A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Martin Markey introduces the

messagefrom the CEOAs we say farewell to 2022, according to the latest buzzword in business we are in a VUCA environment – volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. So, what’s new? Over the last few years we have weathered Brexit and this year we saw Covid receding into (hopefully) the rearview mirror. In some respects we are almost getting used to this permacrisis. However, it still impacts, and we are facing into many headwinds. And, you always have to be wary of predictions - this time last year few would have predicted a major conflict in Europe with energy used as a weapon of war. One manufacturing member that I spoke to has five scenarios for his 2023 budget. Most forecasts say that Ireland is in a good economic position to weather these headwinds nonetheless it will be challenging. The Central Bank are forecasting economic growth of 0.5% - so practically no movement. In August unemployment was at 4.3% - usually economists define full employment as 5%. And savings are at an all-time high. However, consumer confidence is dented by inflation. Our market research partner Behaviour & Attitudes believe that what is undermining confidence in particular is grocery inflation – at 13% in November. According to the Business Index the value of our market is up 13% for the first six months compared with 2021. Quarter Two is however only showing an increase of 3% - when inflation is taken into account in all likelihood most market sectors have declined compared to last year. New build homes – housing estates, apartments, and self-build one-off homes account for 40% of the value our marketplace. While demand for newly-build homes remains high and continues to grow, targets will not be met. A combination of inflation in construction costs, general inflation, scarcity of skilled trades professionals and an increase in mortgage rates has pushed prices beyond what many buyers, in particular first-time buyers can afford. Residential building is slowing and looks set to be slow for at least the first half of 2023. Frustratingly for many first-time buyers the monthly repayments on a mortgage, even at a higher interest rate would still be less than rent. There is money for housing. For once. We are now in the bizarre situation of local authorities handing back unspent money earmarked for housing to central government. While the housing situation is complex, there is a choice. During the summer in our pre-Budget Submission – Empty Homes: Unlocking the Opportunity - HAI put forward detailed proposals to help the housing sector. It is a very clear-eyed understanding of what is required. A number of these proposals have been adopted - there is now a ¤30k grant for a vacant home and a ¤50k grant for a derelict home. As new build is highly unlikely to deliver the required number of homes a switch of focus to a multipronged strategy on housing – one that includes targets for empty homes is required. Now is the time for this. As well as housing people it brings life back to our cities, towns and villages and will be a major step forward in helping to reach our residential energy retrofitting goals. In 2023 HAI will lobby hard to get more of our proposals accepted. In April this year, after a few false starts we had The Hardware Show, which was a major success. Our training courses were very well attended and The Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting saw its first crop of students graduate and it is now in its second year. HAI are delighted to have the sponsorship of Octabuild which underlines the commitment of Octabuild members to the sector. By year end 2022 we will have welcomed 20+ new Members and Corporate Partners to HAI. We also had a successful Study Tour of Belgium and the Netherlands which is featured in this issue. We will plan another Study Tour in 2023. Also, in this issue we feature the Homevalue and Octabuild Awards and profiles of Haldane Fisher and Soudal. As we go to press the nomination process is underway to fill two vacancies on the board of HAI. At the turn of the year, we will see the end of Michael O’Donohoe’s Presidency and the beginning of Paul Candon’s. There will be more coverage of this in our January/ February edition. For now, HAI would like to thank Michael for his leadership and dedication and congratulate Paul and wish him luck in his tenure. I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a successful winter and Christmas Trading period and to thank you for your support throughout 2022. Martin Markey Chief Executive Officer - HAI

contents

FRONT COVER: Winners Celebrated.

48

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 2009-5481

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

© 2022 All editorial contents and all advertisments prepared by the publishers and Hardware Association Ireland HAI can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributors’ articles or statements appearing in this publication and any view or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of HAI, save where indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by HAI, authors, contributors, editor or publishers. The publication of advertisements does not constitute any endorsement by HAI, authors, contributors, editor or publishers of the products advertised. Readers should take specific advice when dealing with specific situations.

news

6 Brooks Group acquires Kildare Builders Providers. 8 United Hardware host ‘United in Excellence Awards’ 2022. 12 Chadwicks Group launches new website. 14 Haldane Fisher tops in first all-island Octabuild awards for builders merchants. 17 Frank Casey, South Coast Sales – An Appreciation. 18 Portwest acquires Westaro in multi-million Euro deal. 19 Imagination meets innovation in MEDITE MDF. 20 Xtratherm will rebrand to Unilin in early 2023. 22 JD Roberts Launches Rebrand.

24 Plugging into greener power. 25 Mayo hardware MD winner at Businesswoman of the Year Awards. 26 ‘Movies from Home 2’ campaign sequel another huge success. 28 Wavin online shop customer base continues to grow. 29 CPM - Helping retailers and brands put their ‘best foot forward’. 30 Midea - Meet the new kid on the bloc! 36 Grant launches Spira Pell condensing wood pellet boiler.

regulars

3 A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Martin Markey introduces the latest issue of The Hardware Journal.

11 BUSINESS INDEX The latest Business Index Figures for Q2 2022 with year-on-year comparison. 38 CORPORATE PARTNERS A look at HAI’s corporate partners and the services they offer.

features

32 HAI STUDY TOUR A detailed look at HAI’s recent study tour to Belgium and The Netherlands.

48 UK RETAILING: STEVE COLLINGE Steve Collinge looks at how the latest UK consumer trends are suggesting good news for the trade for 2023.

50 LOCAL RETAILING IN THE USA Gina Schaefer, co-owner of ‘A Few Cool Hardware Stores’ details the importance of an exit strategy for any business.

52 A VIEW FROM EUROPE Regular contributor Thierry

Coeman explores the future of eCommerce in Europe, while looking at the latest online challenges and opportunities for SMEs.

training

40 CORPORATE PARTNER WEBINARS Earlier this year

HAI Corporate Partners presented a series of business support to HAI members.

54 2022 TRAINING ROUND-UP A look back at HAI’s bumper-packed schedule of training activities in 2022.

55 SPRING 2023 TRAINING HAI launches its Spring 2023 training schedule for hardware retailers, builders merchants and suppliers.

56 CAREERS IN HARDWARE A look at HAI’s latest activities in promoting career opportunities in the hardware industry, including attendance at careers fairs nationwide.

57 HAI CERTIFICATE IN HARDWARE RETAIL AND

MERCHANTING As 2022 comes to an end, the second

Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting reaches its half-way point.

business support

58 NOVATEL Niamh Cullen-O’Reilly from Novatel explains how their telecommunications services can help make digital communications faster, easier and more reliable.

59 DIGI SYSTEMS Colin Downey explains how their

Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) provide a time-saving and efficient solution to price changes.

60 THE DEMAND RESPONSE ASSOCIATION Siobhán

McHugh informs us how large energy users provide flexibility to help decarbonise the grid.

classifed ads 42

profles

42 STORE PROFILE: HALDANE FISHER

2022 has been a golden year for Haldane Fisher, winner of multiple accolades including the prestigious Octabuild Award for Excellence at the first all-island awards.

46 SUPPLIER PROFILE: SOUDAL IRELAND

The Hardware Journal speaks to Managing Director,

David Farrell, about how the company has grown from strength to strength each year.

46

COMMERCIAL FEATURES

61 HAND AND POWER TOOLS

General purpose tools are the most frequently utilised around the globe.

73 FASTENERS AND FIXINGS

The latest news and trends in the fasteners and fixings sector.