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