Ireland’s leading connected entertainment provider Virgin Media has launched a €1 Million support fund as part of its #BackingBusiness initiative to boost Irish businesses nationwide, with free on-air advertising including creative, production, profiles in relevant TV programmes and social media promotion across its full schedule covering Virgin Media Channels One, Two and Three, Virgin Media announced today.

 

The Virgin Media #BackingBusiness initiative is designed to underpin the renewal and recovery of businesses in communities throughout Ireland in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. It’s open now to businesses across the country and aims to give them a national platform to showcase their resilience and ingenuity during these challenging times. It will feature as many Irish businesses as possible, and entering is really easy.

 

All business owners have to do is to send in a short email, outlining who and where they are, some of their main products or services and how they have coped and reinvented themselves through the current crisis. The ideal way to do this is to take a short video by mobile phone (including shots of the business premises). You can simply email submissions to backingbusiness@virginmedia.ie or WhatsApp them to 089 611 1111.

 

Businesses from every sector will be profiled each week to include advertising airtime, ad creative and production, social media promotion, PR activity, content features and exclusive Virgin Media Business support package.

 

Aidan D’Arcy, Director of Business at Virgin Media said: “Virgin Media is supporting businesses around the country who are adapting to the challenges around Covid-19.”

 

The first six businesses to feature in Virgin Media’s #BackingBusiness campaign are PamperTheCamper.com, The Sensory Pod, StuffUNeed.ie, Nufields, Workspace Interiors and South William Clinic & Spa, details below.

 

“For starters, these are six simply fantastic Irish businesses who we’re thrilled to support,” said Aidan D’Arcy. “As the economy gradually reopens in the weeks to come, we encourage consumers everywhere to rally in support of their local shops, businesses and service providers and to buy Irish wherever possible including online shopping and ordering by phone. We know things are very difficult for people, families, businesses and communities all over Ireland.

 

“We’re using the full Virgin Media capability to back business in Ireland. This campaign celebrates and promotes the spirit of Irish businesses and their resolve to fight back, recover and succeed in spite of this unprecedented crisis. We’re really delighted to make it happen and we’re looking forward to hearing from businesses in every village, town and city across Ireland.”

 

PamperTheCamper.com
Having established a foothold in the festival market by providing camping packages and fully serviced ‘Glampsites’ to festivals across Ireland, Pamper The Camper www.pamperthecamper.com have put their specialism to better use during the worldwide lockdown, offering a wide variety of multi-purpose bell tents for use at home. The company has evolved its existing business model to help support families by offering a cost effective, enjoyable and easy way to increase space by bringing the indoors out! The broad range of bell tents are perfect for home gardens and will provide usable space that can instantly create a playroom for children, a chill-out escape for adults or even a garden office to help with home working challenges.

 

The Sensory Pod
The Sensory Pod are based in Tallaght. www.sensorypod.ie They were due to be in Dubai having won a contract for Expo 2020, which was unfortunately cancelled until 2021, and they had a large volume of Sensory Units built for the Expo which were going to be left gathering dust. Instead of letting them go to waste they decided to try something they had never done before and this was to rent their entire stock to parents of special needs children. The times we are living in are very difficult for autistic children and their parents so their units were very quickly snapped up. This meant that families who would have not been able to buy a sensory pod can now afford one by renting to buy it over time providing their children with a safe space to unwind and de-stress.

 

StuffUNeed.ie
StuffUNeed.ie is the online market place for all the stuff people need and want for everyday life essentials and special occasions at home in a unique online shopping experience www.stuffuneed.ie. This includes everything from a full household grocery shop to weekly tipples and the most delicious restaurant and cocktail kits to make at home. As Doug Leddin, Ohana Rum Bar explains, these five guys suddenly found themselves with no work, due to the lockdown so they put their heads together to create a new venture. What started as a very local delivery service to help the elderly and those cocooning quickly grew into a viable business within the first four weeks. They've now expanded to cover the Leinster region and should be nationwide later this month. They've increased their grocery lines to nearly 500 items from major suppliers, such as United Drug and Proximo, and have added a number of local independent restaurants who would otherwise be unable to reach customers.

 

Nufields
Nufields began as an indoor vertical farm growing high quality, organic microgreens for local restaurants. Their goal was to provide incredibly fresh, beautiful produce within the heart of their community. When restaurants were asked to close their doors, it looked like the business was done for. Nufields decided not to give up and instead poured all their passion and extensive knowledge of growing microgreens into an easy to follow kit. Using high quality, commercial standard equipment, organic seed and an organic coconut fiber based soil, anyone can now grow restaurant standard, nutrient dense microgreens at home. All you need is a window sill! The response to the kit has been amazing, showing there is a real shift in people's attitude as to where their food is coming from. www.nufields.com

 

Workspace Interiors Ltd
Workspace Interiors Ltd are a Dublin based office workspace design company. They specialise in creating innovative concepts for living, working and relaxing all under the heading “workspace” – it’s what their about! Since COVID 19, offices have closed and left a hole in the business. Rather than lie down, Workspace Interiors Ltd developed a range of home working solutions for customers as well as a range of ‘sneeze screens’. These developments have allowed them to stay fully operational as well as being at the forefront of workspace innovation and design. www.workspaceinteriors.ie/

 

South William Clinic & Spa
South William Clinic & Spa, based in Dublin, aim to offer their clients the best-in-class treatments, delivered with the highest standards possible and prescribed skincare from all the top cosmeceutical skincare brands. They have had to close their business due to the COVID 19 pandemic but have continued to operate due to their strong online presence. The clinic has a fully operational online shop with all orders being processed in a timely manner. They have also launched online skin consultations for their customers. This allows customers to have their skin concerns alleviated and to also be prescribed any skincare products they need. www.southwilliamspa.com/