Building your Digital Business 06 August

Date:   Thursday 06 August             

Time:   11:00am – 11.45am

Location: Zoom Webinar

 Event Overview

Today people are spending more money online, which has shiftedbusiness emphasis to digital sources of revenue and digital channels. Thegrowth of the digital economy has made people more familiar with digital products and services, which has driven companies to seek new competitiveadvantages in the digital space.

As we have discussed in previous webinars online and virtual communications look as though they are here to stay. The same goes for online business and throughout the Covid crisis businesses have shown that they can pivot to digitisation. Some have used online channels to expand their markets whilst others have shown that online communications for remote working can maintain and even increase productivity.

Mary McKenna, technology entrepreneur & angel investor who co-founded the online learning company Learning Pool, shares her expertise on how to build a digital business and her tips those who are new to that space; we also hear from Chamber members Sharron McCormick and Mark Houston who have both been maximising their digital capabilities during lockdown.

Panellist bios:

Mary McKenna

Mary McKenna is a Donegal based serial entrepreneur and angel investor.  She recently co-foundedsocial enterprise Awaken Hub with a mission to help entrepreneurs across Ireland join the dots and a focus on women founders.  She’s well known in Derry as one of the co-founders of Learning Pool.

In addition to herwork with early stage startups, Mary is one of the Entrepreneurs in Residence at the University of Oxford and she works for the EU on the Horizon 2020 innovation programs.

Mary was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2014 New Year’s Honours for services to digital technology, innovation and learning.

Sharron McCormick

With Love Recipes foundedby Sharron McCormick, consists of the development, production and retail of delicious guilt free foods which facilitate a huge gap in the market that will in turn accommodate many dietary requirements. Their Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Soya Free and High Protein cheesecakes, muffins and sauces are all consumable by: coeliac, diabetics, those struggling with obesity, weight management, food intolerances and those wanting to follow a high protein diet, both pre and post workout. Sharron has also published acookbook within the brand which consists of a wide variety of guilt free, starters, mains, sauces, deserts and sides.

The company has had significant investment from; Invest NI, to bring these products to market, as they are unique, in demand, and currently unavailable anywhere else. (Mintel Research) With Love Recipes have received a number of awards since the launch of the brand for Innovation in Health and Wellness and have received special mentions in a number of Business Awards.

Mark Houston

The Houston name has been synonymous with selling footwear in Derry since 1973, first established by Mark’s Grandfather, Bernard.

The shop has become a ‘go to’ high end retail destination, specialising in the retail of high quality ladies and men’s shoes, providing a specialist fitting service and more recently has a new website.

Mark returned to Derry in 2013 and took over the family business back in 2015 after spending 4 years at Trinity College in Dublin and then 6 years with PwC in Belfast.Mark now runs the business with his wife Paula and in May this year got the push needed due to the pandemic to take the business online.

It has been an eventful and hectic 4 months, setting up a new website, trying to run a business during the current climate, never mind having2 very young children at home!