The Hardware Journal March/April 2023

CONFERENCE SUCCESS

ADVANTAGE WEATHERSHIELD

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Main House: PHOENIX PARK* Side Extension: INISBOFIN GOLD*

Window Sillls and Plinth: WILD COTTON Front Door: BLACK

On 30th March HAI had our first Hardware Conference since February 2020. In his opening speech our President Paul Candon outlined the four main challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The demand for housing, both for new build and the rejuvenation of empty homes, sustainability, the quest for talent, and digitisation. Each of these will impact on how we do business and shape our future and the conference reflected these trends. With over 170 attendees, the Hardware Conference was opened by Minister Neale Richmond who mentioned his family’s background in the sector spanning a few generations. In his speech he outlined the work of his Department in continuing to help the sector. Minister Darragh O’Brien sent a video message that acknowledged the partnership with HAI and our place in future plans. And in this edition we feature an interview with Minister O’Brien focusing on the Government’s Vacant Homes Action Plan. Covering some interesting and thought-provoking topics and a compelling line up of speakers the Conference was a great success. Feedback from both delegates and sponsors has been excellent. And here’s a hint for anyone coming to the conference - stay to the end, it is well worth it, executive thinking time and networking is valuable. And, we can all be done without for one day!

messagefromtheCEO

Please see photos on pages 20 - 22.

In HAI’s continuing campaign to promote the Empty Homes opportunity will are planning a series of roadshows. In May (25th) we will host the Empty Homes Roadshow in Ballina and we are planning others for Cork, Limerick Waterford, and Dublin later in the summer/early autumn.

The market, according to the Business Index on page 8, grew in value overall by 12% in 2022 compared to 2021. However, this growth was not uniform with some categories continuing to flourish and others experiencing

a considerable downturn. We are always looking for new contributors to grow the base. Those who contribute see the full report and get it as soon as it is available.

At the Hardware Conference in Kilkenny we had a “soft” launch of The Hardware Show 2024. It will take place in the RDS on the 18th and 19th of February 2024. Some have already booked their stands. It is always a good idea to book early - for information please contact Margaret at Eventhaus margaret.andreucetti@eventhaus.ie In her article on page 48, Gina Schaefer outlines the steps that her business has taken to optimise their product range and have the right pricing metrics and merchandising.

Thierry Coeman on page 50, examines a case study of the application of digital technology on the shopfloor. And Ronan Synnott of SEAI outlines some of the grants available to homeowners on page 56.

The Certificate in Hardware and Merchanting is nearing the end of its second year of students - feedback is very positive as you will see on page 54.

On the 21st and 22nd of April, Ufemat will hold its annual conference in Dublin. Ufemat is the representative body of Hardware Associations across Europe. All HAI members and Corporate Partners are invited to attendsee www.ufematdublin.ie and see page 6.

Martin Markey Chief Executive Officer - HAI

Blackchurch Business Park, Naas Road, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, D24 C796 t +353 1 298 0969 e info@hardwareassociation.ie w www.hardwareassociation.ie @hardwareassoc

ISSN contents news

Published by: Hardware Association Ireland

Editor: Jim Copeland, editor@hardwareassociation.ie

Editorial/Feature Contributor: Aoife Kinsella, Aoife@hardwareassociation.ie

Advertising Manager: Jim Copeland, jim@hardwareassociation.ie

Design and Production: Stephen Broad, ConceptRoom, stephen@conceptroom.co.uk

Printers: GPS Colour Graphics Ltd, Belfast.

Distribution: MMS Mailing Services, Dublin.

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES:

To advertise in The Hardware Journal and reach the key decision makers in the industry please contact Jim Copeland at 01-298 0969; email jim@hardwareassociation.ie

52 March/April

6 Dulux encourage your customers to transform their home with Weathershield.

10 Fleetwood introduce their complete colour refresh for 2023.

12 The Hardware Journal interviews Darragh O’Brien, TD., Minister For Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

14 Kieran Burke announced as MD of The Brooks Group.

16 Kieran Holohan appointed as MD of Saint-Gobain Ireland.

18 Knauf Insulation help you get on top with loft insulation.

20 The Hardware Conference in words and pictures.

24 Chadwick’s Robinhood Road opens after a full revamp.

26 Octabuild announce Declan Conlon as their new Chairperson for 2023-24.

28 JD Roberts announces nationwide roadshows.

30 Grant discuss their highly efficient, reliable and innovative heating solutions.

32 Alan Maguire joins Niko Bathrooms team.

40 Portwest achieves Ecovadis Silver Sustainability Rating.

3 A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Martin Markey introduces the latest issue of The Hardware Journal 44 CORPORATE PARTNERS A look at HAI’s corporate partners and the services they offer.

training

54 HAI CERTIFICATE IN HARDWARE RETAIL AND MERCHANTING: Students and Mentors have their say.

55 HAI SPRING TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS: Classrooms full of employees, owners and managers.

business support

52 RONAN SYNNOT Civil Engineer with SEAI talks about Individual Energy Upgrade Grants - Attic Insulation Installation Guidance.

classified ads

71 A SELECTION OF CLASSIFIED ADS

COMMERCIAL

FEATURES

58 BATHROOMS & SHOWERS

How the market has experienced steady growth in recent years.

66 ADHESIVES & SEALANTS

Outlining that the market is expected to grow due to the increase in demand from several industry sectors.

48 LOCAL RETAILING IN THE USA Gina Schaefer tells us ‘The Brutal Truth’. How getting feedback from a group of peers needs to forget all the fluff before they start talking!

50 A VIEW FROM EUROPE Regular contributor Thierry Coeman shares a “State of the art in customer store experience “involving new mobile phone technology and overhead lighting fixtures!

52 UK RETAILING: STEVE COLLINGE Insight DIY’s Steve Collinge investigates “ The growing importance of influencer Marketing “ over the last three years in the UK within our sector!

TRANSFORM YOUR ENTIRE HOME WITH WEATHERSHIELD

While doing small jobs inside the home may sometimes take priority, it has now never been easier for your customer to get jobs done outside using Weathershield to ‘Create a feature wall’ outside.

Transforming small spaces by utilising the power of paint can open up areas of your customer’s property that they would have never considered usable before. This works extremely well for people with small outdoor gardens or city dwellers. Painting a feature wall can create a focal point for their exterior space and may influence where they place garden furniture, plants or host BBQs.

Here is a Step by step guide for your customers to use to transform their small outdoor spaces:

1. To get started, they need to clean their walls and treat any areas of mould. Dulux recommend using Weathershield Multi-Surface Fungicidal Wash.

2. When it comes to choosing their base wall paint, they need one that protects their wall against all the elements of Irish weather, Dulux recommend Weathershield Smooth Masonry.

INVITATION TO THE 63RD UFEMAT CONGRESS IN DUBLIN

John Newcomb, Ufemat President, is delighted to invite you to the 63rd Ufemat Congress in Dublin. The Congress will take place from 20th - 22nd April 2023 at the 5* Marker Hotel. The Conference is titled “A Vision for Success” and the themes are:

• Due Diligence: in collaboration with EuroCommerce

• Packaging: “Recycled content in the packaging material”

• Safety at Work & Vocational Training Building Materials: in collaboration with Constructiv and ISSA Construction (International Social Security Association)

3. Next step, creating a circle shape on their wall. All they need to do is cut a piece of string half the width of their desired circle. Pin it to the wall where they want the centre of their circle to be and attach a pencil to the other end.

4. They then hold the string taught and draw a circle. Then, fill in with a colour of their choice. If they’ve opted for a grey garden wall paint, such as Concrete Grey, then Jasmine White is a great choice for the circle.

5. Now they have a stencilled circle on their garden wall. Visit www.weathershield.ie to learn more.

• There will be a highlevel reception and tour of Microsoft Dublin European HQ and a partners’ program. The full programme details and registration are available here, https:// ufematdublin.eu/ en#Register

MEDITE is the leading MDF brand in the wood panel industry. Its extensive range includes MEDITE® TRICOYA® EXTREME (MTX), an innovative panel that has taken the construction, landscaping and design world by storm. Guaranteed for up to 50 years outside and 25 years below ground, this high-performance material is incredibly versatile and can be used for planters, garden rooms, sculptures, playgrounds, building façades, furniture; your imagination is the only limit!

Sourced from sustainably managed forests, our engineered wood panels are proof of our commitment to creating products that contribute to sustainable and healthier environments. Renowned for their versatility as much as their durability, our products are suitable for a multitude of applications.

Join the MEDITE MDF community online to receive the latest updates and a sign-up gift.

Business Index Q4 2022 Results

The year on year growth of 12% in 2022 is in comparison to 2021. Inflation is also having a major impact on increasing turnovers

increase

The Business Index is collecting and analysing data at category level. If members would like to contribute and benefit from category data please contact Martin at 087 2226532

The quarterly

peaks among the Rest Of Leinster and Rural members.

Durability means Sutainability

At Snickers Workwear, we’ve always believed in making hard-working, long-lasting clothes. We also know that the longer our clothes last, the less environmental impact they have.

COMPLETE COLOUR REFRESH FOR 2023

Fleetwood Paints readymix colour range has undergone a complete colour refresh for 2023 with new shades added to Easyclean, Soft Sheen, Kitchen, Bathroom and the Advanced Satinwood trim paints.

In recent years, the timeless and classic grey and warm neutrals have been trending globally and whilst this is still the case, we are seeing more bold and deepening colour choices that are being drenched across multiple surfaces.

The introduction of a divine and deep forest green called Fern Hollow to the Fleetwood Easyclean Washable Matt range paired with brand new colour Sea Tangle in a complementary satinwood finish will give a dramatic ambience to spaces. Fleetwood say that Easyclean Washable Matt is 50 times tougher than standard matt paint with a scrubbable and wipeable finish.

Another deep neutral that is new to the range is Craters Cove, available in both Easyclean washable matt and Soft Sheen finish. This blue based deep grey has a similar shade available in satinwood called Elderberry which makes for an edgier alternative to grey or black.

Soft Sheen is a fully wipeable paint that offers excellent stain resistance.

Interior designers and kitchen cabinet makers are still finding that the love for dusty green kitchens is showing no sign of abating in Irish homes. Fleetwood Paints new kitchen colour ‘Edens Way’ is expected to be a top pick for homeowners alongside natural and durable textures in the form of wood and stone. It’s also good to note that this colour comes in all

Kitchens paint is available in a washable and scrubbable smooth flat finish with a grease resistant formula. Two new bathroom colours are bound to inspire this season and are dramatically different from anything else in the Fleetwood Bathrooms collection. Dark green Ripples Folly and deep grey Ash Rock will stand out for all the right reasons! The Fleetwood Bathrooms paint has a five-year mould protection and is available in a mid-sheen finish. The piece de resistance is the behemoth of colour that will now see the Fleetwood Advanced Satinwood range rise to 23 colours, including Black and White. With a low sheen appearance of only 25%, this water-based paint still retains all the great attributes in terms of performance and application of its oil-based alternative. The Fleetwood 2023 readymix colour card will be available to order in April 2023.

For more information ask your local Fleetwood account manager or call 049-854 7209 Fleetwood Paints, Virginia, Co. Cavan. www.Fleetwood.ie

Craters Cove Sheen. Edens Way Kitchen.

Fern Hollow Easyclean.

THE HARDWARE JOURNAL’S INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER FOR HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HERITAGE DARRAGH O’BRIEN, TD.

Jim Copeland, Editor of The Hardware Journal, recently interviewed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD. on the “Vacant Homes Action Plan” as part of the Government’s “Housing for All” policy. The Minister was very pleased to inform the sector of his and the Department`s support for Hardware Association Ireland`s (HAI) “Empty Homes” initiative and to work with members throughout the country to progress its implementation. Following this interview with the Minister, amongst other agreed follow up actions, the Department is to provide leaflets and Point of Sale signs for distribution to members. HAI in turn is to provide the Minister with further information on its work and support of the very successful “Home Renovation Incentive Scheme”.

Minister can you tell us the background to the Vacant Homes Action Plan?

We all know that the most efficient home to deliver is one that already exists. That is why addressing vacancy and dereliction and maximising the use of our existing housing stock is a primary objective of this Government, and Housing for All contains a specific pathway focusing on this priority area. I want vacant properties in cities, towns and villages across the country to become homes - giving people the opportunity to live and participate in their local communities. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, that I launched in January, outlines the real progress that government is making in addressing vacancy through the introduction of new schemes, supports and incentives but, crucially, it also contains details on further measures that we will bring forward to make sure even more vacant properties are brought back into use. It ensures that the objectives in our Housing for All Plan become a reality.

What are your targets for the plan?

Ultimately, the goal is to bring back as many vacant properties, residential or commercial, into productive use as homes. A key part of the government’s plan to tackle vacancy is the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. It includes the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant - launched last July for eligible vacant properties in towns and villages and was extended to include vacant properties in cities and all rural areas in November. The grant is a scheme to support the sustainable reuse of vacant and derelict properties to become a home. A grant of up to a maximum of ¤30,000 is available for the refurbishment of a vacant property for occupation as a principal private residence. If the property is confirmed as derelict, a top up grant of ¤20,000 is available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to ¤50,000. Properties considered for inclusion must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993. I’ve had extremely positive feedback on this grant to date with more than 1,200 applications made across the country.

What are the key elements of the plan we need to get right?

Bringing vacant homes and buildings back into use is fundamental to a sustainable housing policy and will bring vibrancy to our local communities. The Government is investing significant money into supporting this objective and I want to see that money making a real difference to our cities, towns villages and rural areas - making them even better places in which to live, work, visit and invest. The Action Plan contains an action to introduce a new programme for the CPO of vacant properties for resale on the open market. My department is currently preparing guidance which will issue to local authorities on the CPO and Compulsory Acquisition of vacant properties for resale on the open market in the coming weeks. This will be a game changer and will help every single local authority across the country, all of whom have experience of vacancy and dereliction, in breathing new life into their areas. As well as that, as part of the launch of the Vacant Homes Action Plan, I also launched a ¤150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale. The Fund will then be replenished from the proceeds

received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy and dereliction and revitalise areas all across the country.

How can the hardware sector help in implementing the plan?

I have always said that there is no way the State can address our housing crisis on its own. We need the private sector and public sector working together. The launch of the Vacant Homes Action plan coincided with the start of a six week multi–channel advertising campaign highlighting the supports available to people who wish to buy, lease or sell a vacant property, or convert vacant commercial property into a home. The hardware sector can help the implementation of the plan by spreading awareness of the supports available to people who wish to bring vacant properties back into use. I am really heartened to see the Hardware Association Ireland Empty Homes roadshows take off, I know it’s something there is significant interest in and I will support the Hardware sector as they support us in our endeavours.

As you know, building materials price inflation is a huge concern for our members. Is there anything you can say to them about how this is looking for the year ahead?

The Government is very conscious of the increased costs in construction at present and we have taken steps to address these concerns. A framework is in place which applies to public works contracts and provides for burden sharing around inflationary costs, with the State bearing up to 70% of the additional increase in costs. My Department also facilitates a Construction Sector Group, and this group has appointed a consultant to carry out an analysis on each component of cost of construction of house and apartment development, with a view to reducing cost – including cost of compliance –and increasing standardisation. This analysis will also identify opportunities for cost reduction for consideration by the relevant Government Departments and Industry.

Have you considered any incentives for those who own vacant homes and will renovate them to either live in or rent out, where VAT can be claimed back as per the very successful Home Renovation Incentive Scheme (2013-2018)?

Addressing vacancy requires a varied and holistic response, and the actions identified in Housing for All and in the Action Plan aim to provide that response. Local authorities now have a range of schemes, powers, and incentives at their disposal to address vacancy, while financial incentives are already in place for owners of vacant properties to bring them back into use. As I’ve said, we now have a direct grant available for homeowners and homebuyers to refurbish a home to have as their principle private residence. Then we have other schemes such as Repair and Lease and Buy and Renew which help our local authorities add to their social housing stock. We keep all these schemes under constant review. With regards to VAT or tax these are matters which come under the remit of the Department of Finance. And I will also add that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant system is a significant resource which is available to homeowners.

There are planning stumbling blocks in relation to Fire Regulations and Access issues in relation to bringing Vacant Homes back into use. Have you plans to alleviate these issues?

Last month myself and Minister of State, Kieran O’Donnell launched a three-month public consultation on proposed amendments to Building Regulations relating to fire safety. The proposed changes aim to improve fire safety in new buildings and support the re-use of existing buildings by simplifying, clarifying and rationalising fire safety requirements. I would encourage people to have their say on these proposals, so we can make appropriate amendments to our Building regulations to best support the aims of our Vacant Homes Action Plan.

CEO Hardware Association Ireland, Martin Markey, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD., and Immediate Past President Hardware Association Ireland, Michael O’Donohoe, Country Director, Wavin Ireland Ltd.

Editor of The Hardware Journal, Jim Copeland, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, TD. And Immediate Past President Hardware Association Ireland, Michael O’Donohoe, Country Director, Wavin Ireland Ltd.

KIERAN BURKE ANNOUNCED AS CEO OF THE BROOKS GROUP

The Murdock Builders Merchants Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kieran Burke as CEO of the Brooks Group. With full responsibility for the leadership of the Brooks business, Kieran will play a key role in the next stage of developing the Brooks business following the acquisition of the Brooks Group by the Murdock Builders Merchants Group in August 2021.

Commenting on the appointment, Murdock Builders Merchants Group CEO, James Higgins said: “We are delighted that Kieran is taking up this position. Kieran’s incredibly strong knowledge and over 40 years of builders merchanting experience in Ireland, UK and Europe will be vital as we continue our ambitious plans to grow and develop the iconic Brooks business.” Kieran’s appointment will take effect on May 2nd, 2023.

As part of this change in leadership of the Brooks business, James Higgins added: “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Eddie Kelly for his interim management of the Brooks business following its acquisition. Eddie will continue to work with our business in a non-executive role as Chairman of Brooks, primarily involved in identifying strategic opportunities for both the Brooks business and the wider Murdock Builders Merchants Group.”

Headquartered in Newry, the Murdock Builders Merchants Group was founded in 1982 by the Murdock family. As suppliers of building and related products to the construction sector, the Group has continued to grow through an organic and acquisitive strategy. The Group has a turnover in excess of ¤225m and is now the 2nd largest builders merchanting group on the island

of Ireland. The Group operates from a combined 25 locations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and includes the brands, Murdock Builders Merchants, Brooks Timber and Building Supplies and Kildare Building Supplies.

Brooks Group has been an institution in the Irish construction industry since its inception in the late 1700’s and employs 195 people across nine branches.

SUSTAINABLE DRINKING WATER SOLUTIONS

ONA Ireland offers mains fed Drinking Water Systems, which include a pre-filter to remove the chlorine and other undesirable tastes & odours which are found in almost every municipal water supply. The resulting water quality is on par with premium bottled water options. One of the main driving forces behind the installation of ONA drinking water units is the need for the elimination of singleuse plastics, and the company are now working with various sectors and industries who are committed to working towards sustainability goals, protecting our environment, and achieving high operational standards. ONA tailor drinking water solutions to suit their customers’ needs and by using the Internet of Things (IoT), they can offer real time monitoring which shows the amount of water being used, the number of bottle refills per station and most importantly, the number of plastic water bottles and amount CO2 saved by using an ONA Drinking Water Station. This real time information can then be displayed in public areas throughout the company and on websites,

social media platforms, etc. as evidence of your efforts towards overall sustainability.

Visit their website www.onadrinkwater.ie or call them on 061 210 095

James Higgins CEO, of the Murdock Builders Merchants Group and Kieran Burke CEO, of the Brooks Group are pictured announcing the appointment of Kieran Burke as CEO.

KIERAN HOLOHAN APPOINTED MD OF SAINT-GOBAIN IRELAND

Saint-Gobain Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Kieran Holohan as its new Managing Director. Kieran will begin his tenure as Managing Director on May 1st, 2023, succeeding Pádraig Barry who is retiring.

Kieran joined Saint-Gobain in 2007 and has spent the last nine years as Marketing Director for Saint-Gobain Ireland. Prior to this, he held the positions of Marketing Manager with Moy Isover and Strategy Manager for Saint-Gobain Ireland. During this time, he has been instrumental in the development of Saint-Gobain’s Gyproc and Isover businesses and played a pivotal role in the organisation’s wider success.

Throughout his career at Saint-Gobain, Kieran has been an integral part of the leadership team and has amassed extensive experience of the Irish construction market and the competitive dynamics that shape it. In his new role as Managing Director, Kieran will be responsible for developing and executing business strategies for the Saint-Gobain brands Gyproc and Isover in Ireland. He will oversee the company’s executive team, manage the company’s business operations, as well as continuing to grow and enhance Saint-Gobain’s brand profile as leaders in the Irish building materials market. A Laois native, Kieran holds a Bachelor in Business Studies from the Atlantic Technological University and was recently awarded an MBA from the South East Technological Institute in 2022.

After a career with Saint-Gobain Ireland spanning more than 16 years, Pádraig Barry will retire at the end of May. Speaking on his appointment as Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Ireland, Kieran Holohan said: “I am delighted to be appointed Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Ireland. I want to thank Pádraig for the stellar work done under his leadership and the substantial contribution he has made to this organisation during his sixteen years of service.

As a key contributor to the construction of safe and sustainable buildings in Ireland, I have a huge passion for our organisation and its ability to do an enormous power for good. As a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, we have a key role to play in building a carbon-neutral economy in Ireland. I look forward to leading our exceptionally talented team to continued success and further growth as we play our part to ensure Irish buildings are efficient, safe, sustainable and great places to live and work. I will dedicate myself to ensuring the growth ambitions for the organisation are realised and that we build on our strengths to deliver the best possible service to our loyal customer base.”

TINECO IS A WORLD LEADER IN WET/DRY FLOORWEAR

New to Ireland, Tineco is a world leader in wet/ dry floorwear. Winner of the Red Dot 2020 Award for Overall Best Design, it is a top seller in USA, and continental Europe. Now Irish homeowners have the chance to buy one of the best dry/wet vacuums on the market, the Tineco S5.

The S5 is a smart 2-in-1 vacuum cleaner and mop – it cleans wet or dry dirt and removes stubborn and sticky dirt easily. With Tineco’s proprietary iLoop Smart Sensor technology, it automatically adjusts the suction power, water flow and speed of the brush rollers to clean any dirt. Pet owners in particular appreciate the time saved cleaning up after their little

treasures, especially with all the dog or cat hair.

With separate tanks for clean and dirty water, your customer will always wash with fresh water, and the dirty water is easily disposed of. With the self-cleaning function, the brush is automatically cleaned at the end of each use. No need to touch a dirty wet roller again. The S5 takes away an everyday job that no one enjoys leaving homeowners with cleaner floors, quicker and with little effort. It is an exceptional product.

For further information please contact Colm Maguire, Tineco Ireland, 51 Canal Walk, Park West Industrial Park, D12 XF80, 0872368207

Saint-Gobain Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Kieran Holohan as its new Managing Director.

GET ON TOP OF LOFT INSULATION

Demand for insulation is through the roof as homeowners are desperately looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This month Bradley Hirst, Technical Services Manager at Knauf Insulation explains why your customer should install loft insulation to 500mm to ensure maximum savings on energy bills.

Top-up insulation or replace it?

If there’s already some mineral wool installed, assess whether it can be topped up or should be replaced. If it’s in good condition and has been correctly installed mineral wool insulation lasts for over 50 years, so it’s fine to insulate over the top. But if it’s been torn, compressed, fitted incorrectly, or disturbed so there’s gaps between rolls or the joists, it will need replacing.

Maximise performance

Under Irish Building Regulations, renovated roofs, including lofts insulated at ceiling level, must achieve a U-value of 0.16W/m2K.

For a typical loft, installing Knauf Insulation’s Loft Roll 40 or Loft Roll 44 at a depth of 300mm will meet these standards. But we know that the thicker the insulation is, the more effective it will be at preventing heat transfer. That’s why, housebuilders are installing loft insulation to a depth of 500mm in new homes. So to help your customers cut their bills as much as possible, advise them to do the same.

Visit Knauf Insulation`s homeowner’s hub for more info on how to assist your customers to get the most out of their loft installs – www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/homeowners-hub

For further information contact your local representative Keith Cahill, keith.cahill@knaufinsulation.com, 087 2300972

RAISING STANDARDS FOR 50 YEARS

Henley Forklift Group are pleased to announce their 50th anniversary.

Founded in Galway in 1973, they have grown to become one of the leading suppliers of materials handling equipment in Ireland, with a team of over 100 employees, seven depots nationwide and a mobile network of over 40 service engineers, all operating under the Henley name.

This is a proud moment for Managing Director, Chris O’Connor. “We consider it a privilege to have served Irish customers for 50 years – one that we do not take lightly”, he says. “It is a tribute to the calibre of people who have worked in the Group over the years, and the quality of the brands we represent. I am very grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.”

Investment in people is key to Henley`s reputation. This allows them to provide customer solutions from within the company, rather than depend on overseas support from manufacturers. Henley also supply an extensive range of equipment, enabling

them to ensure that customers get the machine that’s right every time. A strong team, strong products and a strong history, it’s a good way to begin the next 50 years. For further information, please contact: Mark Kenny 01 620 9200, www.henley.ie

HAI Conference in Kilkenny

The Hardware Association Ireland Conference and networking event took place at The Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny on March 30th, with a key focus on Rebuilding Our Future, www.thehardwareconference.ie

At the opening, Hardware Association Ireland President, Paul Candon welcomed all delegates to the conference and specifically thanked the sponsors for the event, Intact Software, Origo, Magico, Portwest, Reisser, Saint Gobain, Sika and Weare.IE for their support.

The President especially welcomed and introduced Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection. In congratulating Hardware Association Ireland on their Conference and work to date with his own Department on the Retail Forum and in area of Empty Homes in particular, Minister of State Richmond, reminded the conference audience that his own background was in the hardware and building materials sector with his grandfather owning a hardware store in Baltinglass and his father, the late Tom Richmond, working for Tegral as Sales Manager for many years.

The presentations featured a number of keynote speakers and seminars on key topics impacting businesses within our sector. These included the housing market with an emphasis on Empty Homes, the economic outlook internationally and for the Irish economy and our sector specifically, new digital marketing & eCommerce strategies with particular reference to hardware, DIY and building materials.

There were keynote presentations before lunch from Economist Dermot O’Leary (Goodbody), Fergus McMahon

from Cairn Homes and Architect and TV presenter Hugh Wallace, Douglas Wallace Architects, all of whom participated in a lively Q&A panel discussion after their respective presentations.

Immediately after lunch there were four breakout sessions featuring helpful Business Support topics including from Intact Software, covering their IntactIQ product and how it helps transform businesses, a snapshot tour of recent HR and Employment Law legislation for employers by Tommy Smyth, TSA Consultants. As well as a thought provoking presentation on how retailers can protect their business more effectively by Retail Loss Prevention expert Michael Neary, and a very informative look at the Empty Homes in Scotland initiative from Andy Moseley.

The afternoon session featured National Director of Retrofit with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Dr Ciaran Byrne, on the range of incentives available to home owners and how hardware and builders merchants can promote same to the benefit of their business and Social Media expert Greg Fry on the nine best ways of utilising social media specifically with hardware, DIY and home improvement top of mind.

In his closing remarks Hardware Association Ireland, CEO, Martin Markey thanked all delegates for coming and sponsors for their continued support of HAI activities. He especially acknowledged and thanked EventHaus for their excellent support in hosting the event.

Paul Candon, President, Hardware Association Ireland, Neale Richmond, TD., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection and Martin Markey, CEO, Hardware Association Ireland.

President Paul Candon outlining the four main challenges and opportunities facing our sector.

Neale Richmond, TD., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment during his presentation at The Hardware Conference.

Darragh O’Brien, TD., Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage presenting his message via a video link at The Hardware Conference.

Dermot O`Leary, Chief Economist at Goodbody, Presented his international and Irish economic outlook with relevance to our sector.

Fergus McMahon, Cairn Homes, Director of Commercial & Procurement presented ‘Better Ways to Build’ at The Hardware Conference.

Architect & Presenter Hugh Wallace presenting `Unlocking the Opportunities of Empty Homes’.

Andy Moseley, Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Presenting `The Asset on our Door Step, Unlocking Scotland’s Empty Homes‘.

Dr. Ciaran Byrne, Director National Retrofit, Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI), Presenting `The Retrofitting Journey’.

Greg Fry, Social Media Expert, Presenting ‘9 Ways to up your Social Media Game in 2023’.

Michael Neary, Harvey Norman, Presenting ‘Prevent Losses to your Business in 2023’.

Tommy Smyth, TSA Consultants, Presenting their ‘Employment Legislation Update 2022-2023’.

CHADWICKS ROBINHOOD ROAD OPENS AFTER A FULL REVAMP

Chadwicks Group has recently announced that Heiton Buckley on Robinhood Road has changed its name to Chadwicks Robinhood Road, becoming the largest Chadwicks branch. The announcement is part of an ongoing nationwide rebrand and upgrade programme by Chadwicks Group which commenced in 2018.

While there are changes and enhancements to the branch, the team remains the same. Customers can expect the same expert product knowledge and best in class customer service they have come to enjoy from the Robinhood Road branch. The 48-strong team of highly trained specialists remains the same, with some colleagues being part of the team for over 40 years! At over 10,500 square feet, the new-look branch has been designed with the customer in mind, featuring over 2,000 new products for the trade. New additions include a showroom, paving and decking area, new lines of workwear, Baumit external wall insulation display, Velux Centre, Brick Centre and an increased power tool range. A new catering van has also been introduced onsite, welcoming customers to meet and `refuel` together while in branch.

A key feature of the upgraded Robinhood Road branch is the Chadwicks ECO Centre which will provide customers with trustworthy and expert advice on the latest sustainable building products. As members of the Irish Green Building Council, Chadwicks aims to support customers in reducing their environmental impact using sustainable building solutions.The ECO Centre features the latest materials for all

sustainable building needs including insulation, airtightness, ventilation systems, heat pumps and controls, solar energy and water-saving products.

Chadwicks Robinhood Road also features a new Fixing Centre, a “store within a store” concept which aims to provide builders, engineers, and specialist tradespeople with all the tools and materials they may need in one convenient location. The Fixing Centre offers a host of fixing materials which includes setting chemicals, concrete anchors, nuts, bolts, nails, and fixings, perfectly suited for any trade job. As well as having a substantial range in stock, customers can also order specialised fixings through the dedicated team comprised of fixing and tool specialists.

Ross O’Connor, Chadwicks Robinhood Road Branch Manager, said: “We are delighted to officially unveil our newly revamped branch. The Chadwicks Robinhood Road team has been part of the Clondalkin community since 1968 and we are proud to serve all DIY enthusiasts and tradespeople in the area. The new-look branch has been designed with our customer in mind, and visitors can expect an expanded product range including the latest in sustainable building and fixing solutions alongside a seamless shopping experience. Colleagues who have been working at the branch for over 40 years are excited to welcome customers to our newly upgraded branch and continue to offer the best-in-class customer service they have come to enjoy.”

Pictured at the unveiling of the newly rebranded branch are Chadwicks Group Ambassador Peter Finn; Chadwicks Group Regional Director, Eamonn McHugh; Branch Manager, Ross O’Connor; Chadwicks Group CEO, Patrick Atkinson; and Irish boxing champion and Chadwicks Group Ambassador, Jack Marley.

VARO PRESENTS POWERPLUS

Varo, the Belgium-based company with over 60 years of experience in the worldwide distribution of DIY material presents their brand: Powerplus.

Powerplus is an extensive range of electric, battery, and petrolpowered power tools and garden tools. It offers a solution for any type of budget or project, from light to heavy-duty or professional.

Where some other brands may mix different quality levels in one assortment, Powerplus chooses to present one quality level per product range and make them easily recognisable to consumers by using distinctive colours for each line:

• The grey Powerplus C-line is comprised of basic, electric tools for light to moderate DIY projects. The tools are compact with a minimalist design and an excellent quality-price ratio.

• The occasional DIYer or gardener looking for basic power or garden tools at competitive prices can rely on Powerplus’ grey E-product line.

• The yellow X-line offers a wide range of tools for regular and more intensive use, as well as more specialised tools. This assortment consists of electric, petrol or battery-powered equipment with an ergonomic design to ensure optimal user comfort.

• For the most demanding DIYer who is often found in the workshop or for the green-thumbed gardener, Powerplus has developed the green Pro-line for durable, high-quality tools intended for daily, intensive use. It’s an assortment of electric, petrol and battery-powered tools. Many of them are equipped with a brushless motor for added power and durability.

• Those looking for cordless, durable and eco-friendly, can depend on the Dual Power range: one battery platform, compatible with two ranges of 20 V and 40 V power tools and garden tools.

In short, the extensive range of Powerplus power tools and garden tools is sure to offer what your customer requires.

For further information, please contact Les Ashley, les.ashley@varo.com or directly on 087 440 8077, www.varo.com

POWERPLUS HAS AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF ELECTRIC, BATTERY-, AND PETROLPOWERED POWER TOOLS AND GARDEN TOOLS. IT OFFERS A SOLUTION FOR ANY TYPE OF BUDGET OR PROJECT, FROM LIGHT TO HEAVY-DUTY OR PROFESSIONAL.

For further information contact Les Ashley @ les.ashley@varo.com or directly on 087 440 8077

OCTABUILD ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRPERSON FOR 2023-2024

Declan Conlon, Sales Manager at Wavin Ireland, has been elected chair of the building manufacturers group, Octabuild for 20232024. He has been a board member since 2013.

Octabuild is unique among representative groups in the building and construction industry – its members have a solid manufacturing base in Ireland; operate to the highest technical and management quality standards; are market leaders in their business sectors and use builders merchants as their primary sales route to the end-user.

There are eight Octabuild members – Dulux Paints, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation and Wavin Ireland.

Octabuild was established in 1984 and one of its core activities is the Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards, an all-island competition which will next take place in 2024.

Declan Conlon began his career in the building materials sector in 1995 with Glennon Brothers. He moved from telesales to sales manager, working in areas including marketing/PR, production planning, finance, recruitment and HR. In 2019 he joined Wavin to manage key accounts as well as a team of six technical sales reps who cover the Republic.

He has a degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Limerick and recently returned to education part time, undertaking an MSc in Leadership through the University of Ulster.

THE BENEFITS OF GOOD MERCHANDISING

Good merchandising is a critical aspect of any retail business, and it has the power to significantly impact sales and customer satisfaction. In this article, REL Field Marketing Ireland explore the benefits of good merchandising and why it is essential for success in the retail industry.

Increased Sales: Good merchandising can help to increase sales by making products more visible and appealing to customers. This includes proper product placement, effective use of signage and lighting, and creative product displays. A well-merchandised store can create a positive shopping experience for customers, leading to increased impulse purchases and higher overall sales.

Improved Customer Experience: Good merchandising can also help to create a more enjoyable and efficient shopping experience for customers. This includes an organised and easy-to-navigate store layout, clear and effective product labelling, and helpful in-store displays.

He places great importance on the values of the Octabuild organisation and in particular the partnership with builders merchants: “I have spent my whole working life supplying products to the merchant sector so this relationship is obviously very important to me personally. I believe in partnership and the value of long-term mutually beneficial relationships, which is central to the Octabuild ethos, and I look forward to working with the merchant sector to deliver the benefits of partnership for us all.”

In relation to the current status of the sector he says: “I believe that the shocks that have been experienced in the global economy over the last three years have re-emphasised the value of Irish-based manufacturing and I believe that the Octabuild values of excellence, innovation, and sustainability are as important as ever.”

Brand Awareness: Good merchandising will also help to improve brand awareness and recognition. This includes consistent use of branding throughout the store, effective use of product labelling, and well-designed product displays.

Better Inventory Management: Good merchandising will also aid in better inventory management by allowing retailers to track sales data and determine which products are selling well and which are not. This information can be used to make informed decisions about future product orders and to ensure that store shelves are always well-stocked with popular items. In conclusion, good merchandising is an essential aspect of any retail business. From increasing sales and improving the customer experience, to improving brand awareness and better inventory management, the benefits of good merchandising are numerous and significant.

REL Field Marketing Ireland create and deliver integrated range of sales and marketing solutions to help our customers sell and market better. Please contact their business development team: hello@relfm.ie or 01-469 3758

Declan Conlon.

Working in Partnership

Partnership with our customers is a core value of Unilin Insulation.

Our trusted team is on hand to listen and advise on all aspects of our extensive product range, working collaboratively with our merchant partners to provide efficient and sustainable methods of construction.

JD ROBERTS ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE ROADSHOW

JD ROBERTS, one of Ireland’s leading providers of high performance roofing slates, is pleased to announce a nationwide roadshow to meet with home improvement clients and hardware suppliers across Ireland. The roadshow will provide a unique opportunity for JD ROBERTS to showcase its latest range of roofing slates and accessories. Also to hear directly from its customers who have specified the slates, as to how JD ROBERTS can further improve its product range and service offering to its customers across Ireland. Jack Roberts, Managing Director, commented on the roadshow, “We are proud members of Hardware Association Ireland and look forward to having the opportunity to connect with customers and suppliers across the country. As a company, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services. The roadshow enables us to meet face to face with our clients and end users who are utilising and specifying one of Ireland’s oldest slates on their prestigious projects.”

The nationwide roadshow started in March 2023, and will go to towns throughout Ireland. Customers and home builders are invited and encouraged to attend the events and learn more about the JD ROBERTS range of roofing products and accessories.

For more information about JD Roberts and the nationwide roadshow, please visit the company’s website at www.jdroberts.com or email Jack, jack@jdrobertsltd.com

AWARD-WINNING HAND & POWER TOOLS

Silverline, supplies a huge range of award-winning hand and power tools spanning 26 categories for the home, garage, garden, and workshop.

Established in 1978, Silverline has grown rapidly to become one of the largest and most-recognised tool brands. Boasting an impressive 3,000 products in the range today, DIY and trade customers alike can choose from a comprehensive array of tools and accessories, from fixings and fastenings to gardening equipment, power tools, and everything in between.

Representing great value for money, Silverline tools are backed by unbeatable guarantees, market leading content, and customer marketing support, so retailers have everything they need to promote, display, and sell Silverline tools in-store and online. All Silverline tools are now exclusively available in Ireland through Origo. The full range can be shopped online via their online shop, origo-online.origo.ie or you can contact your local Business Development Manager.

Alternatively, please call their customer support team on 01 4666700 or email sales@origo.ie

GRANT AERONA³ R32 AIR TO WATER AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP AND UFLEX UNDERFLOOR HEATING IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES IN IRISH NEW BUILDS

Heating technology manufacturer Grant continues to lead the way in Ireland’s plumbing and heating industry with its highly efficient, reliable and innovative heating solutions. With high efficiency and sustainability as key factors in the design of today’s heating systems, Grant’s Uflex underfloor heating system is the heat emitter of choice, due to its ability to work well with sustainable main heat sources like the Grant Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump and its suitability for new builds and deep retrofits.

heat source like the A+++ Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump. This is because both systems can run at lower temperatures which enables substantial savings to be made on the property’s electricity bills.

The Grant Uflex underfloor heating system offers an efficient heating solution for a range of properties. A versatile heat emitter, the system works effectively with high and low temperature systems and is perfect for those who prefer a modern and minimalistic home decor look.

An ideal heating solution for both new build and deep retrofit properties, the pipework is positioned and clipped into place using Grant’s tracking and staple system once the flooring’s insulation and membrane has been fitted. After this, a flow screed is laid over the top and allowed to fully dry before heat is introduced. With a drying time of up to thirty days, Uflex can be fitted as part of the floor’s assembly process, therefore causing no delays in construction.

When choosing Uflex underfloor heating, Grant’s technical specialists design the system bespoke to each room in the property. The system has a stainless-steel manifold and also includes the supply of a self-adhesive edging strip which is located around the surrounds of the area in which the screed is laid. This strip also comes with a unique ‘skirt’ design which provides an overhang which curves alongside the wall. This edging strip contains and seals the screed and also serves to reduce heat loss where the floor meets the walls and allows for the expansion of the floor. As the system is designed for continuous operation with heat being supplied through the screed all day, this also means that the screed acts as a thermal store. All of Grant’s heating technologies have been designed to work together to ensure maximum efficiencies. The efficiency of the Uflex system is excelled when paired with a

The Grant Aerona³ R32 has an ErP rating of A+++ and a SCOP of up to 5:4:1. The range is available in outputs of 6kW, 10kW, 13kW and 17kW, with the 13kW and 17kW models recognised for their quiet operation by the internationally acclaimed Quiet Mark. All four models boast superior seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) and depending on climate conditions and demand on the heating system at the time, can deliver 4kW of heat energy for every 1kW of electricity used.

To ensure a fully integrated heating system, Grant offers those working on new build or retrofit properties a free of charge home heating design service. This service involves full room by room heat loss calculations, in line with SR:50 guidelines, on assessment of new build or retrofit house plans. This is followed by the specification of the main heat source best suited for the property and identification of appropriate supporting technologies including hot water storage and heat emitters. This home heating design service ensures that each home heating solution is bespoke to the property, bringing it into a new class of efficiency. Visit www.grant.eu for more information on Grant’s range of innovative heating solutions. Follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL. Think Heating. Think Grant.

How your customers can avail of Grant’s Home Heating Design Service

Send planning drawings, a contact number and preferred heat emitters to heatpump@grantengineering.ie

A member of the Grant team will be in touch to discuss requirements.

Customers will receive full property specifications with recommended products all available from Grant

Grant Aerona3 R32 10kW air to water air source heat pump.

The Grant Uflex underfloor heating solution.

Build warmth with Grant

Our complete integrated heating packages provide everything needed to build a highly efficient, warm and comfortable home.

Tailored to suit the homeowners’requirements, each Grant heating package is correctly sized and specified, free of charge, to achieve compliance, maximise efficiencies and provide long-term savings.

Packages feature the Grant Aerona3 air to water, air source heat pump, Grant hot water cylinders, Grant Afinia aluminium radiators and the Grant Uflex underfloor heating system. Smart controls are also available.

Trust Grant on the journey to warmth and comfort by sending house plans to heatpump@grantengineering.ie

STOPPING TRAFFIC - MASTON SPRAY PAINTS NEW TO THE IRISH MARKET

The Hardware Journal spoke recently to Aoife Gavin, Marketing Manager at Joseph Murphy Ballina Ltd (JMBL). They have introduced a new spray paint range to the Irish Market. This new addition to the JMBL product portfolio is the Maston Spray Paint Range. JMBL exclusively distribute this new and exciting spray paint range nationwide. Aoife explains, “Maston One spray paint makes painting easy and fast and is perfect for upcycling projects. Maston One is suitable for practically all surfaces, inside and out!”

The Maston Spray Paint Range develop their colours based on patented technology and It contains 20% less propellants, 25% more binders and four times more colour pigments than regular spray paints. The coverage is an incredible 3m2 per spray can. “The Maston Spray paint range has a diverse range of spray paints for a variety of applications including Furniture Chalk Spray Paint, Hammer Metal Paint and professional 2K for the motor industry. The Maston Spray Paint is a perfect addition to Décor and DIY stores” states Aoife. Aptly called Traffic Yellow - what an impact this Maston Spray Paint colour makes on this bike - it would definitely stop traffic!

JMBL also have a great Maston Starter Deal which gives you 144 x 400ml Spray Cans with a selection across the range. From Furniture Paint

to Hammer Metal Spray Paint. They will supply a Free Point of Sales Display Stand & Header Display for your store! These stands are limited so do get in contact with your local sales agent or email aoife.gavin@josephmurphy.ie to secure your stand.

Find out more information on this Maston Spray Paint Range and to see the vast array of products available from JMBL go to www.josephmurphy.ie

ALAN MAGUIRE JOINS THE NIKO BATHROOMS TEAM

Alan Maguire has joined the Niko Bathrooms Team as Retail Sales Director, Leinster. Alan brings a wealth of experience as a Sales Professional, having worked previously for Armitage Shanks for 12 years prior to working in multinational companies for the past 20 years. With Alan’s experience and expertise working in business development and customer-focused roles, he is well placed to contribute greatly to the continued growth and expansion of Niko Bathrooms.

Alan said “I am excited to be back in the Sanitaryware Industry and I am looking forward to building relationships throughout the industry and growing the Niko Bathroom Brand and Business”. Niko would like to congratulate Alan on his appointment and wish him all the best in his new role.

Maston Spray Paints Stand.

Maston Yellow Paint Range

Alan Maguire, Niko Bathrooms Retail Director, Leinster.

COMPOSITE INNOVATION

Whiteriver Group, one of Ireland’s largest distributors of Laminate & Hardwood Flooring and Internal Doors, has recently expanded its range of Composite Decking & Cladding. With a commitment to innovation and excellence through providing quality materials to meet the demands of today’s construction industry, Whiteriver has added two new products to their line-up: Ultrashield Eco and Montana Woodgrain.

Iain Wogan, Co-CEO and Head of Sales says that “The new Ultrashield Eco deck board is a competitively priced alternative to our standard Ultrashield Naturale board and has a unique surface texture. All Whiteriver’s composite products are made from recycled materials which are perfect for environmentally conscious builders and homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing quality or performance”.

The new Montana Woodgrain design brings an added dimension to the well-established Montana board and has the same technical specifications. The stunning Woodgrain pattern adds a touch of natural beauty to any outdoor space and is also reversible with a smooth underside.

In addition to these new products and their existing deck board ranges, Whiteriver has introduced a new range of Composite Cladding in 2022 which has been a huge success for the company. Iain says ”The cladding is ideal for covering block work on garden walls, screening off unsightly oil tanks or giving timber sheds or gazebos a low maintenance makeover. The cladding can also be used for single story applications such as garden pods or simply creating a feature wall or porch entrance”.

All Whiteriver’s composite products are designed to be durable, long-lasting, and low maintenance, making them the ideal choice for both residential and commercial applications. So, whether you’re customer is looking to build a new deck or revamp an existing outdoor space, Whiteriver has everything that they will need to create a beautiful and functional outdoor living area. Contact your Area Manager or their Customer Service Team to discuss how they can help you fulfil your individual business needs through a wide range of marketing options.The full Whiteriver Group range of Composite products will be showcased at Bloom on the June bank holiday so be sure to pop onto their stand and meet their team of experts.

For more information see www.wrg.ie

Portland Montana Anthrazit.

Portland Montana Charcoal.

We are pleased to announce that we have added the following new products to the range.

Our new Ultrashield Eco deck board is a competitively priced single side version of our Ultrashield Naturale board and has a unique surface texture. We have also added a new dimension to our popular Montana composite deck board with this new woodgrain pattern.

DRIFTWOOD HAZELWOOD ROSEWOOD

Photo:Traditional Cladding - Teak

.IE DOMAIN PROFILE REPORT 2022 REVEALS REPUTATIONAL STRENGTH OF .IE DOMAINS

The .IE Domain Profile Report 2022 reveals there were almost 330,000 .ie domain names in the database by the end of last year with 48,168 new .ie domains registered in 2022. Now in its eighth year, the .IE Domain Profile Report is an annual exploration of the .ie database and is published by .IE, the national registry for .ie domain names. The report also outlines key advantages that can be leveraged by Irish enterprise with a .ie domain.

Cyber attacks

.IE provides an additional layer of security to owners of a .ie domain name, free of charge. This service provides a constant scanning of .ie sites and involves instant notification to an SME’s hosting provider, which can help them take the corrective action once a scam has been detected. The report revealed over 500 cyber attacks were taken down in 2022. Two in five were phishing scams and one in four were malware attacks.

Despite a significant increase in cyber attacks, websites featuring a security certificate were down six percentage points resulting in more websites being vulnerable to attack. This level of security is crucial to safeguard customer’s data.

The report indicated that threats to a .ie domain are lower than other top level domain names. Only individuals and businesses with a provable connection to the island of Ireland can register a .ie domain. Applications from new customers are manually reviewed to ensure that they meet this requirement. This process keeps the .ie domain largely free from scams and other illegal activities. 91% of .ie domain names are registered on the island of Ireland, with the total number of internationally registered .ie domains under 30,000. Top international registrants are from Great Britain (10,983), United States (5,117) and Germany (2,535).

The .IE Tipping Point Report 2022 also revealed that of SMEs who invested in their online services since Covid, 30% were busier than they were before the pandemic and 36% maintained the same level of business. SMEs are facing a new wave of economic challenges post Covid but with over 50% planning a significant digital investment in the next five years, .IE want to make sure they are investing in that digitalisation smartly and are aware of the necessary security features to implement.

The trustworthiness of a .ie domain is also internationally recognised by The SpamHaus Project, an international nonprofit organisation that tracks spam and related cyber threats.

They collate a Badness Index for top level domains in realtime with .ie currently listed with a perfect rating of 0.0%.

Regional Growth

• The report identified the counties experiencing the largest growth in new .ie domain registrations, a positive ‘forward-indicator’ of increased regional economic activity, with Tyrone recording the largest growth for 2022 v 2019 at 73.4%. Tipperary came in second overall, with 26.5% growth

• Mayo had the largest largest growth (+24.1%) for any county in Connacht, followed by Galway at 8.4% adding 2,303 new domains

• Wexford came out on top in Leinster with an 18.2% increase. Amongst the border counties, Monaghan had the largest percentage growth (+8.4%)

Post Covid Growth

The report also indicates that the Covid surge of digital mobilisation has tapered off, identifying a drop in new .ie registrations year-on-year (-22.6% v 2021). This is much less significant at -4% (2022 v 2019) when compared to more normal pre-pandemic levels and demonstrates that SMEs continue to use websites as a core part of their business with the benefits far outweighing a social media ‘shop front’. The .IE Domain Profile Report can be viewed at www.weare.ie/ wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IE-DPR-2022.pdf.

.IE Domain Profile Report 2022

Insights

THE BELLOTA LASER RANGE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Bellota has recently launched a comprehensive range of Laser Levels, Laser Distance Measuring devices and other laser related accessories. They are taking a leap forward once again in technology and innovation, ensuring that the range is up to the task in the most demanding working environments. The product range consists of various laser levels for every budget and task, equipped with two & three level planes with distances of up to 30 meters and beam openings of between 120O & 360O

The laser levels are truly high performance devices that will speed up work and guarantee success in your professional tasks. Just some of the beneficial specifications include self-levelling, pendulum lock, plumb line and also a visual safety lock to ensure safety when travelling.

Because precision is of paramount importance, the new range offers an extremely high level of accuracy of 0.3mm/m. What’s more, the range also consists of a laser measuring device with an accuracy of 2mm/m. It also allows your customer to switch between metric and imperial and save numerous storage measurements to the device. All this in the time it takes to press just one button!

Bellota recommends using laser levels with a green light to work in bright spaces thus reducing user’s fatigue.

For more information contact Les Ashley on 087440 8077, laser-levels.bellota.com or scan our QR Code.

MAKING AN IMPRESSION WITH MEDITE SMARTPLY

As the focus on the climate crisis continues, sustainability is expected to be one of the main sources of interior inspiration in 2023. This suggests natural materials such as wood will be in high demand.

MEDITE SMARTPLY, a market leading manufacturer of environmentally conscious engineered wood panels, continuously develops innovative, versatile, and sustainable products that are suitable for structural and non-structural applications.

The extensive range of MEDITE MDF products offer standard, speciality, and technical variants, to meet a multitude of specifications. The panels are manufactured using finely milled pine and spruce, which are pressed together to make them flat and smooth without any inconsistencies. This means fabricators and furniture makers can achieve an even and uniform finish.

Those working on renovations or refurbishments for kitchens and bathrooms will find MEDITE MR and MEDITE EXTERIOR suitable products thanks to its moisture resistance properties.

EXTERIOR was originally developed for outdoor applications, but contractors have recently specified the panel as a substitute for birch plywood for interior bathroom and shower panelling. For laminating projects, there is MEDITE PREMIER, a multi-purpose MDF ideal for furniture, shelving and domestic applications, and MEDITE PREMIER FR for applications where flame retardance is required.

The MEDITE MDF range is also CARB2 compliant, putting the brand at the forefront of ‘low formaldehyde’ innovation in Europe. Sourced from sustainably managed forests in Ireland, MEDITE SMARTPLY is commitment to creating products that contribute to sustainable and healthier environments.

MEDITE’s MDF community site www.meditemakesitreal. com is jam-packed with limitless inspiration. Those who sign up can share work, gain inspiration, and win prizes that will enable them to build bigger and better with MDF. Receive a free gift when you sign up. Visit

CUTTING-EDGE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ALLOWS HALDANE FISHER TO ENHANCE THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Established in 1946, family-run building and timber merchant Haldane Fisher pride themselves on continuously improving their business and providing outstanding customer service. For many years, the merchant has run K8 - the flagship ERP solution from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) - as the core business management system to streamline their trading and finance management. As part of Haldane Fisher’s drive for continual improvement, they chose to implement Phocas to integrate with K8, allowing them to operate with enhanced business intelligence (BI) and improve the speed and quality of their decision-making across all areas of their operation.

Neal Boomer, Group Finance Director at Haldane Fisher explains how K8 has successfully driven many developments over the years as the system has grown. “The openness of K8 provided us with the means of becoming one of the first builders’ merchants in Northern Ireland to go live with a fully-functional and integrated eCommerce website, allowing customers to check stock availability across our branch network as and when they need to.”

Michelle McKee, Group Project Accountant at Haldane Fisher highlights how K8 is an intrinsic part of the business, “All transactions are processed through the system, and our staff use it daily for sales, purchasing, finance and stock management. Ultimately, K8 is at the heart of our day-to-day operations and has the capability to store huge amounts of data.”

To further enhance their customer offering and business efficiency, Haldane Fisher wanted to digitally transform and modernise their data management. Consequently, they recognised the benefits of taking the transaction and business data within K8 into the cloud-based Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics solution that is Phocas. Since the successful implementation, Haldane Fisher have been able to transform

their data access with informative insights that enhance decisionmaking for the benefit of the company and their customers.

Michelle explains how Phocas helps them to efficiently analyse large volumes of data, “Phocas is a self-service system that’s fast and easy to use, empowering our staff to find the answers to questions immediately rather than waiting for weekly or monthly reports. This not only increases efficiency but also means staff have objective knowledge in an easily understandable, visual format, helping drive improvement in all areas across the business.”

Another improvement Haldane Fisher notice is the flexibility to distribute data, with up to date reports available to staff at a frequency of their choosing. From daily, to once a week or at month-end, such instinctive functionality creates enormous efficiencies. Michelle adds that using K8 and Phocas together offers significant advantages over K8 alone, before mentioning an unexpected benefit, “It’s a very visual piece of software, which makes it easier for you to see anomalies and outliers in a way you couldn’t so easily before.”

For further information please contact +353 (0) 1 5457100 or view www.kerridgecs.com

TOOLBANK IRELAND’S GREAT IRISH TRADESHOW

After five long years, it gives Toolbank Ireland great pleasure to invite customers to their Great Irish Tradeshow. This event will take place on Thursday 11th May from 10.00am - 7.00pm at the Punchestown Exhibition Centre, Co. Kildare W91 VCX4. They will be partnered with their sister company Tucks Fasteners & Fixings.

This year, both companies are excited to bring together a diverse group of well-known brands from the industry who will be there to showcase their product ranges. Throughout the day, customers will have the chance to explore a wide range of exhibits and demonstrations, including the latest in power

tools, hand tools and more. Sales teams from both companies will be on hand to answer your questions and take orders.

With an impressive line-up of exhibitors and demonstrations, exclusive offers, competitions & gift bags available to all attendees on the day only, this tradeshow promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t want to miss.

For further information please contact your Local Representative. For additional support call: +353 (0)1 467 7000 or email Irishsales@toolbank.com

PORTWEST ACHIEVES ECOVADIS AWARD

Portwest Achieves Ecovadis Silver Sustainability Rating

Portwest have been working hard to improve their environmental, social, and ethical performance and are proud to have achieved a silver rating, putting them in the top 25% of globally rated companies. Ecovadis ratings consider factors such as the environment, labour practices, human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Trading Ethically And Operating Responsibly Is A Fundamental Part Of The Portwest Business Strategy!

Portwest Planet

Portwest’s main aim is to minimise the impact their operations have on the environment and the natural resources they consume. Portwest understand that their workforce is integral to achieving their business goals and are fully committed to ensuring that all worker’s safety, human rights, and wellbeing are respected. To achieve this, Portwest have developed a new initiative with clearly defined short and long-term sustainability goals. This initiative is called Portwest Planet.

Environment

85% of Portwest`s garments carry the OEKO-TEX(r) STANDARD 100 label, guaranteeing that every component of this product has been tested for harmful substances. They have achieved the highest step by OEKO-TEX standard level 3 for ecological and socially responsible textile production.

Labour & Human Rights

Portwest’s fully owned factories are certified to the WRAP Gold Standard. WRAP is the world’s largest, independent, factory-based compliance programme for responsible production in the sewn product sector.

Eco-Friendly Range of Products

In 2021 Portwest introduced a new eco-friendly range of products. Each of these products has been responsibly sourced and produced in the most environmentally friendly manner achievable.

Sustainable Procurement

Portwest is a member of Sedex, one of the world’s leading online platforms for companies to manage and improve working conditions in global supply chains. Their fully owned factories are audited using the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA).

Ethics

Portwest have a comprehensive learning and development programme in place and ask for 100% engagement in corporate ethics and anti-corruption and bribery training. IT security is one of their top priorities, they are determined to protect business information for their suppliers, customers and staff.

Industry Associations & Certifications

Portwest is a member of the leading safety industry research and technology centres. Their certifications and memberships are available to download below. Portwest safety products are tested and certified to European, US, Australian and New Zealand standards by independent test houses.

www.portwest.ie

MANNOK AND FLSmidth CELEBRATE WORLD FIRST TECH TO DECARBONISE CEMENT PRODUCTION

Mannok and FLSmidth are celebrating the successful implementation of the FUELFLEX® Pyrolyzer, a new combustion system which has almost eliminated the use of fossil fuel in the most carbon intensive stage of cement production at Mannok’s plant, reducing carbon emissions by 240 tonnes per day, whilst significantly reducing NOx emissions.

The new FUELFLEX® system is enabling Mannok, at present, to replace 90% of its coal use with SRF (solid recovered fuels), which would otherwise go to landfill, in the pre-calcination stage of cement production and it is working towards eliminating the use of coal.

FLSmidth, the Danish engineering company which created the new technology, partnered with Mannok on the development of the world’s first pilot of the FUELFLEX® Pyrolyzer back in 2018, and during a launch event on Thursday 30th March, Lars Skaarup Jensen, FLSmidth’s Research and Development Specialist, explained the collaboration of the two companies for the design and testing of the system over the last four years, saying, “When we reached out to Mannok, FUELFLEX® was still very much at concept stage. We’d performed some testing in our lab in Denmark, but that is very different to deployment in a fully operational cement works. With the development and testing of completely new technology like this, you can expect it to throw up some issues along the way, and this pilot was not without its challenges. It required design revisions following initial tests to ensure continuous running of the FUELFLEX®, which involved expertise from both Mannok and FLSmidth. These revisions addressed issues which could only be identified through real-life testing, and we are very pleased that the system has now been running smoothly and effectively and has remained in operation for around nine months now.”

With the technology operating successfully at the Irish producer’s facilities since July 2022, it has already enabled Mannok to cut its fossil fuel use in the cement production process. The production of clinker, a precursor to cement, is the most fuel intensive part of the process, and the pre-calcination phase accounts for the largest portion of fossil fuel use, 60% of all fossil fuels in Mannok’s case. The ability to completely displace this use of coal is undoubtedly a major leap forward for the industry, and for Mannok, a company which has clearly and publicly defined its ambitious decarbonisation targets.

As Operations Director, Kevin Lunney, explains, “The key challenge for the entire cement industry is decarbonisation, and

it’s our primary area of focus. We’ve set ambitious targets to reduce our carbon emissions by a third by the end of the decade and go on to achieve net zero by 2050. This requires innovative thinking, and we’re very proud to partner with FLSmidth and to help provide leadership in this space”.

Beyond fossil fuel displacement and the resulting reduced carbon emissions, another environmental benefit of this new technology is the reduction in Nitrogen Oxides, or NOx emissions, which the team at Mannok hadn’t really expected to achieve at the outset.

The new FUELFLEX® system achieves all of this by enabling the increased use of SRF as an alternative energy source to coal in the pre-calcination stage. The SRF is non-recyclable commercial waste, which would otherwise go to landfill, so this also serves a very beneficial waste management purpose. The SRF used is sourced from the counties immediately surrounding the plant, so Mannok are reducing shipping costs and the carbon footprint of imported fossil fuels by increasing their capacity to replace it with locally sourced SRF.

With such significant environmental and commercial benefits, FLSmidth’s FUELFLEX® technology could become a feature of cement production works across the globe, and for Mannok, this is the first major success in the company’s pursuit of net zero, with further significant innovation in sustainable energy already underway.

Damian Reilly, Cement General Manager at Mannok ,Dara O’Reilly, Chief Financial Officer at Mannok, Lars Skaarup Jensen, Research and Development Specialist at FLSmidth, Liam McCaffrey, Chief Executive Officer at Mannok and Kevin Lunney, Operations Director at Mannok.

ACQUISITION OF CURUST INDUSTRIES LTD. BY IRISH INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION (CORK) PLC

Irish International Trading Corporation (Cork) Plc (IITC) has acquired Curust Industries Ltd. as a wholly owned subsidiary. IITC is an expanded group with revenues of more than ¤80m in 2022 and employee numbers of 135. It is a diversified business which operates across several different markets and sectors. One of Ireland’s leading distributors of hardware, wire, steel, salt, plumbing materials and bathroom supplies, IITC is a nationwide business with distribution centres in Cork, Naas and Dublin. The acquisition of Curust is in line with its broader growth and investment strategy.

Based in County Wicklow, Curust Industries Ltd. is a supplier of paints and decorating products, security and homecare products. Curust has a broad customer base and sells to hardware/DIY stores, co-ops, paint shops, builders providers, wholesalers and locksmiths. In addition to selling a range of leading third-party brands, the company has successfully developed several of its own brands including Douglas Decorative (paints & decorating products), Douglas Professional (professional cleaning products), Löwe (rust prevention products) and Tessi (security products).

IITC has confirmed that Richard Brocklesby will remain on as MD of Curust Industries Ltd. Under Richard’s leadership, Curust has developed many successful brands and he has steered the company successfully for over 30 years.

According to David Heffernan, MD, IITC Group. “IITC is a growing and expanding group with very ambitious plans. Both IITC and Curust are long established and successful businesses – IITC has been trading for over 100 years, while Curust has been operating for more than 70 years. We are delighted to be adding leading brands such as Douglas, Tessi

and Löwe to our stable of products. We are confident that, together, we will continue to grow and expand these brands while serving our customers to the high standards that both IITC and Curust set. This acquisition is in line with our growth strategy and we look forward to exploring further opportunities for expansion in the future.”

David Heffernan, MD, IITC.

CORPORATE PARTNER

CASH MANAGEMENT

Brink’s Cash Services

Denise McCarthy 1890 474 000 denise.mccarthy@brinks.com www.brinks.com

CREDIT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Credit Risk Brokers

James Riordan 01 491 6007

james.riordan@creditriskbrokers.com www.creditriskbrokers.com

JPA Brenson Lawlor

Ian Lawlor 01 668 9760 ian@brensonlawlor.ie www.brensonlawlor.ie

LCMS Ltd

Billy Nolan 087 2604625 billy@lcms2.com www.lcms.ie

Zero Tax Property

Stephen Holmes 01 4584770 info@ztp.ie www.zerotaxproperty.ie

ECOMMERCE AND IT SUPPORT

Agility Software Ltd

David Malcolm 01 253 0282 david@agility-software.com www.agility-software.com

Core Tech

Geraldine Quinlan Burke 025 41400 geraldine.quinlan@coretechnology.ie www.coretechnology.ie

Intact Software Mark Gurney 042 933 1742

mark.gurney@intactsoftware.com www.intactsoftware.com

.IE Alan Finneran 01 236 5400 afinneran@weare.ie www.weare.ie

Kerridge Commercial Systems

Elaine Snuggs 01 5457100

elaine.snuggs@kerridgecs.com www.kerridgecs.com

Magico Orla Cooney 065 6864580 ocooney@magico.com www.magico.com

Monsoon Consulting

Bharat Sharma 01 4750066

bharat.sharma@monsoonconsulting.com www.monsoonconsulting.com

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

DCS Group

Caroline Sugrue 066 7181836 carolinesugrue@dcsgroup.eu www.dcsgroup.eu

FIELD SALES & MARKETING

CPM Ireland

Anne Kelly 01 7080300 akelly@cpmire.com www.cpmire.com

REL Field Marketing

Paula Lawlor 046 93758 plawlor@relfm.ie www.relfm.ie

Sales-i

Ros McGill +44 345 508 7355 rmcgill@sales-i.com www.sales-i.com

HR SUPPORT

TSA Consultants

Tommy Smyth 021 4634154

tommy@tsaconsultants.ie www.tsaconsultants.ie

INSURANCE

O’Leary Insurance Group

David Lombard 021 4730005 dlombard@oli.ie www.olearyinsurances.ie

LOGISTICS

Woodland Group

Lee McMullen 01 8111500 lee.mcmullen@woodlandgroup.com www.woodlandgroup.com

MATERIALS HANDLING

Combilift Anthony Rooney 047 80500 anthony.rooney@combilift.com www.combilift.com

Henley Forklift Group Ltd Mark Kenny 01 6209200 sales@henley.ie www.henley.ie

PAYMENT SERVICES

AIB Merchant Services Owen Ball 087 7715973 owen.ball@aibms.com www.aibms.com

BOI Payment Acceptance Eamonn Kelly 1800 806 298 partners@boipa.com www.boipa.com

PRINT MANAGEMENT

W&G Baird

Sam Sharpe +44 (0) 75 8311 9846 sam.sharpe@wgbaird.com www.wgbaird.com

RECYCLING SOLUTIONS

European Recycling Platform

Martin Tobin 01 6624040 ireland@erp-recycling.org www.erp-recycling.ie

SECURITY SYSTEMS

MyNET Security

Jack Raeburn 062-69112 jack@mynet.ie www.mynet.ie

SHOPFITTERS / RACKING SYSTEMS

Johnston Shopfitters

STOCKTAKING

Scanmatix Alex O`Brien 089 2514005 alex@scanmatix.com www.scanmatix.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SALES & INSTALLATIONS

IP Telecom Sales Team 01 6877777 sales@iptelecom.ie www.iptelecom.ie

Novatel Communications Ltd. Niamh Cullen O’Reilly 022 23440 niamh@novatel.ie www.novatel.ie

#WeGetRetail

Shane Brennan 01 4190419 sales@johnston-shopfitters.com www.johnston-shopfitters.com

OHRA Racking Solutions

Seamus Coyle + 44 28 8224 7858 coyle@ohra.de www.ohra.ie

Storefit Shopfitters Limited

Eamonn Brien 021 4344544

eamonn.brien@storefit.com www.storefit.com

Why become a HAI Corporate Partner?

By becoming a Corporate Partner, you can link your organisation to the pursuit of excellence and quality in the Hardware, Building Materials & DIY sector.

Hardware Association Ireland will help you to promote your company to all key decision makers in the sector with;

• A listing on the HAI website

• The use of the widely recognised HAI Corporate Partner logo and a Corporate Partnership Certificate

• A free listing with logo and contact details on The Corporate Partners Page in each issue of The Hardware Journal

• A preferential member rate for advertising in The Hardware Journal, plus three free classified advertisements

Want to find out more? Contact us today to become a HAI Corporate Partner

or phone 01 2980969

• Preferential rates and early access to event sponsorship and networking opportunities

• A preferential rate for exhibitor space at The Hardware Show

• Positioning your company as a solution-provider for the hardware, building materials and DIY sectors

• Access to all the latest industry news via regular emails and updates.

The brutal truth, merchandising/pricing policy/housekeeping

Gathering Feedback from Honest Sources

In 2013 I invited a group of peers, affectionally self-named “the pteradacyls” to tour our locations and provide feedback on what they saw and experienced during their visit. My husband Marc and I had joined this group a year or so prior and knew that these visits could be brutal. It was a “no holds barred” kind of gathering; at the time consisting of seven retailers plus us. The combined strength of the group was over 55 locations and at least $175M in annual revenue. Basically, we were all doing something right.

It was understood that we could find anyone to give us platitudes – to sing our praises about what we were doing well in our businesses. But only a `Pterodactyl` would give us the honest truth; point out our warts and areas for serious improvement. In short, if we were going to spend our own hard earned cash to fly around the country and critique each other, we wanted to see tangible results and not hear fluff. It was a time for self-reflection most likely to be followed by heavy lifting. We were in this business to make money and believed we needed the help of strong friends to push us to new heights.

The group arrived on a Tuesday and we spent the next day and a half driving them around from Washington DC to Baltimore, proudly showing off our locations. And like proud parents, we were blind to most of the glaring issues. You see, we had always assumed that if our teams appeared happy and our sales were high, everything else was unimportant.

Boy was I wrong! After the tour ended, we convened in a conference room so the group could relay their feedback. I’ll cut to the chase and just say that the meeting ended with me in tears. My notebook was so full of notes that I wasn’t sure how I’d ever resolve all of the issues they uncovered. One visitor related in a follow-up email “Overall, I think this store needs some TLC and possibly a retrofit. The volume is impressive, but it should be doing much better. The housekeeping was just bad. If this store was cleaned up, you would do so much better. I am sorry to be rude, but you had to have seen what I saw.”

They say that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and my team and I went to work the very next day righting our “egregious wrongs”. What emerged were cleaner stores, better displays, and polished up merchandising plans. The follow-on results were indeed tangible, sales rose and we actually found more space for new items.

Work is never a one and done

Those practices carry forward to this day but that doesn’t mean we always remember the pain of the exercises. I think it’s human nature to let down our guard over time, especially

when business is good. But managers come and go, trends and consumer habits change, and we focus our energies elsewhere, one day leading us right back to needing an intervention. Even if your operation isn’t spread out over 13 locations like mine, it’s easy to see how inconsistencies and poor habits can creep in. Over the years we’ve created a multi-step plan that got derailed during Covid so this year we’re going back to the basics, starting with assortment, pricing and housekeeping.

Optimise Your Product Assortment and Bring in What Sells

Statistics show we often carry a high percentage of products that have lost their usefulness. In fact, you could very easily draw a line to higher carrying costs and operational inefficiencies with such product.

Our sell-down process includes getting rid of dead inventory, product we call obsolete, if it has not sold in a two-year time period.

Here is a real-world example of how this works.

*Example given assumes a 50% margin

Beyond the Cold Hard Facts

This is the factual process; cold hard data gets us to these numbers and doesn’t lie. But there are other ways to determine if you need improvement.

1. Your gut tells you “I’m seeing these items moved, cleaned, ignored, way too much. They might not be good for us”.

2. Industry trends pivot and after visiting a trade show you identify immediate updates that might be useful like new popular colors, or consumer purchasing habit changes.

3. Environmental or jurisdictional laws take effect that impact shopping like a stronger focus on “going green” or as is the case in some of our towns, gas powered outdoor equipment is being outlawed.

We can choose to ignore these trends or hit them head on with resets and elimination.

Empty Space? Now What?

Good retailing means constantly being on the lookout for ways to invigorate the sales floor. Ask yourself the following questions. Better yet, ask your team and your customers so you get the broadest answers possible.

1. Do we have encroaching competition?

2. Is that competition new or have they been around for a while?

3. What is the competition doing that we are not?

4. What would make us a more interesting shopping option?

To keep our assortment fresh, we complete a minimum of five section resets at each store each year. Most of these are small, maybe 4 to 12 feet in space. But some are considered major resets like the lightbulb department or BBQ grills. With the help of our co-op partner ACE HARDWARE, we use a formula to determine what our increase in sales should be once the section is refreshed.

Pricing

The first, most basic rule for pricing is to have a strategy and use it. We realised early on that retailers weren’t active enough in changing their prices, they lack a strategy and are leaving margin and money on the table by not updating prices.

Our prices are updated weekly based on the following criteria:

A. Target margin. We know what margin we expect to see. Margins are impacted by price increases from our vendors or when we add new items to our system. When we stick to a pre-determined margin goal, pricing our items is consistent and profit driving.

B. Competitive analysis. Research has shown that pricing falls into blind and non-blind categories. There are few (for us, less than 900) items that a consumer or contractor “might” know the price of, so in our store of 25,000 items, we have a lot of wiggle room for pricing.

C. Pricing Tiers. We operate on a three-tier system that assigns margins of 42%, 45%, 48% to every item in the store.

D. Implement rounding rules. Take advantage of the opportunities to increase margin without the perception of higher prices. Small, almost imperceptible increments can have a big impact on the bottom line. For example, if you sell

10,000 keys each year at $2.29 and raise the price to $2.59 that incremental $3,000 in revenue is pure profit.

Housekeeping

Once your strategies are locked in, the final step is making sure it looks good. Let’s face it, a little bit of organised chaos is fine in a hardware store but customers don’t want dust and disarray in their shopping experience.

A key takeaway from this article is - It’s really one big circle of retail life – make sure you have the right product to sell, drive sales and higher profits with the correct pricing metrics, and make sure your space looks good, over and over and over again. After all, wasn’t that the whole reason for the Pterodactyl visit? The next time you’re chatting with a friend in the hardware business, ask him or her to take a good hard look at your operation. Then ask that friend to forget all the fluff before they start talking.

Sometime around 2016 one of my teammates came to me and said, “You know Gina, this place is known as `Recovery Hardware’ in the community”. That little phrase jumpstarted a book by the same name that tells so many beautiful stories of the people that helped grow our business. If you’d like to read more about them, you can order the book Recovery Hardware by

Gina Schaefer Waterstones.

Excellent visual merchandising is essential.

Housekeeping to make sure your store always looks good.

A

State of the art in customer store experience

Case study: Castorama Poznan, Poland.

A few months ago, Castorama - part of the Kingfisher Group since 2001 (+1,350 outlets in eight countries - B & Q - Brico Depot - Screwfix - Koçtas ) - attracted a lot of attention in Europe with their very interesting ‘State of the Art in Customer Experience’ Case Study in Komorniki, a suburb of Poznan in Poland. This was a high-quality and promising investment in terms of new mobile phone technology assisting the customer experience. The testing phase which took place in the Castorama Poland store, is now over and more than 10,000 Poznan customers have downloaded and used this application during their shopping experience.

Partners in technology at the service of the customer

World player in lighting, Signify, (better known for its top brand Philips) and Polish mobile app maker Looksoft, joined forces to link their navigation system which is driven by mobile phone location technology and integrated it into the shop`s overhead lighting fixtures. This was then connected to the Castorama’s mobile application giving an ingenious interactive interplay with the main goal of optimising the customer’s shopping experience in a user-friendly way.

Retail experts explain

“This project represents a European first for the Home Improvement Industry and we look forward to rolling out this Indoor Navigation case study - after thorough evaluation - to the maximum extent,” confirms Gerben van der Lugt, Global Lead Indoor Location & Map Services at Signify Headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

“Allow me to briefly explain the way it works: the power supply of all LED lighting fixtures (including downlights and spotlights), in this case a DIY store, can be equipped with Visible Light Communication (VLC). Each individual light point emits a unique `spill code` that a customer`s smartphone’s tiny camera can recognise. This technology then enables a connection between a customer`s smartphone camera acting as a light sensor and the VLC capturing light signals. Thanks to the connection between the light beam and the smartphone, it becomes possible to determine the location of the smartphone indicating where the customer is in the store.

Your customers smartphone as a shopping guide

Signify then developed software with two components: shop localisation (positioning based on the recognition of luminaires) and digital maps that indicate shop routes that calculate and indicate the route to a specific aisle or shelf in the store. In this way, the software leads the customer to one of the 35,000 SKUs, spread over + 5,000 m², that are available instore. The great benefit of VLC is that you do not have to have a substantial investment for such a navigation system because the store simply uses the existing lighting fixtures, without the need for additional energy sources or batteries.

Enhancing the customer journey

Designed by Polish mobile application developer Looksoft, the Castorama app acts as an instore navigation system similar to Google Maps or other GPS navigation systems. “In addition to its function as a map reader, the application also provides comprehensive product information for almost every one of its 35,000 SKUs and current promotions, complemented by a shopping list so that customers are also reminded of products that belong together (digital cross merchandising) when carrying out specific jobs (paint / paint brushes or wood

By simply installing the Castorama Application, customers experience a streamlined and seamless shopping navigation to the aisle where their product is located.

battens / glue). All these shopping lists can be highlighted additionally during the navigation route on the way to the product. A promotion of a particular product can appear on the smartphone display exactly when the customer walks past it. The navigation system also supports shop staff in stocking the shop shelf,” points out Agata Iwanska, Business Development Manager CEE, Signify.” With this pioneering technology, we are contributing to the technological revolution in an enclosed shopping environment where navigation runs flawlessly, without the risk of signal interruptions or interfering with other technologies,”.

Self-reliance, the shopping credo

Multiple studies, including this one, by the Location Based Marketing Association (Canada), confirm that one of the biggest customer frustrations is that they have to leave a store because they can`t find a product. Such frustrations mean lost sales for retailers. With the breakthrough of ‘product finding ‘ by ‘self-search’, consumers are learning to embrace technology in an educationally responsible manner. Quite a few retailers recognise the added value of location-based retail marketing; more specifically, in terms of productivity and staff cost efficiency. Home Improvement Retail still has some catching up to do in terms of technology investments to precisely optimise customer centricity in the post-pandemic era where the BOPIS principle (Buy online, Pick up in store) is now entrenched. To illustrate and complement this, electronic price labelling is just as much a part of the solution. The next challenge, therefore, is to connect multiple technologies so that together they take the shopping experience to an unprecedented level. It seems logical that localisation, navigation, digitised price labelling, digital shop plans and planograms could soon all be interconnected to shop staff’s “to do list.”

A brighter future for Home Improvement

The power of Signify’s Indoor Navigation will certainly have an inspiring and cross-border effect for the other Kingfisher retail formats and also for all type of Home Improvement formats in Europe. In the context of the current economic climate, are all seeking solutions for the customer with reduced purchasing power and a shortage of skilled staff.

A View from Europe

World leaders in retailing understand the necessity to invest in mobile marketing whilst optimising their own brand and store application precisely because of the fact that customers are accepting more than ever before the role and the function of the smartphone as a natural shopping guide and tool.

About the Polish DIY market and Castorama

Market Size: ¤11 bn - average annual DIY expenditure per capita: ¤183

Castorama Poland: - Present in Poland since 1997

- Total number of stores: 90

- Global Turnover: ¤1.78 bn

- Market Share: 23% (equal to Leroy-Merlin)

Thierry Coeman shares with us more than three decades of experience in the international Home Improvement Sector. He was the chairman of the Belgian DIY Association, a unique organisation which brought together retailers, independants and manufacturers much like Hardware Association Ireland. He works with a network of European and Worldwide Stakeholders to share best practice while seeking innovation in the art of facilitating the common interest focussing on customers’ needs. He is the author of the essay Hammertime, a provocative vision on the future of the Home Improvement store.

Indoor Navigation option well signposted instore.

Special offers and specific pricing can be highlighted as the customer makes their journey through the store.

Thierry Coeman.

The Growing Importance of Influencer Marketing

But it’s no longer about famous personalities, edited product images and carefully crafted content. The Home Improvement audience is now looking for authentic voices, normal individuals taking on achievable projects in the real world and showcasing to everyone what can be achieved. The retailers and supplier brands that recognise this and who prioritise authenticity in their partnerships with influencers, generating unique content, will be able to deliver much greater engagement and ultimately returns on their investment.

Influencer Marketing Strategy

Before committing to work with an influencer, it’s critical that a brand considers the overall objective of the marketing strategy, whether that’s to sell a specific product, increase brand awareness or to simply promote a specific service.

If the objective is to sell more of a particular product or service, the brand can opt for a contract with a relevant YouTuber for an unboxing or review, or a promotion on Instagram showing an image of the product and maybe a before and after project.

Choosing the Right Influencer

For the best results from influencer marketing, it’s essential to select the right influencer for the brand. This can be done by researching the number of followers the prospective influencer has, which social media platforms he/she are active on, and the audience demographic. The number of followers does not always indicate the number of people that will react on any given content, which is why it’s important to study the engagement on posts that the influencer receives, and any past tie-ups with other brands.

It’s also important to study the match between the brand and their audience, for example, if the interior designing style is minimalist, considering influencers who are prominent in advocating minimalism is obviously a good match. For room decor for children, consider famous moms, or for low-cost decor options, you can approach personalities promoting budgetfriendly lifestyles or those famous for DIY.

Influencers generally have one social media platform which outshines the others in terms of pure numbers and each social media platform has an ideal form of content, whether its images on Instagram or videos on YouTube or pins on Pinterest. For example, the third most posted and viewed category on Pinterest is Home Decor, with consumers sharing pins of items they bought or would like to buy, making it a prime target for marketing for interior design.

It’s always a good idea to discuss ideas with the prospective influencer on how best to create content that will meet the company goals but will also be in line with the typical content of the influencer, so it will appeal to his or her follower-base.

Kitchen brand Splashback.co.uk recently partnered with Instagram influencer AthomewithNic to promote their Laura Ashley glass splashbacks. The influencer behind the account is Nicola Perry, who describes herself as a Digital Creator and has a growing Instagram audience of 12,800 people who avidly follow the transformation of her home in Liverpool.

Influencer marketing has grown rapidly during the last three years and all the signs indicate that it will only become more important for businesses and brands as we move through 2023 and beyond.

In this example, she was replacing the stainless-steel splashback with one more fitting for her new kitchen and chose a Laura Ashley Mr Jones self-adhesive splashback, which she featured in a before and after reel as well as an Instagram story. With over 500 likes from the target audience of female homeowners and 45 comments, it’s a great example of a successful Influencer Marketing Strategy, raising awareness of a product, driving interest and engagement with the brand and ultimately sales.

Influencer v Ambassador – What’s the Difference?

Influencer Marketing is predominantly a transactional-based relationship between a company or brand and an online personality with a relevant audience of followers who is paid to promote the company through social media posts. The relationship tends to be relatively short-term, often focused on a specific campaign or product launch with only a handful of social posts. Brands often approach influencers who aren’t aware of their company and depending on the individual, this can become quite costly depending on the popularity of the influencer and their follower count.

Ambassador marketing, on the other hand, is more qualitative and is focused on forming a longer-term relationships between a brand and the personality that is less transactional-based and more about the personality of the individual and their career or what interests them.

With ambassador marketing, the individual who’s interested in becoming your brand ambassador often knows who you are already, and has probably supported your company’s products or services and values. They’ll sometimes approach you to apply to represent your brand on social media. This person then becomes a brand ambassador that presents your brand to their followers from a place of genuine interest and authenticity.

Husqvarna Appoints Lynne Lambourne

Leading gardening brand, GARDENA, has recently announced expert eco-designer, interiors TV presenter and warrior on waste, Lynne Lambourne, who will be supporting the brand as an ambassador for 2023. As part of the ambassadorship, Lynne will work closely with GARDENA on a wide range of marketing campaigns and activities throughout the year. This includes attending events, supporting product launches as well as sharing her valuable expertise with passionate gardeners through social media content, with the mission of inspiring their audiences to realise their garden dreams.

Steve Collinge

As GARDENA’s sustainable ambassador, Lynne will champion driving awareness of sustainable practices within gardening, showing that you can still create beautiful spaces whilst taking better care of the planet. Lynne also returns as GARDENA’s garden designer at the RHS Chelsea Flower, the world’s most iconic five-day gardening event.

Wickes appoints Jeff Brazier

Home improvement retailer Wickes has also recognised the importance of ambassadors and has recently appointed broadcaster Jeff Brazier as its Wellbeing Ambassador for 2023. The newly created position comes as part of Wickes’ ongoing investment and commitment to support colleague and customer wellbeing.

As a trained life coach and grief counsellor, Jeff will work with Wickes to develop and launch new initiatives to help aid colleagues and customers alike. Having spent a number of years working with people and communities, the presenter will help to create a series of coaching content and will support ongoing wellbeing-focused staff events throughout the year.

To kick things off, Wickes is sponsoring the latest series of Jeff’s Podcast - Only Human. The straight-talking Podcast explores all things mental health in which Jeff discusses his own challenges in the hope of helping listeners with their issues and to find humour in everyday problems.

As part of his role, Jeff will also raise awareness of the current initiatives that Wickes offer staff, from its award-winning partnership with ‘Peppy’ – app-based support from medical experts for issues with fertility, baby and menopause – to its 290 managers that are mental health first aid trained.

Summary

Influencer Marketing used to be seen as something for fashion and cosmetic brands on Instagram and TikTok, but with the rapid rise of interest in Home Improvement in the last three years, it’s increasingly being seen as a critical element of Marketing Strategy. As influencers continue to build their Home Interest audiences, often consisting of the increasingly important younger DIY’ers, there probably isn’t a Home Improvement or Garden brand in the industry, that wouldn’t benefit from understanding the increasing importance of Influencer Marketing.

Steve Collinge is an international speaker and expert on the DIY and Home Improvement industry, a retail influencer & Executive Editor of Insight DIY. You can contact him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail & Merchanting - Students and Mentors have their say

With just one module left to complete, the second year of the HAI Certificate is nearly over. At this point in the programme the HAI team sought feedback from its students and mentors on their experiences thus far.

In January and February, students completed their Instore Management training with highly interactive and reflective sessions on Stock Control and Merchandising, both presented by Padraig Cronin. In March they completed the Digital Marketing & Social Media module, presented by Greg Fry, which is the penultimate module of the programme.

The final module, covering Team Building and Team Leading, will be delivered on the 25th of April, and will be followed by the final Product Knowledge module covering Fasteners & Fixings products, presented by Tuck’s Fasteners.

HAI contacted students of this year’s programme, seeking their feedback on their experience to date, and it’s clear from the feedback that the modules have helped students boost their knowledge and confidence in their roles.

Student and Mentor Feedback

Student: Sarah Day, Morris’s DIY & Builders Providers

“I have learnt a lot, coming from a completely different industry, this has been very helpful to understand more of this industry. I have learnt how best to approach and deal with customers and how to make a sale and also know it is best to remember when working in the shop to think how the customer would think.”

Student: Julian Collins, McMahons Builders Providers

“I have learned a lot from the course so far. Particularly how many areas in business are more closely tied together than people might expect. I have also found the product knowledge presentations on the course to be very useful.”

Mentor: Liam Brady (mentor to Patrick Donlon) – Brooks Timber & Building Supplies

Patrick is flourishing and improving all the time since starting the course. Confidence levels have grown considerably and due to the broad subject coverage within the certificate I really feel that he is at ease in most situations at the moment.

It’s a super concept that I think is a no brainer to offer to any ambitious member of staff. Improvements will follow if the student embraces the course. Delighted overall.”

Octabuild Members sharing their Product Knowledge

In addition to their learning modules, students also completed Product Knowledge modules presented by Octabuild members and other suppliers in the sector. Students most recently attended a very informative Hand & Power Tools module presented by the management and sales team at Toolbank Ireland, and a very helpful Cement Products module presented by Octabuild members Gyproc Ireland and Irish Cement.

As always, HAI thanks Octabuild for its ongoing support through its Product Knowledge modules, giving students a fully rounded view perspective of the industry.

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.

Octabuild Chairperson, Declan Conlon, Sales Manager for Wavin, commented: “Octabuild member companies have been delighted to share their expertise and aid in nurturing talent in the builders merchant trade. The student feedback is a true testament to the value of the HAI Certificate as a whole and the Product Knowledge modules in particular and we are delighted that Octabuild can play a part in supporting this.”

For more information about the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting contact Aoife at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969

Careers in Hardware

HAI Spring Training Highlights

HAI’s Spring virtual training saw full Zoom classrooms of employees, owners and managers in the hardware/DIY industry attending bespoke training in Selling Skills, Customer Service, Sales Management, Stock Control, Merchandising and Digital Marketing, along with the return to HAI’s physical classroom with Susan Madden’s Advanced Selling Skills two-day course.

Spring Training Statistics:

101 attendees over 12 workshops

• 89 virtual attendees

• 12 on-site attendees

3 Mini Digital Marketing Workshops:

• Digital Video

• Content Marketing & Blogging

• Google Ads

Most popular workshop: Digital Marketing & Social Media (15 attendees)

HAI Marks Return to the Physical Classroom with Two-Day Advanced Selling Skills workshop

HAI was pleased to welcome back Susan Madden from South East College to the HAI Classroom in Rathcoole Co. Dublin, where she was joined by 12 sales reps, account managers and area sales managers all looking for an overhaul of their selling strategy.

Susan provided attendees with a masterclass in the entire sales process, from initial prospecting to securing a meeting, to securing the final sale. Delivered over two days in March and April, the course included a one-on-one Sales Meeting exercise, giving the attendees the opportunity to put their learnings into practice.

Training Attendee Feedback:

Digital Marketing Checklist – 1st February 2023

“Good presentation, well presented.”

Digital Video – 7th February 2023

“Greg Fry is a great tutor. Covers all topics clearly and well presented. Highly recommend this course”

“I enjoyed all three mini-workshops.”

Watch this space for news of our Autumn training schedule, with the return of workshops such as Credit Control, Selling Skills, Customer Service, Digital Marketing and even more to be announced.

Recordings of Mini-Workshops Available:

Due to their popularity, recordings of Greg Fry’s mini Digital Marketing workshops are available for HAI members to view at a reduced rate, with subjects including how to use Canva for Graphic Design, Digital Video, Content Marketing, Google Ads and Facebook & Instagram advertising.

We also have a growing catalogue of previous webinar recordings covering Cash Management, Corporate Governance, Retail Loss Prevention and is available to HAI members on the Hardware Education Hub. For access please contact Aoife at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie

For more information about all our courses visit www.hardwareassociation.ie/training-and-development

To book places or for any queries about training please contact Aoife Kinsella at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969

HAI’s in-person training returns with Advanced B2B Selling Skills.

100% of those surveyed said they would recommend the course they attended.

SEAI Individual Energy Upgrade grants - attic insulation installation guidance

Demand for home energy upgrades is extremely high, with homeowners looking to make their homes more energy efficient and benefit from reduced energy bills and increased home comfort, as well as reducing their carbon footprint.

SEAI offers a range of home energy upgrade options, with significant Government grants to support homeowners with their home energy upgrade journey. One option is the Individual Home Energy Upgrade grant route, which is ideal for homeowners who wish to upgrade their homes in stages, to suit their budget. With this grant route, the homeowner manages their own project by selecting a registered SEAI contractor from SEAI’s database of over 1,000 contractors. This is a very popular “a la carte” approach to upgrading your home, with over ¤400 million having been paid out to date by SEAI.

Contractors will find that being registered with SEAI drives leads to their companies and is beneficial for business. Ireland needs to scale up the installation of energy efficiency works to achieve climate action goals, and producing compliant works is a smart way to increase output and improve the bottom line. For homeowners to avail of SEAI grant aided works, they must select contractors who are registered with SEAI. Below you’ll find some useful links for contractors who are interested in registering or who are already registered for SEAI grant aided works.

How to Register

www.seai.ie/register-with-seai/

Contractors Registration Form:

www.seai.ie/forms/Contractors-Registration-Form.pdf

Contact Email info@betterenergyhomes.ie

Need for high compliance rates

Increased Government grants, combined with rising energy costs, has led to a dramatic increase in applications for SEAI home energy upgrade grants. With this increase in volume, comes a greater need for high compliance rates from SEAI registered contractors, who are carrying out works on SEAI’s home energy upgrade grant programmes.

This article aims to provide registered contractors and merchants with a few key tips when stocking products and installing home energy upgrades, in order to achieve a high standard of work and ensure compliance with all necessary standards and specifications of the SEAI grant programmes.

The focus of this information is on the installation of Roof Insulation. Currently, there are 683 contractors registered with SEAI for roof/attic insulation grant-aided works. The article will highlight some of the main reoccurring noncompliances with this energy upgrade and provide advice on the methodology and products required to insulate an attic to the standards and specifications required under SEAI’s home energy grant programmes.

To ensure compliant attic insulation works, a number of requirements must be met including assessing the attic, installing insulation, ensuring adequate ventilation, insulating all pipework, water tank, attic hatch and covering recessed ceiling lighting. The details of all requirements for insulating an attic can be found in SEAI’s Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedures (QADP) document. www. seai.ie/publications/Quality-Assurance-System-andDisciplinary-Procedure-New.pdf

Pipe Insulation

The main reoccurring non-compliances found on SEAI grant-aided attic insulation jobs relates to pipe insulation.

The two main areas of non-compliance when it comes to pipe insulation in attic insulation works are:

1. Not installing insulation to scheme standard

2. Incorrect type of insulation installed on pipes.

RONAN SYNNOTT Civil Engineer with SEAI.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

All pipework should be insulated in unheated areas of the roof space (using approved materials) when installing attic insulation. If pipework is not sufficiently robust to withstand the installation of insulation, the pipework should be replaced. The following images display examples of incorrect installation and correct installation.

Business Support

When it comes to the thickness of insulation on the pipe, the insulation thickness must comply with standards and specifications of SEAI’s Home Energy Upgrade grant programmes and S.R. 54 Code of Practice for the Energy Efficient Retrofit of Dwellings.

As a rule of thumb for installers, it is important to remember that the thickness of the insulation must be greater than the pipe diameter.

Top Tip from SEAI for the Trade

It’s important for builders’ merchants, hardware & DIY stores as well as manufacturers and suppliers to manufacture/stock the correct thickness of pipe insulation in order for SEAI registered contractors to avail of the correct material which will meet SEAI Home Energy Upgrade grant programme compliance standards.

Correct Pipework and tank Insulation Installation.

Correct Pipework Insulation Installation.

Incorrect Pipework Insulation Installation.

Incorrect Pipework Insulation Installation.

Recommended thickness of pipe insulation.

Bathroom & Shower market has experienced steady growth in recent years

According to a report by AMA Research, www.amaresearch. co.uk/report/bathroom-market-report-uk-2022, the UK bathroom market , has experienced steady growth in recent years, with an estimated value of £2.5 billion in 2020. This growth is driven by a combination of factors, including an increasing focus on home renovation and a growing demand for luxury bathroom products.

In terms of shower sales in the UK, electric showers was the most popular type of shower purchased. However, the report also noted a growing demand for digital and smart showers, as well as larger shower enclosures with multiple showerheads.

A report by Research and Markets, www. researchandmarkets.com/reports/5734908/smartbathroom-market found that sanitaryware accounts for the largest share of sales. The report also noted a trend towards more luxurious bathroom products, such as freestanding baths and high-end shower enclosures.

Overall, while the COVID-19 pandemic may have had an impact on bathroom and shower sales in 2022, the trend towards home renovation and a focus on luxury and high-tech

features is likely to continue to drive growth in the bathroom and shower market in Ireland and the UK in the coming years.

In terms of bathroom design trends, there has been a growing trend towards creating spa-like environments, with a focus on natural materials such as wood, stone, and marble. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, with an increased emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness. Greenery and plant life are also becoming more popular in bathroom design, bringing a touch of nature into the space.

In terms of shower trends, there has been a rise in demand for high-tech showers with features such as digital controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and mood lighting. Showers with built-in speakers are also becoming more popular, allowing users to enjoy music or podcasts while they shower. In addition, there has been a trend towards larger, more luxurious shower enclosures with multiple shower heads and body sprays. Overall, the bathroom and shower trends in general are likely to continue to prioritise relaxation, natural materials, and high-tech features in the coming years. See following pages for Bathroom & Shower products and services.

The adhesives and sealant market is expected to grow due to the increasing demand

According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the adhesives and sealant market in the UK was valued at USD 2.3 billion (¤2.12b) in 2020, (researchandmarkets.com), and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2021 and 2026. The report attributed this growth to a number of factors, including the increasing demand for adhesives and sealants in the automotive, construction, and packaging industries. The report noted that the construction industry is the largest end-user of adhesives and sealants in the UK & Ireland.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the adhesives and sealant market in 2022, with disruptions to global supply chains and reduced demand in some industries. However, the longterm outlook for the adhesives and sealant market in Ireland and the UK is positive, with growth expected to be driven by increasing demand from key industries and a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly products. See following pages from Page 66-70 for more Adhesive and Sealant products information and inspiration

Wavin HepvO designed as an alternative to the water trap

Since they were first invented in 1775, water traps have remained a key part of modern plumbing solutions. While they have varied in shape and style over the years, the key aspects of their design remain the same: a bend in the pipework which catches water and creates a seal between the sewer and the room above, preventing the escape of sewer water and foul smells.

But as any good plumber and experienced plumbing staff in builders’ merchants know, traditional water traps can lose their seal due to evaporation, siphonage, leaking or movement, which is a problem for home-owners.

Wavin HepvO is an innovative waterless trap which doesn’t encounter any of these issues and is suitable for use on a range of sanitary appliances.

The unique design of Wavin HepvO means there’s no U-bend in which waste material can potentially build-up causing blockages and smells. HepvO has been rigorously tested and is resistant to common household chemicals such as cleaners and detergents. Soaps, hair or food particles are less likely to cause a block with the HepvO valve.

Saving Space, Time and Money

Traditional water traps often take up a lot of space, reducing design freedom and impacting the layout of the bathroom or kitchen.

As space in modern builds is at an absolute premium, HepvO also offers the benefit of being suitable for a wide range of household plumbing applications, from under shower trays to kitchen sinks, meaning homeowners can save space in multiple rooms across the home.

Where form and function meet

Given the upsurge in kitchen and bathroom renovations in the home and the ‘magazine finish’ consumers demand, aesthetics are as important as practicality and efficiency. This is a key consideration for consumers as well as plumbers and construction professionals when it comes to installation.

HepvO is ideal for modern minimalist bathroom or kitchen designs. Its smooth lines means that the valve has a very limited impact on the overall look of a space and can be left exposed without creating an eyesore.

It is a key example of solutions which achieve this balance of form and function.

It minimises the visual impact of drainpipes and discharge systems, simplifies maintenance requirements for homeowners and does the job it is designed for effectively.

First-of-its-kind technology

Wavin’s HepvO waterless traps were introduced 20 years ago as the first-of-its-kind technology, developed with an elastomeric membrane which creates a seal between the sewer and the occupied space above. As water enters the silicone valve, the membrane opens until the flow stops. The outer pipe is a rigid structure which prevents any damage to the inside membrane. The membrane is so lightweight that only a very small amount of water is required to open it, meaning it can also be used in condensate drainage systems. With no need for a U-bend, the trap can be installed vertically or horizontally without impacting on the system’s ability to seal off discharge systems.

The system’s straight-through design minimises the build-up of waste material and ensures an outstanding flow. This innovative technology helps to reduce the risk of blockages, saving homeowners time as well as potentially costly maintenance work.

Also, if properties are left unoccupied for long periods of time, or drainage systems aren’t properly maintained, the typical ‘U’ trap with a water seal can sometimes dry out and fail, meaning sewer gases can make their way back into living spaces. This is not an issue with HepvO which makes it ideal for use in holiday homes, motor homes or even boats.

HepvO allows plumbers provide their customers with both value-adding expertise and the best possible result.

More information and ‘how to’ videos can be found at www.wavin.ie

The new LARGA Modular furniture range from Niko Bathrooms… It is all about personalisation

It has been an exciting start to the year for the Niko Bathrooms team with the launch of LARGA, their NEW Modular Bathroom Furniture Range. Aptly named, LARGA is the Spanish word for ‘long’, making it synonymous with the scope of this new range that offers homeowners the versatility to extend design options to limitless combinations.

LARGA has been inspired by the knowledge that customers want to be creative within their bathroom space, without the need to compromise on design styles, whether they have a restricted space or in some cases, too much space and don’t know how to optimise it. Most bathroom consultation conversations start with; “what size room is it? What are you thinking?” It’s all about PERSONALISATION, and the best way to express yourself. This range will allow people to express their own personal choice; it’s all about combination and personalisation,” commented Cathy Orr, Group Marketing Manager at Niko Bathrooms. “Sometimes people like a furniture piece in the showroom, for example, but it is not available in the size they are looking for. This range provides more freedom of choice for bathrooms of any size.”

The Modular Journey

LARGA brings the customer through a journey of selection and choice, step by step. It starts with them selecting the furniture piece, and then making that ever important colour choice from a refined colour palette reflecting the latest in design trends and popular tones; white, grey or powder blue. The next step is deciding on the washbasin, style

and colour with the option to choose inset or countertop (available in various colours and finishes). Countertops are available in white, grey, blue, white marble and black marble, and in a variety of length options 60, 80, 100 and 120cm. Next, they can complement their furniture by choosing their cabinets that can be open or closed depending on the look they want to achieve, the combinations are limitless! Then they select their choice of Brassware.

A Play on details – small details for the big finish

Small details and furniture finishes will give the room an expressive, dynamic feel and make it far from dull. Wellchosen furniture handles and feet from the collection are the perfect choice

Manufactured to the highest quality with Rocklite technology giving Ultra-thin five-six mm edges, enhanced durability and a sophisticated and elegant design. LARGA is finished with Aquasafe and Silver Protect technology ensuring the highest hygiene standard of bathroom ceramics.

See the LARGA collection featured in Niko Bathrooms 2023 Bathroom Collection Brochure NOW AVAILABLE or download at nikobathrooms.ie

For more information contact sales@nikobathrooms.ie or call 01 400 0000

It is all about personalisation. The new LARGA modular furniture range offers unlimited combinations of cabinets, basins, handles and colours for bathrooms of all sizes...

Want to plan a showroom visit to view the LARGA range? Contact your Niko Bathrooms area sales manager to organise the booking.

RT Large has every aspect of bathroom design covered with RAK Ceramics

One of Ireland’s leading bathroom and plumbing distributors, RT Large has partnered with RAK Ceramics to offer customers throughout the country a one-stop bathroom solution. With RT Large’s trusted reputation and experience in sourcing innovative products, the introduction of RAK Ceramics to the RT Large portfolio brings one of the largest ceramics brands in the world to Ireland, and this new partnership opens the Irish market to new opportunities to stock a range of sanitaryware that turns domestic bathrooms into dream spaces. At the forefront of design innovation, the manufacturer collaborates with some of the world’s leading designers to create breath-taking bathroom collections. Most recently, award-winning Italian designer Maurizio Scutellà reimagined the small bathroom, with the introduction of RAK-Petit, a collection of small washbasins for compact spaces, from cloakrooms and en-suites to small family bathrooms. With minimal shapes and modest dimensions, RAK-Petit washbasins are perfect for small spaces that are also big on style. The collection includes deep-based washbasins that can be installed alone or combined with RAK-Joy vanity units in the domestic bathrooms, as well as freestanding washbasins that are statement pieces. The Petit and Joy ranges are now available from RT Large.

RAK Ceramics has also launched colour into its portfolio with intent. With RAK-Feeling, they have a complete collection of shower trays, enclosures and valves, washbasins, brassware, WCs and bidet, made with innovative materials and available in a range of colours to add flair and personality to bathrooms that have long been dominated by white sanitaryware. The RAK Ceramics brassware collection available from RT Large is just as extensive with the luxurious RAK-Amalfi range that takes a playful stance on mixing metals in bathroom design. Encouraging creativity, RAK-Amalfi does things differently, with handles that can be combined in several ways with the tap body. Luminous, bold, and eye-catching, RAKAmalfi taps are available in Chrome, Brushed Gold, Matt Black and Brushed Nickel.

With the extensive stock holding and logistics network RT Large offer to their customer base, together RT Large and RAK Ceramics provides an all-round solution, giving designers creative freedom to create beautiful interiors with a customer service that is best in class.

For more information call RT Large Dublin (01) 4504307, RT Large Dungannon (028) 87784788 or visit www.rtlarge.ie

RAK SENSATION.

RAK PETIT.

RAK JOY.

Re-imagine your bathroom for 2023

Is a bathroom refurb on your customer’s “to-do” list this year?

If so, Sonas, one of Ireland’s largest bathroom brands invites you and your customer to explore the new Sonas collection to find inspiration with one of the widest ranges of stylish and sustainable products available in Ireland. Their experts are delighted to give their top four tips to ensure your customer can have the bathroom of their dreams in 2023.

1. Customise your Vanity

Gone are the days of identical bathrooms. These days it is all about customising the space to suit your style and lifestyle. This is an investment, your customer will want to ensure their choice will last for years to come. With a total of twenty contemporary furniture ranges from Sonas, a palette of twenty-nine colours, and three different handle finishes with a variety of sizes – the choice is theirs! As the central furniture piece in your customers bathroom, their vanity unit sets the tone for the space.

New to the 2023 Sonas Scandi inspired furniture range is the KORA. Designed with rounded edges and robust handles, the compact unit is available in a bright new colour, sun kissed yellow with a matt finish. With calm blue seen as a real colour for wellness, your customer can delight in the freshness of the morning sky blue or for those who would like to bring some feminine energy to their bathroom the cashmere pink option is stunning.

with a large shower - the typical shower trays are now 1200mm x 900mm. If your customer is after a boutique hotel look, frameless sleek ASPECT wetroom panels from Sonas are key to creating that look. Your customer can choose from a number of finishes including nickel and white, and if they have the space they can opt for a tray up to 2 metres in length!

If they prefer an enclosed showering experience, there are a wide variety of shower doors to fit their space from bifold to pivot. Whatever way their showering space is configurated, Sonas has a solution to solve it.

Central to their showering experience is their choice of shower head, with options such as overhead rain heads, handsets, and rail kits. The position of their shower valves is also worth considering. Whilst this is it typically located under the shower head this is not their only option. When opting for a concealed valve your customer may prefer to have the controls positioned where they would step into the shower. Please remember this is a first fix decision that needs to be discussed with their installer.

4. Everyday Luxury

Recreating the spa like feeling in your customer’s homes can give them a luxurious experience every day. As we spend so much time in our homes and in our bathrooms, it is a space that is really worth investing in. Since this is where we all start and end every day, it is important that this space enhances our daily routines and adds to a feeling of wellbeing.

When we think of spa-like bathrooms, we think of freestanding baths, whirlpools, and double vanity units. For more budget friendly ways to upgrade their space a customer might think about replacing taps or shower heads with a more modern option. They could also invest in lighting or add some additional storage space with a new illuminated Sonas mirrored cabinet. The bestselling Sonas Sansa Led Bluetooth mirror can bring both music, ambient lighting and some curves to help soften a space. Get your customer to think about their finishing touches too – good quality accessories can make all the difference to space.

2. Create Natural Vibes

While some consumers are colour fans, others are drawn to the rustic natural look due to the rise of biophilic design. They can bring this look to life in their bathroom with natural finishes like sandy grey in the SMART range, or craft oak available in the versatile Otto Plus.

Solid surface basins, manufactured from a silky-smooth natural resin material, can also add a touch of sophistication to their bathroom. Due to popular demand, the stylish dual-tone SKAL countertop basins are now available in morning sky blue and cashmere pink to coordinate with the Finland countertop units. Bathroom aesthetics complete this rustic feel, from their choice of tiles, wall panelling, and décor and to bring in a natural vibe don’t forget that plants thrive beautifully in bathrooms!

3. Super-Size Showers

With Pinterest trends showing an increase of almost 400% in searches for amazing walk in showers, coupled with Sonas seeing a demand for larger shower trays, there are plenty of possibilities to have luxury walk in showers with wetroom panels. Sonas are noticing that many homeowners are opting to replace their baths

It is all about creating a calm space where your customer can prepare for, or unwind from, the day. While a full bathroom renovation may not be required a few clever upgrades can transform their space. To start your customer on their journey check out www.sonasbathrooms.com

Always better results through knowledge

Bostik Academy is the innovational online and physical knowledge centre, situated at Bostik Industries Ltd. Newtown, Swords, Co. Dublin, K69 YD23.The Bostik Academy has been carefully created, by professionals and for professionals, in the Irish construction industry. At Bostik Academy, participants will experience a tailored training programme, that is perfectly matched to their needs and profession.

The Bostik Academy offers product information on the complete Bostik product portfolio – from flooring and tiling products to their complete sealing and bonding range. Information includes access to product presentations, installation videos, ‘How To’ videos, Technical Data Sheets and all relevant supporting information.

The easily accessible venue presents a ‘state of the art’ Video Technical Centre with remote video training capability and targeted webcast broadcasts, as well as traditional hands on ‘on site’ training and practical demonstrations. In addition, Bostik Academy offers tailored dedicated training programmes to business owners and their team.

Bostik have developed many new and highly innovative products, which are currently being detailed and demonstrated at The Bostik Academy. Their experienced trainers regularly present their full product portfolio, best application methods, key industry recommendations as well as current market insights and updates.

The highly skilled technical team at Bostik are available to support builders’ merchants and hardware stores in their everyday activities. Bostik are available as a first point of contact and a key resource to answer your technical questions and to support your everyday opportunities and challenges. Bostik look forward to welcoming you to The Bostik Academy.

For further information please contact www.bostik-academy.ie

Bostik Academy is a virtual and physical knowledge centre, which has been carefully created, for professionals, in the Irish construction industry.

At Bostik Academy, you will experience a tailored training programme, that is perfectly matched to your needs and profession.

Bostik Academy represents a ‘state of the art’ remote ‘online’ training hub aswell as a traditional, ‘hands on’ product and product application training centre. In addition, Bostik Academy offers tailored and dedicated training programmes to you and your team.

Our experienced trainers will present our full product portfolio, best application methods, key industry recommendations as well as current market insights and updates. Our highly skilled technical team is available to support you in your particular project and your everyday activities.

Visit the Bostik Academy on bostik-academy.ie to view our installation videos, ‘How To’ videos and learn more about the training centre.

ON SITE TRAINING

WEBCAST & REMOTE TRAINING

TAILORED TRAINING

PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION

VIDEO TECHNICAL CENTRE

Wall & Floor

Sealing & Bonding

Waterproofing

Masonry & Building Chemicals

Repair & Assembly

More performance, more sustainable

True to its image as an innovator in the construction chemicals market, Sika is coming up with an innovation to deliver on its promise of “more performance, more sustainable”.

The new Sikadur®-31+ is a two-part epoxy-based, moisture-tolerant construction adhesive that bonds most building materials. It can be used for interior and exterior do-it-yourself (DIY) applications in addition to traditional professional applications.

More performance

Sikadur®-31+ offers even higher mechanical strengths and can also be used for structural concrete repairs, joint filling, and crack sealing. It hardens without shrinkage, is completely

impermeable for most liquids and water vapour and does not sag in vertical and overhead applications. No primer is needed and the open time and pot life of Sikadur®-31+ have been optimised. Thus, the high-quality product enables unprecedented flexibility.

More sustainable

In addition to its superior performance metrics and versatility, Sika has emphasised the sustainability aspect of the product. Sikadur®-31+ meets LEED v4 requirements and features very low VOC.

All in all, the new easy to mix and apply Sikadur®-31+ low VOC epoxy adhesive is a great choice for your project, be it a DIY project or a professional one.

THE ALL-IN-ONE LOW VOC EPOXY ADHESIVE

NEWLY FORMULATED EPOXY ADHESIVE STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE – SEALANT – FILLER –REPROFILING – STRUCTURAL REPAIR MORTAR

MORE PERFORMANCE

· Double CE marking for structural bonding and concrete repair

· Superior adhesion performance on various substrates

· Longer open time and pot life

MORE SUSTAINABLE

· Very low VOC emission and low odor

· Not regulated as a dangerous good, suitable for professional and DIY

· Meets LEED v4 requirements

MORE PERFORMANCE MORE SUSTAINABLE

Sikadur®-31+

EASY TO USE GENIUS PU FOAM

1. SINGLE-HANDED APPLICATION

2. RE-USABLE FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS

3. MAXIMUM CONTROL

Soudal’s Genius hand-held application system

Genius Gun is a patented hand-held system for applying Soudal’s Genius PU Foam range. The unique trigger mechanism provides maximum control of dosage, with a comfortable hand grip specifically designed for single-handed use. Genius Gun’s re-sealable applicator straw means the product can be used again and again for up to six weeks.

The ergonomic hand grip is comfortable to hold and easily operated with one hand. Perfect for those hard-to-reach places and especially important for when working at heights, giving your customer a free hand for added stability. The pressure-sensitive trigger mechanism means the flow of foam can be controlled easily with a light touch.

A specially designed trigger mechanism ensures precise dosage control, helping your customer to apply the perfect amount of foam. Varying the pressure on the trigger will increase or decrease the speed of the foam. Offering the control of gun grade foam in a handheld format, without any need for additional tools or gun cleaners.

The built-in closing system enables your customer to re-use the can for up to six-weeks after first use. Simply attach the bung located on the lid of the Genius Gun cap into the applicator straw to seal the canister ready for use next time.

Soudal products can be found in the best stores countrywide; for more information, please visit their website at www.soudal.ie

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