through Covid-19 crisis 

Limerick City and County Council has finally launched ‘Shop Limerick’, a business programme aimed at supporting retail in the city and county through the COVID-19 shutdown and its aftermath.

In partnership with the Limerick Local Enterprise Office and Limerick Chamber, the local authority released its online listing of Limerick businesses open for trading and help for those that don’t already have e-commerce retail capabilities.


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Three weeks ago, retailers were asked to declare their interest in the FREE Shop Limerick platform on Limerick.ie. Now, the ‘Shop Limerick, Save Livelihoods’ campaign is live and ready to go.

The move is a response to the crisis that many retailers now face after a first-quarter that has already been decimated by COVID-19 restrictions and with the impact likely to continue into the summer.

On Limerick.ie/Shop, the public can browse and buy from homegrown Limerick businesses, buy a local business voucher, find out about local food deliveries or where they can order take-out from a favourite restaurant.

More than 130 businesses have already signed up and many more are now expected to enlist, with the marketing campaign also aimed at growing awareness among those businesses of the benefits of joining the free platform.

Training videos will also be offered in digital marketing and mentoring. Viewers can learn how to create short marketing videos, as well as social media boot camps and webinars for local businesses about cash flow management and how to get their business through COVID-19.

Shop Limerick online

Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan. Photo: Oisin McHugh

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Sheahan commented on the platform and its benefits saying, “There is a brilliant sense of collaboration in Limerick and it has stood us very well in the recent past and Limerick.ie/Shop is an example of how it is going to help us through the current crisis.”

“So many in retail are impacted by the Coronavirus and the smaller, independent ones are hit the hardest. They typically don’t have the e-commerce capabilities that larger retailers possess to weather this storm and this initiative will address that by helping them showcase that they are still open for business. This is a one-stop destination where you can connect with local stores across the whole of Limerick and find out how to support them,” he said.

Dee Ryan, CEO of Limerick Chamber, said, “Retailers and our thriving Limerick food community are the heartbeat of our economy. They lend personality to our city, county towns and villages, critically also, they support other local suppliers and producers -it’s a virtuous circle, so it was only right that this initiative would be put in place to support them through the Coronavirus which is having a huge impact on our economy, as well, of course, as on public health. Limerick Chamber is delighted to partner with Limerick City and County Council and the Limerick Local Enterprise Office with this initiative which exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and support that underpin our work in the Chamber, and that exists all across Limerick today.”

“We will be beating the drum loudly to rally support for these businesses, continuing to do what we can to spread the word, across our membership network and beyond. It’s a time for standing together and this is a great example of Limerick doing exactly that,” Dee concluded.

Bernie Moloney, Head of Enterprise of Limerick Local Enterprise Office, described LEO’s commitment to the cause saying, “LEO is committed to supporting all small businesses through this crisis and will be providing specialised training as part of this initiative. The free training includes how to create short marketing videos, as well as social media boot camps and webinars for local business owners about cash flow management and how to get their business through Covid-19. We are delighted to be able to support small independent retailers and sustain them into the future.”

Companies who are interested in joining the initiative can register online at www.Limerick.ie/Business, email [email protected] or telephone 061 556000.

#ShopLimerick #EmbraceLimerick

For more information on Shop Limerick, click here.

For more stories on Limerick Chamber, click here.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.