US ONLINE retailer Gilt Groupe is to create 200 jobs with the establishment of its international headquarters in Dublin and a customer service centre in Limerick.
Gilt expects the new positions will be split equally between the two locations. Recruitment of software engineers for the Dublin base – which is to include a software development centre – will begin immediately.
The customer service centre in Limerick is expected to be operational by September. This site may also incorporate a financial centre in time.
Melanie Hughes, chief human resources officer, said the group decided to locate here because of Ireland’s skilled workforce, the fact that it is English-speaking, the close cultural ties with the US and overlapping time zones. Access to the European market was also an attraction.
Tom Sansone, chief vice-president of treasury and corporate development, said while Ireland’s corporation tax rate was a factor it was not the “primary” one.
“It came down to the availability of skilled talent,” he said.
Gilt Groupe operates an online shopping destination (gilt.com) that offers its 3.5 million members luxury brands at discounts of between 30 and 70 per cent.
Announcing the new jobs, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan described Gilt’s decision to locate here as a very significant win for Ireland in the digital space. It confirmed the State’s ability to attract high-quality foreign direct investment despite our current difficulties. “The company will provide excellent employment opportunities in Limerick and Dublin for talented graduates with strong customer service and IT skills,” Mr Noonan said.
The Minister also reiterated the Government’s commitment to the State’s corporation tax rate, and said Ireland understands that sustaining the 12.5 per cent rate is a “vital component” of recovery.
Gilt Groupe employs more than 650 people in the US and Japan. Its Irish investment marks the company’s first foray into Europe.
The company plans to begin offering a shipping service to Ireland in the future. It was founded in 2007 as an invitation-only site for luxury women’s clothing and accessories. It has since expanded into other business lines.
