Irish businesses are now selling up to €12m in goods and services online every day, an e-commerce strategist has claimed.

Ennis-based e-commerce strategy company Magico.ie said that while traditional retailers are facing a downturn, online retailing is on track to break new records.

Paul McGurran, director of e-commerce at Magico.ie, said that despite the current economic climate, “online retailing” is still very much in growth mode compared to traditional high-street retail activity.

“Although traditional high-street retail activity is suffering a downturn, internet sales in Ireland are likely to smash all previous records this year as more and more drop the high street for the information super-highway.

“For example, according to Realex Payments, peak online sales in Ireland reached €12.7m on 4 December 2007 last year, declining to €7.3m in subsequent days during the Christmas period. In 2008, average daily web sales in Ireland are now exceeding €12m per day’.

McGurran pointed to recent research in the UK showing that internet sales will continue to grow and the web channel will claim more than half of the retail market pie by 2026.

“This increase in online retail activity is being stimulated by numerous factors, including greater broadband penetration across Ireland and time-poor and price-conscious consumers.

“Furthermore, the rising price of fuel is the main reason behind consumers’ inclination towards web shopping, with users spending an average of 1.6 hours each week buying on the internet,” McGurran added.

Magico.ie was established in 1999 and currently employs 13 people at its headquarters in Ennis, Co Clare. Its current client base includes Fujipix.ie, The Bag Shop, Smyths Toys, Irish Auctioneers & Valuers Institute, Evergreen Healthfood, Munster Rugby Supporters Club, Freshways Sandwiches, Sisk Builders and Fitzpatrick Design Hotels.

The Magico.ie team consists of industry experts who have worked on large Irish and overseas ICT projects with partners such as IBM, Microsoft, Tesco.com, Ireland Online, Bank of Ireland Asset Management and many more.

Retailers wishing to develop an ecommerce Strategy are being invited to attend an e-commerce Seminar from 7-9pm at The Morgan Hotel, Templebar, Dublin on 15 October 2008. For more information go to www.magico.ie

By John Kennedy