Taoiseach Enda Kenny Opens New Headquarters in Park West
Thursday 2nd May 2013: Ireland’s leading car parts and accessories e-commerce retailer, MicksGarage.com, has announced a €2.3million investment to assist with an expansion of 65 new jobs over the next two years. The announcement was made as the Taoiseach Enda Kenny today opened the company’s new 32,000 square feet warehouse and office facility in Park West, Dublin 12.
Founded in 2004, MicksGarage has grown to become one of Europe’s largest car parts and accessories online retailers, delivering products across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. The business, which currently employs 34 staff, was set up by brothers, Ciaran and Michael Crean, from Ballina in Mayo.
The €2.3 million investment was made by the Ulster Bank Diageo Venture Fund managed by NCB Ventures, the AIB Seed Capital Fund managed by Dublin BIC and private investors. It will fund an ambitious expansion of the business including the roll-out of localised MicksGarage websites for nine European markets including France, Germany and Sweden. The MicksGarage.com website sells over 1.5 million car parts and accessories, across a wide range of car parts and accessories, from braking parts to car care, travel and leisure gear to service parts.
Speaking at the official opening of the new facility, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “Getting Irish businesses online is a key part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs and it’s hugely encouraging to see an indigenous e-commerce company like MicksGarage.com demonstrate the capacity to expand and develop its business throughout the world. The motoring sector in Ireland has undergone extreme pressures over the past few years, but MicksGarage.com is an example of what can be achieved when talent, hard work and technology come together. I would like to congratulate the MicksGarage team on building the business from a bedroom website to a multi-million euro e-commerce portal which competes with the very best across the world.”
Discussing the company’s growth plans, Ciaran Crean, Managing Director, MicksGarage said: “Today is a proud day for MicksGarage as we continue to expand the business and grow the brand across Europe. We had a vision when we started the company that MicksGarage.com could become a successful e-commerce business which would create jobs and expand outside of Ireland. The investment capital which we have secured will allow us to realise our ambitions for the business, part of which involves 65 new jobs over the next two years. I’d like to thank the dedicated team at MicksGarage which has brought us to this point and we look forward to pushing on with the next phase of our growth.”
Speaking today, Michael Crean, Head of Online and Technology Director, MicksGarage said: “We’ve witnessed a phenomenal growth in sales in recent years as more consumers have switched to the internet for their car parts and accessories. Currently we are launching localised websites for France, Germany and Sweden, markets which already bring significant revenue for our business. We’re also expanding our customer service support to a seven day 7am – 11pm timeframe, which will help to capitalise on our pan-European websites and expand our UK and Irish sales.”
