Irish Local Businesses Using Social Media Successfully

Thanks to @darraghdoyle for the RT.And to Anca Comsa for the PPT.

In March 2014, I was presenting at a conference of Irish retailers.

I wanted to find good examples of local businesses using social media well. I put a shout out on Twitter, and was amazed at the response I got!

So I decided to share the responses to name check these local businesses who are flying it, and to provide a resource for anyone else who needs it.

FOOD

Ardkeen Quality Food Store - Waterford

• Social media since 2009. Business is based around being a community shop.• Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube.

-To be the “go to” store for artisan products.-To showcase their food heroes.-To build loyalty.-To be accessible.

@ardkeen 2,652 followers @ardkeenqfs 420 B2B

Ardkeen Quality Food Store - Waterford

Real Italian Foodies - Limerick

Real Italian Foodies - Limerick

The Fresh Market - Dublin

The Fresh Market - Dublin

WildFlour Bakery - Dublin

WildFlour Bakery - Dublin

Kate’s Kitchen - Sligo

Kate’s Kitchen - Sligo

Da Mimmo - Dublin

Da Mimmo - Dublin

Knockdrinna – Stoneyford, Kilkenny

Knockdrinna – Stoneyford, Kilkenny

CAFÉ / BARS

Halo Café - Celbridge

Halo Café - Celbridge

• That Wee Café, Belfast

That Wee Café - Belfast

That Wee Café - Belfast

Bradley’s Off License - Cork

Bradley’s Off License - Cork

Trinity Bar Venue - Dublin

Trinity Bar Venue - Dublin

FASHION/JEWELLERY

Little Windsor - Dublin

• In business 6 months

• Facebook & Fairs

• National business run from Fairview – Glenties to Dingle

Little Windsor - Dublin

• Went from bricks and mortar to online because they were selling more through Facebook.

• Spends 5 hours a day on website and Facebook. Every 10 new likes creates 1 sale.

Coze di Roze - Dublin

Coze di Roze - Dublin

Eleanor Hall Jewellery - Dublin

Eleanor Hall Jewellery - Dublin

OTHERS

• Use social to drive brand awareness, to provide customer care (brand differentiator)• Began with a blog – Des Bishop. Positioning as hip, accessible authority on saving

money• >40,000 visits to site, >67,000 page views, 561 comments on 48 posts, 13,620 video

views

Electric Ireland

Electric Ireland

• Customer service using Twitter• Great campaigns using Facebook

• In Temple Bar and now Dalkey

• Uses Facebook to talk to local audience.

• Get feedback from customers.

• Takes orders late at night!

• 1 post per day

The Gutter Bookshop - Dublin

• Uses Twitter to reach the B2B audience: talks to the world, publishers, authors, PR

• Brings in events, author readings, and walk-ins from France, Spain, South Africa!

The Gutter Bookshop - Dublin

iBlog.ie

iBlog.ie

SUMMARY

Social Media is “the new Word to Mouth” and is being successfully used by these local businesses with great results. Irish businesses are using social to market products and services, to serve customers and to grow sales.

The benefits of using social media for small businesses:

• Increased brand awareness and exposure.

• Build real relationships with your customers.

• Increase website traffic.

• Multiply profits.

Keep Us Informed!

• If you are using social media for your local business, you’re based in Ireland, and you’re not in here, please let us know and we’ll add you in.