HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail & Merchanting

After completing the Financial and Credit Management section, students and mentors in the Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting continue their learnings into 2023.

Insulation Products module by Kingspan Insulation and a very informative session on both Roofing and Timber Products presented by Etex and Glennon Brothers. Students also attended a garden & outdoor module presented by Ames True Temper.

Certificate Hardware Retail And Merchanting

Sponsored by Octabuild for a second year, the nine-month long mentor-based programme is designed to equip employees in the sector with a knowledge and skills base that will enable them to contribute to the business of their employer. It will also help employees build a career in the sector.

In January and February, students kicked off their InStore Management training, with Stock Control and Merchandising. They also got detailed Product Knowledge in subjects including Hand & Power Tools, Cement Products and more.

Octabuild Members sharing their Product Knowledge

In addition to their learning modules, they also completed Product Knowledge modules presented by Octabuild members, having most recently attended a highly detailed

HAI is delighted to be working with Octabuild and its members (Dulux, Etex, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan, and Wavin) to deliver a series of Product Knowledge modules, giving students a fully rounded view perspective of the industry.

Here is the full list of topics covered:

Paint & Décor - Dulux Paints

Heating Products - Grant Engineering

Insulation Products - Kingspan Insulation

Roof and Timber Products - Etex and Glennon Brothers

Plumbing Products - Wavin Ireland

Cement Products - Gyproc and Irish Cement

Garden Products - Ames True Temper

Hand and Power Tools - Toolbank Ireland

Fasteners & Fixings - tbc

A key component of the Certificate is for students to get a thorough understanding of the experience of builders merchanting on the ground from the suppliers’ perspective. This is facilitated by the product knowledge modules, which are presented by the eight Octabuild companies - Dulux, Etex, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation and Wavin - and uniquely provide participants with the opportunity to engage with leading Irish suppliers.

Incoming Octabuild Chairperson, Declan Conlon, Sales Manager for Wavin, commented: “We very much value the importance of nurturing talent in the builders merchant trade through education and fully support the efforts of the HAI Certificate. Octabuild member companies are delighted to share their expertise through the product knowledge modules delivered throughout the programme. We have been impressed by the students participating in the course to date and look forward to continue working with them as they move towards their graduation in the coming months.” For more information about the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting contact Aoife at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969