Belleek shop owner encourages other local businesses to get online

by Gráinne Connolly

Family run business, Gilmartin Craft shop has been open since 1979 in Belleek. 

It was first opened by Kevin and Veronica Gilmartin, who promoted Irish gifts and handcrafts to local people and visitors. 

In those days, they posted catalogues for people to place orders, even to America. 

Nowadays the business is run by Pauline Gilmartin, the daughter of Kevin and Veronica and it's known online as The Belleek Mail Order Company. 

Pauline is also a member of 'Save The High Street', which is a movement that promotes keeping local shopkeepers and independent businesses on the high street. 

The local shop owner says that having an online presence on Facebook and running the website has become extremely important for her business:

"We went on Ebay around 2009 and we had a couple attempts at e-comers over the years, it's very difficult with a small business, there were massive barriers to it in the early days. 

"We got back up and running with our own website in 2016.

"We're finding that the E-comers (online store within Ebay) has given us a big opportunity with the domestic market, certainly within Northern Ireland the UK, we're reaching more customers that way. 

"As well as the American market as well, we always would have had a small toe in the American market. 

"Certainly with e-comers now it's opened us up to a lot more customers across the UK." 

Pauline is encouraging other local businesses to get online as well and make their presence known. 

She doesn't want to see local shops closing down because they can't keep up with online competition. 

Pauline suggested that small businesses in particular can benefit from creating a facebook page or website to sell products online.

It can help get their name out there, while also bringing in a wider customer base.  

Ms Gilmartin also says the perks of having a small business is being able to stand out by taking a more personal approach:

"We take a very personal approach with our customers both in store and online. 

"We do little things that big companies can't do like hand writing a little note on each packing slip going out to the customers. 

"It just gives us more of a personal touch." 

Below is 'The Belleek Mail Order Company', also known as Gilmartin Craft Shop.

As well as selling Irish gifts and handcrafts, Pauline also has a blog which covers anything from the local area, to homemade irish recipes. 

http://www.thebelleekmailordercompany.com/