Cork-headquartered PCH International has acquired Canadian ecommerce platform ShopLocket.

The supply chain solutions and development company said the acquisition would allow it to offer start-ups “an entrepreneur-friendly” marketplace to launch and sell their products.

PCH specialises in helping hardware companies get their products manufactured and distributed.

It said the acquisition would create the world’s first “end-to-end service”, which would help startups to create, develop, manufacture and sell products direct to consumers.

Chief executive Liam Casey said: "This acquisition puts us at the intersection of hardware and ecommerce, and allows us to authentically communicate with a tech-savvy community."

“The products will include wearable tech, connected devices and personalized gadgets.”

“This is the future of creating, making and selling products for wearable tech and the Internet of Things.”