23 minute read
CAreers in HArdWAre Padjoe Barry from Pipelife talks to The Hardware Journal about his career highlights to date.
Careers in Hardware
Since the launch of www.hardwarejobs.ie, Ireland’s first and only hardware industry-specific job board website, HAI has been highly active in promoting long-term career opportunities in the hardware industry to students, school leavers and jobseekers alike. Going by feedback from visitors at careers fairs like Ireland Skills Live and from career guidance counsellors the interest in the sector is higher than ever.
For this issue of The Hardware Journal we spoke to Padjoe Barry, National Sales Manager at Pipelife Ltd about his career to date.
What were the main ‘career decision’ milestones in your life so far?
I joined Pipelife (or Quality Plastics as it was known back then) in 2004. I had only recently left Chadwicks Plumb Centre in Cork for Shires Bathrooms when I was approached by Billy Dowling (ex Area Sales Manager Quality Plastics) about an opportunity to join the company and taking me back to my roots of heating and plumbing. He must have done a good job as I am still here 17 years later! At the time Quality Plastics was owned by the Horgan Family and they certainly were very helpful to me in my early days. Being taken over by Pipelife in 2007 was a game changer as they brought us up to the next level with continued investment and development of the company.
Does your job allow you to have a lifestyle you are happy with?
Yes, very much so. I enjoy the day-to-day interactions that I have with our customers, whether it be calling into a local merchant or meeting a plumber on site or back in the office with the staff at work. I have built up some great relationships with customers and co-workers over the years and this is something that I certainly appreciate.
What are your main tasks and responsibilities?
I’m a salesman through and through and so my main focus would always be on sales. This is my bread and butter. My other duties include managing our sales and technical teams and making sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.
What are the main challenges?
Covid has certainly changed the playing field and the last year has been tough, but as a company we have managed to get through this and are very optimistic about the coming months and years. Also, with the introduction of new technologies into the heating and plumbing sector this has challenged us to stay ahead of the game and offer heating solutions that are best suited to today`s new build homes! We are determined to offer contractors and installers the skills, support and service they need to thrive in the renewable heating sector.
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
Real life experience…starting my career with Chadwicks Plumb Centre Cork and seeing first-hand the day to day running of a business.
What do you really like about your job?
It keeps me on my toes, no two days are ever the same. And these are certainly exciting times for Pipelife. We recently opened our new distribution and training centre in Dublin, expanding our sales force and offering training days at both or Cork and Dublin renewable training centres. We are certainly planning for the future and looking forward to better days ahead!
Have you undertaken, or do you plan to undertake any further training as part of your job?
Yes, you can never sit still. Whether that be in business or life. You must always be forward thinking! With the ever-changing landscape of the heating sector there are always new products/technologies coming online that we need to keep up with.
What advice would you give to someone considering this type of job or similar in our sector?
Be true to yourself. Always be open to new ways and willing to learn. Challenge yourself, and take yourself out your comfort zone!
What is your pet peeve at work?
Getting caught to empty the dishwasher!
For more information or to start advertising your vacancies with Hardware Jobs visit www.hardwarejobs.ie or contact Aoife at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie.
Retail Loss Prevention
Following his recent Hardware Association Ireland Webinar, Michael Neary, Loss Prevention Manager at Harvey Norman, provides readers with advice on the strategies and potential shortfalls retailers need to look out for to limit instore theft.
MICHAEL NEARY
Loss Prevention Manager, Harvey Norman
Retail is an incredibly fast changing and always exciting sector. The methods criminals employ to steal from retail are always evolving. The constant challenge is to be able to identify these methods and put systems in place to protect against them. Here are some of my tips and strategies.
The best way to prevent theft is to have staff on the shop floor greeting and looking after customers. The last thing a shoplifter wants is to be approached and drawn into a conversation with a sales team member. Engaging with a potential shoplifter will deter a large proportion of retail theft.
Clever merchandising has also a part to play. Do not put highly desirable goods in blind spots on the shop floor or have them near the door. Do not overstock shelves and keep displays tidy and well ordered. A theft from a well fronted display is easily spotted.
Make sure staff and management understand your company policy on dealing with a shoplifting situation.
Monitor local social media sites to see if your stolen goods are being sold there. Alert Gardai if you have suspicions.
First thing in the morning and last thing in the evening are always the most dangerous times for theft. Staff will have a lot of duties to carry out at these times and criminals know this. This is when they will target you.
A good CCTV system is very important for both Loss
Prevention and Health and Safety. Make sure the shop floor is well covered with a good camera view on the front door.
When goods are delivered to your store have a ‘’drop zone’’ clearly marked inside your back door which is under a CCTV camera. If there is ever a dispute over a delivery you can review the delivery. Always time and date the paperwork so you can find it quickly on CCTV. Do the same for goods outwards.
Burglary of retail premises is also a major problem. The positioning of Passive Infra Red sensors (PIRs) is vitally important. Make sure the PIRs are never blocked by stock or by posters. A good idea is to do a weekly early morning
‘’floor walk’’. As you walk around your store and your loading bay make sure the PIRs are picking you up. They will blink red when they see your movement. Have the system serviced as recommended by the installer.
Change alarm codes regularly but especially when a key holder leaves the business. Have a reputable security company on alarm call at night. If an alarm activates at night have the security company meet your key holder at the site. A lone key holder should never enter the business at night.
Talk to your local Crime Prevention Garda. They are a mine of information and are only too willing to be of assistance.
Keep a record of all incidents.
You need to be aware of Invoice Redirect Fraud. This is where fraudsters will try and change the banking details of one of your suppliers. When you then make a payment the money goes to the criminal not your supplier. If a supplier tries to change their banking details, it must be signed off by the business owner or a senior person. Only change details after speaking to someone you know at the suppliers.
Another scam is when a large order comes in to your business. The ‘’customer’’ will ‘’mistakenly’’ overpay by a large amount. They will ask you to refund the overpayment to a different bank account or credit card than the one used to make the payment. In the end the original payment will turn out to be a fraudulent one and you will be at the loss of the amount refunded and possibly the goods if you have shipped them. If in doubt call the Gardai they have had a lot of success combating this type of fraud.
Do not take card payments over the phone unless you have a system in place for making sure that payment is secure.
If I was asked to highlight the most important factors in the fight against retail crime, I would suggest training and communication. Knowledge is power in the fight against crime!
Michael Neary is the Loss Prevention Manager at Harvey Norman. If you would like to contact Michael regarding his services You can reach him at
michael.neary@harveynorman.com
IAN LAWLOR
JPA Brenson Lawlor
Be prepared! (‘Cos there’s a wall of money heading your way)
Anyone who knows anything about scouting will be familiar with the scout’s motto; ‘be prepared’. Having heard that motto, someone asked Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell the inevitable follow-up question. “Prepared for what?” “Why, for any old thing,” he replied.
Well, we can be a bit more specific than that. Like the rest of the country, at JPA Brenson Lawlor we are more than hopeful that the awful scourge of Covid-19 looks to be on the wane and socially and economically we’re heading back to something like normal. Actually, I’m avoiding using the term the ‘new normal’ as I think we all want to get back to the ‘old normal’ as quickly as possible, albeit with the exception of using Zoom (occasionally, but not all the time) and there’s no harm in washing our hands more regularly.
But while we and our businesses have been locked up, something interesting has been going on in the economy. Presumably as we couldn’t do anything, go anywhere or spend anything the nation has been saving. A lot. Irish households saved twice as much in 2020 compared to the previous year according to figures from the Central Statistics Office, totalling a massive ¤28 billion. That’s roughly equivalent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Latvia (population 1.9 million). Our savings are, very roughly, equivalent to the median household income (¤43,000) in this country for nearly 650,000 households. This is known as a big ‘wall of money’.
Fund managers are fond of saying that past performance is no indication of the future…but, in this instance, I believe that based on past Irish consumer behaviour, that it’s most likely that this ‘wall’ is about to be spent. Herein lies a big opportunity for HAI members. This may be a golden opportunity to put your hand up for a decent chunk of that income.
As business advisors to a wide range of businesses across many sectors, it’s my well-informed (I hope) view that businesses like yours should not wait for the bank vaults to open. Now is the time to try to lock in that spending. And how? Get consumers to spend their money with you now. Don’t let it be frittered away on fancy meals and foreign holidays.
The key is to give an incentive to purchasers to spend money now on products that you can deliver in the future. At JPA Brenson Lawlor we understand the supply problems your industry is having between delays and shipping costs from China.
The massive increase in timber prices (and we’re now reading how all-time high corn prices – yes corn! – are impacting on items from insulation items to wallpaper paste), and even a ship blocking the Suez Canal are all conspiring to make hardware pricing certainty highly uncertain.
My advice is to advise your customers of these issues, explain that you want them to get the best deal, and all you ask is for a booking deposit. That means you are locking in your sale now and your customer should ‘feel the love’ of you taking care of their interests. It’s no different to booking an airline flight. You’re booked in weeks if not months in advance, for ‘the best deal’!
So, as the scouts say, ‘be prepared’, and take the initiative now. When it becomes clear that we’re finally, finally away from the horror of Covid, the (gold) rush will be on, but hopefully HAI members will have the early mover advantage.
eCommerce will continue to gain momentum
For 2021 and beyond, it is a certainty that eCommerce will continue to gain momentum, even as customers make a welcome return to brick and mortar stores.
ORLA COONEY
General Manager, Magico.com
However, some shoppers may prefer to stay online even into the medium term. Retailers must develop a concrete plan to tackle this new hybrid shopping model.
Key Learnings for the Hardware Industry
CSO statistics identify that retail sales transacted online (from Irish registered companies) increased to 13% in
February 2021, from 11% in January 2021 - the highest proportion of Retail Sales transacted online since May 2020 (13%). Your customers want to shop local. 39% of a McKinsey survey respondents indicated that they are now ‘more likely’ to buy from local/independent brands, following the pandemic. This sentiment is reflected in the Irish market, with an abundance of ‘Buy Irish’ and ‘Click Green’ initiatives raising awareness and generating traction. There is huge scope for the B2B market. According to global e-commerce news and research organisation Digital
Commerce 360, and the findings of their latest B2B survey, more than one-third of all B2B buyers will buy more online in 2021.
The Benefits of Online Trading
2020 was a crucial year in the eCommerce sphere, with many businesses converting their stores online during the pandemic, to remain operational and trading. But what are the benefits of Online Trading for the Hardware Industry?
B2C Benefits
Expand Online Ease of expansion. Investing in an online channel is a viable option for those who physically can`t expand their premises, it`s also undoubtedly less risky and more cost effective. Flexibility The ability to respond during a crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic spotlighted retailers who had quickly transitioned to trading online. Increase your Customer Base. Be where your customers are. Utilise Paid Digital Marketing to target customers who are actively looking for your products, regardless of their location. Increase Brand Awareness According to ROI Revolution, a substantial rise in the digital research conducted by consumers prior to purchase, has occurred. Having a transactional site increases the probability of your business being selected. Maximise Customer Intelligence Target new customers with Digital Marketing, while simultaneously using online store analysis to garner valuable insight into your customer’s needs and buying habits.
B2B Benefits
Transform your Sales Environment. Dual B2C/B2B functionality allows trade customers to log into the B2C platform. There, product offerings and special account trade pricing will be re-configured automatically, specifically to them. Add Value to your Trade Customers. Trade Customers can input orders as required, as often as necessary directly through the website. Increase effectiveness of your Sales Representatives. Free up your sales representatives’ valuable time by minimising admin and travel. They can concentrate on where they excel, introducing new products and developing and maintaining relationships. Sales representatives can virtually visit trade customers and showcase their product catalogue, while logged into the online store, replacing the need for bulky, costly catalogues that need constant updating. Reduce Order Entry Errors Significantly reduce order entry errors with customers placing orders directly. Eliminating errors from order entry, guarantees the avoidance of returns/re-delivery, thereby further reducing costs and securing customer satisfaction. Valuable Trade Customer Information Make key trade customer information, including order history readily available to your sales representatives. Armed with that precious knowledge, they can easily identify what products your trade customer purchased previously and imperatively what they have not! The new and improved nature of online and analytics reporting benefits business procedures at all organisational levels. Owners, Managers, Buyers, Sales Representatives, and online store administrators can view order levels and product popularity, enabling smart business decisions. It’s clear that Online is here to stay, presenting a new set of opportunities and challenges for the Irish Hardware market. One that should be grasped wholeheartedly, by the launch and/or finessing of their eCommerce platforms and capabilities, as their customers move towards online and want to shop increasingly from Irish businesses going forward.
planning permissions residential analysis 2020
Summary - Residential 2020
In the year 2020, planning permissions were granted for 44,538 dwelling units, compared with 39,242 units for the same period in 2019, an increase of 13.5%. However, in quarter 4 2020 planning permissions declined by 21%. During this period planning permissions for extensions increased by 25%.
Number of dwelling units approved in 2019 and 20201
Year 2019 Year 2020
Houses Apartments Total 19,651 19,591 39,242 18,314 26,224 44,538 % change -6.8% 33.9% 13.5% Quarter 4 2019 4,899 7,195 12,094 Quarter 4 2020 4,432 5,104 9,536 % change -9.5% -29.1% -21.2%
1 2019 and 2020 revised due to additional information.
The growth comes from an increase in the number of apartments, with 26,224 units being apartments (59%); 13,022 being multi-development houses (29%) and 5,292 being one-off houses (12%). In 2020, the only area experiencing growth overall are apartments up 34% on 2019, while multi-developments and one-off houses decreased by 7% and 6% respectively. Of the total floor area planned for new houses and apartments, one-off houses accounted for 26%, multi-development houses 33% and apartments 41% (28%, 38% and 34% respectively in 2019). Overall, floor area planned remained stable, with a small decrease of 0.6%. Total floor area planned in 2020 was 8,271,000m². Of this, 59% was for new dwellings, 31% for other new constructions and 10% for extensions.
DWELLINGS BY REGION (Floor Area Planned ‘000m²)
There has been an overall slight decrease in floor area planned of 0.4% compared to the full year 2019. Dublin, the Mid East, and Midlands (which account for 64% of the total) showed growth, while all other regions experienced a decline. Additional information kindly supplied by Cedral, ETEX Ireland.
Install a cast iron alternative at a fraction of the price
For contractors and their clients wanting a traditional aesthetic, the right drainage system can be the difference between design success and failure. By taking into consideration the aesthetic, practical and economic needs of a project, old style detail and quality can be achieved without the cast iron price tag. Cascade is a cost-effective rainwater solution that ticks all the boxes. Traditional rainwater systems have been made from cast-iron for over 150 years. With a highly distinctive appearance due to its texture and thickness, cast-iron adds kerb appeal to any project. However, it is expensive to buy and time-consuming to work with, so an efficient and economical alternative has fast become the specification of choice for contractors and their clients.
A modern classic
At a fraction of the price to buy, install and maintain, modern plastic materials can replace aluminium or cast-iron rainwater specifications to deliver projects under budget and ahead of schedule – exceeding both the builder’s and the client’s expectations. Plastic rainwater systems enable contractors to create a heritage aesthetic without compromising architectural integrity and enjoy savings in materials, labour and time saved on site. Cast-iron systems are heavy and difficult to install. Contractors must also be extra vigilant regarding health and safety and will require more time to lift and fix these systems – leading to increased costs and potential delays in the installation process.
Simple-to-fit
Because plastic ranges are so much lighter than cast iron, installation at height is less hazardous, being effortless to lift, easy to manoeuvre, simple to cut and quick to fit. The systems also benefit from external fixing lugs, enabling easy power tool access, which further speeds up fitting. All gutter connecting joints have integral seals and flexible retaining clips, allowing the gutter lengths to simply click into place. No extra-cost fixing kits or nuts and bolts are required to make gutter joints, as with most traditional systems.
Make it easy
Almost every job will require both gutter and pipe lengths to be cut onsite using specialist tools and for cast iron systems, they need to be fully finished on site, using a primer, undercoat and topcoat, to ward off corrosion. In some cases, if the level of protection applied to cut lengths on site is deemed insufficient, any guarantee offered may be, quite rightly, invalidated, leaving the installer liable. To add to its great looks, Cascade is maintenance-free, UVstabilised and resistant to rusting and corrosion, allowing it to look good for the long term and for peace of mind, it comes with a 10-year guarantee.
sunLite® multi-Wall for superior thermal insulation and light transmission
SUNLITE® Multi-wall by Palram, a world-leading manufacturer of extruded thermoplastic sheets and panel systems, is a flat polycarbonate sheet that features a cellular structure with at least two walls and connective ribbing. This multi-wall structure creates insulating air spaces (cells) that help reduce thermal (heat) energy penetration, resulting in a cooler area in the summer and a warmer area in the colder months. In short, SUNLITE’s structure yields an energy efficient, rigid, impact-resistant sheet that is significantly lighter in weight than solid polycarbonate, acrylic or glass sheets. SUNLITE® multi-wall offers substantially better energy efficiency than any single-layer sheet. Popular applications of SUNLITE® multi-wall polycarbonate sheets are exterior roofing, glazing, wall or building cladding, interior partitions, displays, and POP merchandising displays.
Main Benefits
High thermal insulation Lighter weight than solid panels Excellent rigidity and impact resistance Available with a variety of colour and light transmission options SolarSmart™ tints that reduce solar heat gain with greater clarity than standard tints or colours Superior structural durability Weather and UV resistant Blocks virtually all UV radiation Easy to handle and install High fire performance rating
Typical Applications
Architectural building cladding, roofing and glazing Skylights and sidelights Conservatory roofing Covered walkways Sunrooms, patio and pergola roofing Illuminated signage and backdrops Decorative partitions POP merchandising displays Polycarbonate greenhouse panels PALRUF® also manufactured by Palram, is a corrugated PVC panel which combines excellent resistance to chemicals, fire and impact, resulting in an extremely durable roofing solution. PALRUF® PVC panels withstand harsh chemical environments where conventional roofing can quickly corrode, which makes it ideal for long term use in demanding industrial applications such as chemical plants stores, mines, ports and more.
Main Benefits
PALRUF® Panels do not corrode – ideal for seaside projects, mines and livestock farms. Fire resistant – self-extinguishes and meets the highest standards in the field Suitable for curved roofing High impact strength – resists hail, wind and snow loads Excellent chemical resistance – withstands a wide variety of chemicals UV resistant – does not yellow or fade for years Weather resistant – stands up to harsh weather conditions
Typical Applications
Coastal industrial units and warehouses Chemical and Pharmaceutical plants Mines and Metal Processing facilities Livestock shelters Food manufacturing and storage Covering for conveyors structures in chemically aggressive environments
pALruf® corrugated pVC sheet for industrial and agricultural roofng and exterior cladding
For further information please contact, Irish International Trading Company, T: Cork 021 4705800 / Naas 045 888300, Email info@iitc.ie, www.iitc.ie.
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March/April 2021 The Official Magazine of Hardware Association Ireland
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Save time, money and reduce risk by having Brinks Cash Services collect your lodgements directly from your store
Our Services include:
• Low Cost Cash Processing fees- make significant savings on bank charges • Secure Cash/Cheque Collections directly from your premises • Free Delivery of Coin/Note floats with collections • Full range of smart safe-end to end solutions supplied
Avail of a brand new Afnity Deal for HAI members
For further information contact Brinks Cash Services Ireland Denise McCarthy T: 087 7614 656 E: Denise.Mccarthy@Brinks.com
BUSINESS FOR SALE
Long Established family-owned Home Improvement Centre in the Limerick Area for Sale. Approximately 2500 sq.ft Freehold. Owner Retiring. Replies in confidence to editor@hardwareassociation.ie
Business Brand for Sale
Well established Hardware/DIY Brand for Sale.
Excellent market penetration
Replies in confidence to editor@hardwareassociation.ie
Draught Excluders PVC & Aluminium Angles Tile & Bath Trims Floor Edges Step Nosings NEW 40mm Slotted Angle
11A Greencastle Parade, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17 T: 01 8470134 E: hycraft@eircom.net
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Accountants and Business advisers
The hardware sector specialists - nationwide
Nobody knows the hardware sector better than us. We are the nationwide leaders in the sector. We specialise in maximising your business profits.
We advise on buying and selling hardware companies. We are experts on tax and succession planning. We excel at tax efficient hardware business restructuring and we provide efficient compliance services.
And we’re only a phone call away Call Ian Lawlor or Michael O’Leary today.
T: 01 – 6689760 E: ian@brensonlawlor.ie E: Michaeloleary@brensonlawlor.ie JPA Brenson Lawlor, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
July/Aug Issue
News & Product Features
Commercial Features on:
- Heating & Plumbing
- Plasterboard/Insulation
- Business System
For more information contact Jim Copeland
087 6671361
jim@hardwareassociation.ie
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