Frank Casey, South Coast Sales – An Appreciation

Born in Millstreet, Co. Cork in 1946, Frank started his professional career as an electrican with Avonmore Electrical, winding motors and carrying out general electrical work all over the country. He moved to America for a number of years where he worked on building sites as an electrician before coming home to set up his first business in Limerick, selling and rewinding motors. He eventually settled back in Cork with his family. The business specialised in the installation and repair of water pumps. Frank was always on the look out for products to supply to local hardware stores and co-ops. In 1990 he discovered a gap in the market for the supply of an effective plastic pipe fitting. After some research he found a suitable product made by Philmac in Australia and after making contact with them, a distribution agreement was established. Frank and his wife Catherine set up South Coast Sales in 1990 to distribute the Philmac range. Initially the business was run from the garage at his home in Farran, Co Cork, the kitchen table being their office. Frank, along with his family, demonstrated regularly to farmers at agricultural shows nationwide. In 1992 South Coast Sales exhibited for the first time at The National Ploughing Championships in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork. From then and at every event since, Frank`s demonstrations behind his water tank displaying Philmac were so enthralling that he always had a crowd of spectators watching while he dazzled them with both his knowledge and wit. Frank truly revolutionised water supply in farms in Ireland by introducing Philmac. The introduction of which meant, the farmer could carry out their own water supply maintenance rather than having to call in a Plumber. Philmac is now a go to water fitting choice for councils, builders, plumbers and farmers. Such was his knowledge of the water industry, Frank was invited to visit Australia on a number of occasions over the years to help with the development of new products. Over time new products and lines were added by South Coast

Elliott Burke, Executive General Manager of Philmac Australia with Derry Casey, Managing Director, South Coast Sales and Catherine Casey, wife of Frank Casey at the presentation of the portrait of Frank, at South Coast Sales Offices, Cork.

to their business. Since its foundation, they have moved three times to larger premises within the Doughcloyne Industrial Estate, Wilton. Currently South Coast Sales employs 46 people and stocks over 2,500 product lines, in its new purpose built 40,000sq ft premises, which is a long way from its humble beginnings in the garage in Farran. On Frank’s passing in late August 2021, Philmac contacted the Casey family saying they wanted to honour Frank`s contribution to the success of Philmac by offering to name one of their Adelaide meeting rooms after Frank. They also arranged to have a specially commissioned portrait of Frank. Elliott Burke, the Executive General Manager of Philmac Australia, travelled to Ireland in September to visit the South Coast Sales stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships and to present the completed portrait to Frank’s family. Frank`s dedication to finding quality products and passion for providing the highest level of customer service has carried through from the early beginnings of South Coast Sales, and the entire team remains committed to continuing his legacy.

HEARTWARE STORIES ARE GOOD NEWS STORIES

Given the season that’s in it, our colleagues in the USA, Ace Hardware, have a nice initiative going on for some time now. They believe everyone has a story to tell. Acts of amazing moments, where an individual or a community bond over shared strength and determination. These stories happen in big cities and small towns across America, each day. Even in hardware stores. Heartware Stories are good news stories submitted by Ace Hardware retailers and customers about how they have helped in a community. They are reviewed and selected by a team at Ace Hardware’s Corporate office. Ace discover Heartware stories in a number of other ways - from hearing about them from customers directly as well as through social media, local news coverage and Ace’s corporate field staff. Ace encourage their retailers and customers to submit these stories by tagging them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #HeartwareStories. Or by sending in a letter to their HQ. Ace Hardware has over 5,000 stores around the world with the majority of those stores independently owned and operated by local entrepreneurs in the USA.

You can view some of these heart-warming Heartware stories by visiting www.acehardware.com/heartwarestories. Photos and videos can also be viewed searching #HeartwareStories.