Independent Retailer Internet Shopping Scheme

Department of Economic Development has a scheme to enable Isle of Man independent retailers to build an internet shop quickly and cheaply. The scheme has two parts:

suitable retailers will be helped to set up and run their own successful shopping website to generate both new online sales opportunities and to encourage consumers into their shops;
a new, exciting shopping portal Shopiom.com . The portal promotes local retailers, helping and encouraging consumers to shop locally

The scheme is a partnership between the Department and a leading European provider of e-commerce solutions, Venda. Venda's small business solution Powa has been designed to give participating retailers the opportunity to sell online for a minimal financial outlay and with no requirement for technical knowledge about setting up and running a website.

All the websites developed under the scheme will be linked through to the Isle of Man shopping directory site Shopiom.com, which is owned and run by the Department of Economic Development and provides visitors an easy way to research and buy goods from Isle of Man suppliers. Venda – whose customers include the BBC, Superdrug, Laura Ashley, DeBeers, Arsenal Football club and many others – will provide a fully supported service which will enable the retailer to concentrate on sales rather than the technical aspects of running a website.

Retailer Internet Shopping Scheme

£100 scheme entry fee (upon signed contract with the Department of Economic Development) - this is invested back into the Scheme for marketing and support
No further costs until April 2011 for the Venda package (*some transactional costs will apply, e.g. PayPal, etc)
£49.99 per month payable to Venda thereafter. *No additional costs.
100 individual retail sites supported in the first phase on a first come first served basis, with provision to add more in the future
A dedicated, branded Isle of Man shopping portal to act as a focal point for all registered shops and to drive visitors to individual sites - fully supported by a marketing campaign
Retailers who have already invested and have a suitable, existing site will gain free placement on the portal when it goes live.

To complement the Retailer Internet Shopping Scheme, the Department has created a financial support scheme, the VSS, to subsidise your use of local service providers (such as IT companies, Marketing, Photographers, copy writers) when setting up your Powa site, should you need it.

Venda Support Scheme (VSS)

One free consultation with the Department's Retail Development Consultant (RDC) with no obligation
A list of preferred, Venda-trained, Isle of Man service providers to choose from
Potential to apply for financial assistance to help with service providers' costs - 50% of costs up to a maximum of £3000
If deciding to engage a local service provider and apply for financial assistance, the RDC will stay with you throughout the project free of charge

Further information