Kilcullen businesses look at 'digital retail village' plan

Several Kilcullen businesses have signed up for an initiative that will enable customers to shop online locally, writes Brian Byrne. This follows a presentation to the Kilcullen Business Group by Tap Retail. The idea is to establish a 'digital retail village' (DRV), a community-driven online platform that encourages 'shop local'. 

Tap Retail's Stephen Hallahan and Barry Moylan presented the concept at a meeting in Fallons. According to Stephen Hallahan (above), the idea offers local towns and villages a chance to compete online against internet shopping giants like Amazon. It includes delivery from local shops for products ordered online. 

Tap Retail's first DRV was launched earlier this year in Foxrock, Dublin, in partnership with Foxrock Area Community & Enterprise CLG (FACE), with assistance from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. 

Andrew Gaynor, Economic Development Officer at Kildare Local Enterprise Office, also attended the Kilcullen meeting and provided information on a 'digital voucher' that can cover 50 per cent of the initiative's costs for participating local businesses. 

Representatives from Kilcullen Community Action were also present and will explore the platform's potential benefits, especially for older residents.

Kilcullen Business Group's Nichola Kennedy says it has now 'got the ball rolling'. "Hopefully, the initiative will be fully active before the Christmas retail season."

(Images: Kilcullen Business Group.)

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