A LOCAL business has just been selected as one of five Munster-based businesses to undergo a complete digital transformation worth €100,000.

Grounded Pottery, based in Barrow and run by the mother and daughter team of Marjorie Cunningham and Emma Carmody, was one of 149 businesses in the province to apply for the Virgin Media ‘Backing Business’ Initiative.

It will now share in the overall €100,000 in support and will also benefit hugely from the expertise and insights of each of the Virgin Media ‘Backing Business’ partners.

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“We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected as one of the small businesses being given the Digital Makeover and are very excited to set up our online platform and work with the wonderful businesses and supports involved,” said Emma.

The support includes one year of free Fibre Business Broadband with Virgin Media Business, an online Shopify Store built by Milk Bottle Labs and business development support and full membership of Digital Business Ireland’s extensive network.

They will also receive mentoring in digital marketing from their Local Enterprise Office and the overall initiative is supported with programme funding from Permanent TSB.

“We set up Grounded Pottery to produce Irish made reusable cups. Our aim is to move society towards a more sustainable culture by offering a handmade pottery travel cup that can last a lifetime if cared for,” said Emma.

“The reasons we handmake travel cups is, in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of single use cups, while also reviving the use of traditionally made ceramics into a sustainable living, everyday item.”

They are selling primarily online on Etsy at present, and have sold to 14 countries outside of Ireland to date. They use Instagram (@grounded.pottery) to show some behind the scenes of their making process at www.instagram.com/grounded.pottery/

Their travel cups are stocked in The Roast House in Tralee, and offer a free local delivery service from the Etsy page (https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/GroundedPottery) with the code ‘LOCALDELIVERY’