The Hardware Journal July/August 2023

EXTRAORDINARY PAINT for EVERY DAY LIVES

FIND YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST

Wall : Waxed Khaki in Velvet Matt Skirting : Waxed Khaki in Eggshell

at DULUXHERITAGE.IE

HAI have contracted Lionheart Management Consultants to undertake a review of the sector and of HAI. Questionnaires will have gone to all our members in/around the time this issue of The Hardware Journal (THJ) goes to press. I would ask all to respond. This will be the first major review of the sector in at least seven years and your feedback will be greatly appreciated. We will share a copy of the results.

messagefromtheCEO

We presented our Pre-Budget Submission on August 1st, https://hardwareassociation.ie/hardware-associationireland-launches-its-pre-budget-submission-2024/

The proposals contained in the document are based on conversations with members, the board, and like-minded representative associations. There are twenty-four proposals in all, and we will be lobbying to have them put into action.

Empty Homes will be a major part of that campaign.

Renowned Architect Hugh Wallace shares his insights on Empty Homes in this issue on page 30. On page 26 we share some recent insights from a survey conducted by Penneys - it shows the negative impact that empty and derelict buildings have on consumer’s attitude to shopping in towns.

Training - our full Autumn schedule is listed on page 51 and there is still time to enroll employees on the Certificate in Retail and Merchanting, see page 50. From September 1st our Education Hub will undergo a major upgrade. It will allow suppliers and merchants to interact in a much more comprehensive way on training and education programs using cutting edge Education Technology (EdTech). It will be easy to use - in a full eLearning format. Courses can be viewed 24/7 and it will also be mobile phone enabled, see page 28 for full details.

Following a successful European Study tour last year, we are planning another one for October. This time we will visit merchants in the Barcelona area. Again, we are fortunate

to be joined by Thierry Coeman as our guide. Dates to be confirmed, but most likely 17th/18th/19th October. Numbers are limited so please book your place by contacting martin@hardwareassociation.ie

As with the last edition of THJ - efficiency and productivity are in the air in this issue. There are many compelling articles on improving business from thought-leaders in Ireland, the US and mainland Europe. We begin the first in a series of three articles from Costello’s Ace Hardware looking at the challenges facing them and their strategic response to these challenges. Continuing with the US theme we cover the launch of Benjamin Moore paints by Albany Home Décor in his homeplace of Monaghan.

Booking for The Hardware Show in the RDS on the 18th and 19th of February is going apace (75% of spaces are sold)you can check out who has already booked on page 22.

Over the next few weeks, we will have to decide whether we wish to take more space at the RDS. So please book soon. We will embark on a marketing campaign in quarter four to encourage attendance.

HAI intend to visit many of our members over the next few months. Enjoy what remains of the summer and hopefully we will get to meet you in the Autumn.

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

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

features

22 THE HARDWARE SHOW 2024 A first look at the exhibitors lined up for The Hardware Show in February.

28 EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY HAI make significant investment in EdTech for the sector.

30 INTERVIEW With high profile Architect High Wallace as he talks to The Hardware Journal about building a national strategy for Empty Homes

42 LOCAL RETAILING IN THE USA Gina Schaefer reminds retailers that you need to work ON the business, not IN the business.

44 A VIEW FROM EUROPE Regular contributor Thierry Coeman talks to one of the leading DIY brands in Greece about how the country has managed to weather its financial crisis and the long-term vision of the Greek Home Improvement market.

training

50 HAI CERTIFICATE IN HARDWARE RETAIL AND MERCHANTING: Looking back at the graduating class of 2022/2023, with two students receiving special recognition for their efforts in the nine-month programme.

51 HAI TRAINING A look at HAI’s upcoming Autumn training courses, all tailored to the needs of the hardware/DIY industry, with some returning to its Dublin-based offices.

business support

52 GS1 IRELAND Sean Dennison advises readers on how leveraging barcode scanning to enable data capture can improve efficiency and drive sustainability.

53 IP TELECOM Rory J Whelan, Head of Marketing at IP Telecom demonstrates how a simple-to-use phone system can help you do business better.

36 STORE PROFILE: CALLAN CO-OP HOMEVALUE

Doubled in size and newly rebranded under the Homevalue brand, Callan Co-op’s investment exemplifies a progressive attitude and loyalty to its community and values.

40 SUPPLIER PROFILE: WAVIN

The Hardware Journal talks to Michael O’Donohoe, Country Director at Wavin, about the company’s developments over the last 65 years, and where it’s going in terms of customer service, innovation and sustainability.

46 STORE PROFILE USA: COSTELLO’S ACE HARDWARE

The Hardware Journal talks to Mike Costello, CEO of Costello’s ACE Hardware, as it celebrates 50 years in business.

COMMERCIAL FEATURES

54 BUSINESS SYSTEMS

This issue looks at the latest software developments available for businesses to improve efficiencies, connectivity, and productivity, including ERP, document management, digital trading, eCommerce, credit management, payment acceptance, security software and sales tech.

63 HEATING AND PLUMBING

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

71 A SELECTION OF CLASSIFIED ADS

DULUX HERITAGE MAKES HOMES FEEL EXTRAORDINARY

Dulux Heritage is a collection of 112 luxurious shades which combine contemporary trends with traditional craftsmanship to make everyday homes feel extraordinary.

The Heritage colour collection was crafted by colour professionals at Dulux, along with globally-renowned historical experts. Combining today’s interiors expertise and long-treasured wisdom, this palette is truly timeless.

The Heritage range is formulated with premium quality pigments that guarantee excellent depth of colour and specially blended clays for effortless application. The timeless colours are designed to look beautiful in both traditional and modern homes.

The curated collection of classic colours is available in two high-quality finishes: Velvet Matt for a soft-to-touch feel on walls and Eggshell for stunningly smooth woodwork and metal.

The most recent advertising campaign in collaboration with Interior Design influencers across The Irish Times features interviews and transformational videos showcasing each designer’s individuality and personality through their choice of colour.

Dulux Heritage will also sponsor the Interior Design Hub at The Ideal Home Show October 20th - 22nd.

Dulux Heritage, extraordinary paint for everyday lives. For more information please visit www.duluxheritage.ie

PERMABASE CEMENT BOARD - THE ONLY CEMENT BOARD YOU’LL EVER NEED

PermaBase is a lightweight Cement Board designed with both interior and exterior applications in mind. PermaBase provides an easy to work with, moisture and fire-resistant cement board that will withstand even the harshest conditions.

Suitable for a wide range of interior and exterior applications, PermaBase is ideal for use as a render receiver board or a cladding receiver board in traditional build construction as well as timber and steel frame construction. It can also be used as a tile backer board or as a dry lining board in interior fire rated partitions. Other common applications include dormer roofs and soffits.

What makes PermaBase different to traditional cement boards?

PermaBase Cement Board is a rigid substrate made of actual Portland cement, aggregate and glass mesh that provides an exceptionally hard, durable surface that can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. Lightweight and easy to install, PermaBase EdgeTech® Technology allows a closer nail or screw application.

• Lifetime Limited Warranty on PermaBase Interior Applications

• 15-Year Limited Warranty on PermaBase Exterior Applications

• Reinforced edge with EdgeTech® technology & a noncombustible A1 fire rating

• Moisture, mould, and impact resistant, extremely durable, and dimensionally stable

• Available in a variety of sizes & thicknesses

PermaBase contains no salt, so fasteners and brackets are not at risk. It’s the only board you’re customer will need for various internal and external applications keeping your stores stocking profile simple and streamlined. There will be no callbacks to fix cracked tiles or render as the board won’t crack, warp, or swell. PermaBase cement board has a non-combustible A1 rating and one and two-hour fire ratings depending on wall build-up, which is critical when meeting building fire and safety standards.

Visit www.laydex.com to find more technical details on the PermaBase product range or get in touch with the Laydex team to discuss the PermaBase merchandising options for your store: 01 642 6600

MOISTURE RESISTANT

EXTREMELY DURABLE

QUICK & EASY TO INSTALL

INTERIOR APPLICATIONS

Kitchens Flooring Bathrooms Walls

FIRE RESISTANT A1 RATING

VARIETY OF SIZES & THICKNESSES

EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS

Residential & Commercial Exteriors

Render/Cladding Receiver Board

Rainscreens Dormer Roofs

ALBANY HOME DÉCOR WELCOMES BENJAMIN MOORE PAINTS HOME

AS IT BECOMES THE BRAND’S OFFICIAL IRISH DISTRIBUTOR

North American designer paint giant Benjamin Moore is now available across Ireland as Albany Home Décor Group are announced as the official Irish distributor for the leading US paint manufacturer.

An exciting addition to Ireland’s growing paint market, Benjamin Moore is one of the leading paint manufacturers in the USA with an annual turnover in excess of $1.2billion and growing in new markets worldwide. The company was founded in Brooklyn New York in 1883 by Benjamin Moore, who emigrated from Ballybay, Co. Monaghan 10 years earlier. It has gone on to become one of North America’s best loved brands in consumer and trade markets. The official Irish launch took place recently in Monaghan, just 10 miles from Moore’s birthplace.

Renowned worldwide for its commitment to producing beautiful, high quality and performance paints, Benjamin Moore will be a welcome addition to the interiors offering in Ireland. Professionals, DIY fans and first-time painters alike can trust that inside every Benjamin Moore can is an unparalleled paint that will deliver a durable finish and long-lasting colour, an unparalleled colour palette and 140 years’ experience transforming everyday rooms into extraordinary spaces.

Speaking about the partnership, Padraic McGuinness Albany Group Development Manager commented, “Benjamin Moore

is renowned worldwide in the paint industry. We couldn’t be more excited to add it to our list of amazing brands and make it available across the Irish market through our network of member stores. The excitement from our customers is clear. The market opportunity is enhanced by many decorating professionals in Ireland already having first-hand knowledge and experience of the Benjamin Moore range and its quality from previous work in the US and Canada.”

Helen Shaw, International Director of Marketing for Benjamin Moore continued: “Working with Albany to make Benjamin Moore Paint available across the Irish market has been a really important collaboration for us. We are proud of our reputation as America’s favourite paint brand, but it has always been our dream to be stocked in Ireland. Launching first in Albany Monaghan, knowing that Benjamin Moore himself emigrated from Ballybay, just ten minutes down the road in 1883, felt like a full circle moment.”

Albany currently has 26 stores across the country, and by the end of 2023, ten Albany stores will have the full Benjamin Moore system implemented. Monaghan, Castlebar, Ennis, Limerick and Skibbereen stores are already fully operational. The experienced staff in Albany stores and the Interior Designer Network will work with the most advanced colour tools and technology to deliver colour accuracy and complementarity on an exceptionally high level.

At the launch were (L-R) Leonard Shanahan, Chairman, Albany Home Decor, Dan Calkins, CEO of Benjamin Moore & Co and Padraic McGuinness, Albany Group Development Manager. Photo Rory Geary.

At the launch also were (L-R) Cllr Cathy Bennett, Cathaoirleach, Monaghan Municipal District, Leonard Shanahan, Chairman, Albany Home Decor, Lorcan McAdam, Albany Modern Decor, Monaghan, Dan Calkins, CEO of Benjamin Moore & Co, and Bridie and Packie McAdam, Albany Modern Decor. Photo Rory Geary.

Associated Hardware (AHL) and National Hardware (NHL), two of Ireland’s leading hardware groups, have completed a longterm merger process, switching over to a single entity trading under the United Hardware company name, which served as the name for the joint venture between both companies since 2009.

The previous joint venture between these companies was established in response to an existential threat to the building supplies industry following the impact of the property crash in 2009 which decimated the construction sector.

United Hardware will continue to be led by its current Chief Executive Officer and President of Hardware Association Ireland, Paul Candon. It will now operate as a true cooperative business with the sole focus of delivering maximum value to its 115 equal shareholding members. Members will benefit more from the new cooperative structure with the majority of profits being returned to members through rebates and loyalty bonuses. Remaining profits will be reinvested into the Group to facilitate future growth and development.

The merger is expected to deliver significant operational, commercial and financial benefits to the now combined Group and its members too. It will also enable the Group to invest significantly in its Homevalue retail brand, which it plans to position as a truly national brand that is recognisable to every tradesperson and homeowner in the country.

Commenting on the completion of the merger transaction, Paul

ASSOCIATED HARDWARE AND NATIONAL HARDWARE MERGE KINGSPAN GROUP PLC ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF A MAJORITY STAKE IN STEICO SE

Kingspan Group plc is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Schramek GmbH (“Schramek”) to acquire c.51% of the shares of Steico SE (“Steico”), with an option to acquire a further c.10% of shares in Steico in the future.

Steico is the world leader in natural insulation and wood-based building envelope products, based in Germany and listed on the unofficial markets of several German Stock Exchanges. It has a very well invested asset base, with four large production sites comprising 27 lines situated in Poland and France, with additional capacity nearing completion with up to ¤200m revenue headroom.

Candon, United Hardware’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “United Hardware has outperformed the market in recent years however there is still significant unrealised potential for the business and its members. We are now on an accelerated journey to realising this full potential by leveraging the many benefits that our merger presents. Through all of this, we will consolidate our positioning as one of the market’s largest co-operative groups, but more importantly, the most attractive partner to the independent DIY and builders’ merchants, suppliers and the wider construction sector in Ireland.”

United Hardware is now planning to pursue an ambitious growth programme focussed on organic sales growth at store level, network growth and investment in digital and branding. “We are determined to protect the future sustainability of the independent sector in Ireland, and we are now in our strongest ever position to compete and grow,” added Paul.

In addition to Steico’s existing ambitious growth plans there is anticipated significant longterm leverage via the Kingspan sales channels. The existing Steico executive management team will be retained in the business and will continue to manage and develop the business. The acquisition is conditional on regulatory clearance and is expected to be completed in early 2024. Following completion, Steico will continue to maintain its listings on the German Stock Exchanges.

Gene Murtagh, Kingspan Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The acquisition of a majority stake in Steico represents an exciting next step in our strategy to provide the full spectrum of insulation products. Its suite of wood-based building envelope solutions broadens our ability to enable our customers to meet their sustainability and energy performance needs. Kingspan’s global routes to market, paired with our drive to innovate and widen the applications of Steico’s current technologies, are key to our plans to bring Steico bio-based solutions to the next level.”

Paul Candon, CEO, United Hardware. Gene Murtagh, CEO, Kingspan.

EDGES OF FAIRVIEW TO CLOSE AFTER 106 YEARS

Edge & Sons Hardware, a landmark for many passing by Fairview Strand on Dublin’s northside for more than a century, is up for sale. The shop was passed down to current owner Victor Edge through three generations of the Edge family. Victor`s grandfather Elias Edge first opened their doors on March 19th, 1917, handing over to his son Elias, Victor’s father. “It’s an emotional time for me, I’m going to miss meeting people every day, which I love,” said Victor Edge. As he nears his 77th birthday, Victor says that the time has come to take a step back from working six decades after he started full time in the shop at the age of 16. Victor recognises and thanks all their loyal customers, over many generations, of their 106 years. This includes the Edges Hardware Appreciation Society, a 900-strong Facebook group of supporters.

Edge’s successful approach to retail has always been about being understanding and being fair, and not overcharging. The shop that is older than the Irish State, has gone through many challenges including the nearby river Tolka bursting its banks in 1954, leaving much of Fairview and the surrounding area under six feet of water. The water rose to counter level height in the shop and people went past the door in boats.

TRANSFORMING VISIONS INTO STEEL REALITIES

Keyfab is a new cutting-edge structural steel design and fabrication service from Keystone Lintels that will bring the most creative and ambitious build projects to life. Whatever the nature of your build, residential or specialised, contractors and their projects can be supported by Keystone’s industry-renowned technical team.

By making Keystone Lintels a one-stop shop for steel lintels and structural steelwork, Keyfab brings industry knowledge and leading technical expertise in order to deliver a full design, fabrication and builder support package, bespoke to any project. Launched in early 2023, and currently available in Ireland, Keyfab provides a complete package of design, pricing, and fabrication services, ensuring a seamless experience for our customers. Keyfab from Keystone Lintels goes beyond just delivering steelwork by offering on-site builder support, ensuring that your project progresses smoothly.

With Keyfab, customers can access confirmation drawings, to provide a clear visual representation of the final product. All steelwork is CE marked to EN10-90 Execution Class 2, meeting the highest industry standards for quality and safety. To provide additional peace of mind, Keyfab offer full product indemnity

The shop is now up for sale and according to Victor is unlikely to continue as a hardware store. Neither of Victor`s two daughters were interested in taking over and are following their own paths in careers as a teacher and as a medical scientist. Victor has said that Edge & Sons will stay in operation until a sale of the property is finalised.

Source: The Irish Times

insurance, protecting you against unforeseen circumstances. With industry-leading technical knowledge, Keystone is able to deliver exceptional solutions for a customer’s construction needs. Discover Keyfab, https://keystonelintels.com/products/ keyfab, and look out for their brand new and soon-to-be launched Keyfab CPD. Register your interest now at info@keystonelintels.co.uk and their technical team will be in touch to take you through Keyfab’s product accreditations and certifications, plus the whole design and fabrication service.

KRAMP HAS ANNOUNCED THE ACQUISITION OF GENFITT

Kramp Group has announced the acquisition of Genfitt and it is expected that the coming together of the two businesses will strengthen their position in the Irish market. Kramp Group was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Varsseveld (The Netherlands) and is one of Europe’s largest specialist suppliers of parts and accessories for the agricultural industry. With more than 500,000 products available online, 11 distribution centres and 24 sales offices across Europe.

Genfitt was established in 1973 and has grown to be one of the largest independent wholesale suppliers of components, machinery parts and spares to the agricultural industry in Ireland. Their main office and 3000sqm warehouse is located in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo and they employ over 55 people.

Working from their distribution hub in Kiltimagh, they can dispatch orders to any part of the country within 24 hours. Kramp has a similar history, having been founded over 70 years ago by Johan Kramp in Varsseveld. It now operates in 24 countries and aims to become the essential partner in parts and accessories for the agricultural industry.

Strengthening its position in Ireland is an important next step in Kramp realising its growth ambition given the significance of the Irish agricultural industry. As part of its growth strategy, Kramp seeks strong partners with whom it can build long-term relationships and generate mutual benefits. Genfitt’s leading position in the Irish market is rooted in its commitment to service excellence, technical and market expertise, a loyal customer base and a diverse product portfolio.

The similarities between the two companies make the move a great fit. Together, they can continue to build an even stronger presence in Ireland. Their customers will gain access to a wider assortment, improved delivery times, and an additional network of suppliers, partners, technical knowledge, and services.

“We are proud of what Genfitt has achieved since the acquisition of the business in 2005 and have been delighted to support the business and its staff to its 50th anniversary”, explains Paul Duggan, one of the selling shareholders.” I am sure that Kramp is the best possible owner of the business for the next 50 years, and that the business will develop in a way which would not have been possible without Kramp’s ownership”.

“In bringing Kramp and Genfitt together, we will become the essential partner in the Irish agricultural industry,” says Kramp Group CEO Eddie Perdok. “I’m proud to be back in Ireland, 15 years after McHugh and Kramp decided to go their separate ways. Together with Genfitt, we create a strong company based on highly competent teams, leading brands, and stateof-the-art operations. We strive to accelerate Genfitt’s growth in Ireland by broadening the product portfolio and leveraging Kramp’s digital capabilities. Based on these factors, we will further develop and strengthen our market position in Ireland”.

Kramp has announced that it will be business as usual for the next period as they proceed with the integration step-by-step. They will keep their partners informed as they proceed.

NON-DOMESTIC MICROGENERATION SCHEME - OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. This technology reduces commercial electricity costs and increases security of supply, while enhancing a positive sustainability image. Grant funding is available for systems up to a maximum 1000kWp.

The recently announced improved Non-Domestic Microgeneration Scheme, operated through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is now live and available for applications. The amendments made to the scheme are aimed at extending the supports to more businesses and now include a tiered grant support for solar PV installations for sizes greater than 6 kWp up to 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity.

The new range of installation sizes will cover a significant variety of businesses, including many retailers and manufacturing facilities. An installation size of 1000 kWp equates to approximately 2,500 solar PV panels, which could be accommodated on a large factory or warehouse rooftop.

The amended Scheme is operating on an introductory basis to the end of 2023, following which it will be assessed and subject to the normal budgetary process into 2024/2025. The Scheme is now open for applications through the SEAI website.

www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/business-grantsand-supports/commercial-solar-pv/

PRODUCTS FOR ACHIEVING TOP NOTCH PATIOS, PAVING AND DRIVEWAYS

A new patio, driveway or paved area can look great when it is first laid but the effects of weather, algae growth and general use can leave it looking less than its best a few years down the line. Here, Andrew Cummins, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Thompson’s, explores the best products available to ensure your customers are provided with a long-lasting professional finish.

Our weather is unpredictable, as we all know, so it is important to protect patios, paving and driveways from its effects, including water ingress. In fact, water ingress can cause several issues and can even make patios and paved areas look like they were not laid correctly in the first place. This is because as water seeps into the substrate it can soften it and over time the surface can become uneven. Therefore, treating and protecting the surface is important, not only for maintaining the like-new appearance for longer but also for extending the life of the paving materials.

To achieve this, consumers and trade professionals should use a specially formulated patio and block paving seal, designed to enhance and protect paved areas. Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Seal is a solvent-based acrylic resin solution, which protects surfaces from weathering, resists moss and algae growth, prevents dirt staining and makes the area easier to clean. It can also be used to protect a wide range of materials including block paving, flagstones, sandstone, limestone and granite.

Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Seal is touch dry in approximately one hour and can be recoated after four hours. The surface can also be walked on four hours after the topcoat has dried and can accept heavy traffic after just 24 hours.

What’s more, for customers that require safety protection, you can mix Thompson’s Patio & Block Paving Anti Slip Additive into the block paving seal before it is applied to ensure excellent slip resistance.

Sealing patios is not just for newly laid surfaces. Older patios and paving that are still in generally good condition can be renovated using a combination of a specially formulated cleaner and a paving seal.

A high-quality cleaner, such as Thompson’s Advanced Patio & Block Paving Cleaner, can be used to remove ingrained dirt, mould and algae. There are also cleaners for removing oil, grease and fuel staining from paving or driveways: Thompson’s Oil & Drive Cleaner.

Another product that is useful to have in stock for your customer’s renovation projects is a cleaner for brick and garden walls. Products such as Thompson’s Advanced Brick & Mortar Cleaner effectively removes mortar stains, limescale and efflorescence to restore the appearance of walls. It can be used at different concentrations depending on the degree of stain removal required. For example, for light staining the cleaner can be diluted in 10 parts water, and for heavier staining it can be used in equal parts water and cleaner.

Cleaning and protecting hard landscaping materials from the effects of weather and staining is essential for a longlasting finish. Choosing high quality products from a trusted manufacturer will help tradespeople and consumers ensure a professional finish on every job, whether on new build or renovation work.

To find out more about Thompson’s and its wide range of cleaning and waterproofing products visit: www.thompsonsweatherproofing.co.uk

WATERPROOFING SEALING, BRICKWORK OR PAVING BRING IT ON!

For over 40 years, Thompson’s has been paving the way when it comes to water-based waterproofing products – and was the first to develop water-based water seals. Advances in water-based technology mean the Thompson’s range of products can deliver the tough, long-lasting protection needed for a professional finish.

For more info visit thompsonsweatherproofing.co.uk

CHADWICKS GROUP RAISES €60,000 FOR FIVE IRISH CHARITIES

Chadwicks Group has raised ¤60,000 for five Irish charities by taking on the Four Peaks Challenge. In total, 32 colleagues took part in the fundraising efforts between 18th - 21st May.

A 17-strong team made up of Chadwicks Group colleagues from across the country tackled all Four Peaks, climbing Slieve Donard in Co. Down, Carrauntoohil in Co. Kerry, Mweelrea in Co. Mayo, and Lugnaquilla in Co. Wicklow in one weekend. 15 additional colleagues joined the challenge for the final peak at Lugnaquilla. The funds raised will be split between the five charities which were chosen with great care by teams in each region. The charities selected are:

• Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) provides nationwide assisted living services, community centres in every county, and campaigns for equal opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

• Pieta House provides free specialised treatment programmes for people who have suicidal ideation or participate in selfharming behaviours, as well as support for families affected.

• IMNDA is the only organisation of its kind which provides care and support to people with Motor Neuron disease, their families, friends and caregivers.

• Purple House is Ireland’s community-based cancer support centre, which provides free professional support and psychooncology services to those affected by cancer.

• Mayo Autism Camp provides socially inclusive activities for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

Supporting the fundraising efforts, a number of sponsors included Cedral, Glennon Brothers, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kilsaran, Mannok, Murray Timber Group and Whiteriver.

Patrick Atkinson, CEO of Chadwicks Group, said: “The team’s efforts were incredible, and we exceeded our fundraising targets by ¤10,000, which will go a long way in supporting our five chosen charities. We have a long and proud history of working with and donating to charities who help some of the most vulnerable communities in Ireland. On behalf of Chadwicks Group, I’d like to congratulate and thank all 32 employees who went above and beyond in their efforts over the weekend.”

MINISTERS COVENEY AND RICHMOND LAUNCH RETROFIT STANDARDS COLLECTION

Ministers Simon Coveney and Neale Richmond have recently launched a new collection of standard recommendations compiled by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) to guide the efforts of professionals in the sector to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and efficient building upgrades. The collection includes clear guidelines around heat pump systems, solar photovoltaic micro-generators, conventional heating systems and solar thermal systems, when being installed in the home, and include:

• S.R. 50-1 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 1:

Water based heating systems in dwellings

• S.R. 50-2 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 2:

Thermal solar systems

• S.R. 50-4 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 4:

Heat pump systems in dwellings

• S.R. 55 – Solar photovoltaic micro-generators for dwellings

– Design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney T.D. commented: “This launch is about recognising the importance of standards in retrofitting

and the impact that these standards can have in meeting key Government targets around sustainability in the construction sector. Supporting the uptake of retrofitting plays a role in a number of different commitments from the Programme for Government in relation to housing, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and supporting enterprise in Ireland.” Minister of State with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, Neale Richmond T.D. also noted the importance of this new retrofit collection saying: “Building Better Business events are designed to help your business to navigate the green journey and boost your performance. Many businesses aspire to excellence in their work but may be unsure about how to get there. This collection of standards from NSAI provides a clear and reliable pathway for businesses in the construction sector, enabling them to confidently deliver high-quality retrofit installations to their customers. By adopting this collection of standard recommendations, businesses in the retrofit sector can ensure excellence in their services, to the benefit of both themselves and their clients.” Further information about the work of NSAI in supporting Irish industry is available at www.nsai.ie

HEAT MERCHANTS LAUNCH A NEW BRAND

Heat Merchants are launching a new brand called Bathroom Merchants to provide trade customers with a complete bathroom and showering product range. This new brand trades from the established network of 31 branches and uses the company’s established warehouse and logistics infrastructure to offer customers an unrivalled service. A wide range of stock is available for collection or delivery immediately from the local branches with an extended range available from their central warehouse as soon as the next day.

Bathroom Merchants have a wide range of exclusive products manufactured to order to their exacting specifications and as they also provide extended warranty and aftersales service, installers and homeowners can be assured of complete support in the event of any issues arising. Additional or specialised product ranges are also available with a lead time from the network of supplier brands including Mira, Bristan, Ideal Standard, Salgar, Trojan and more. A wide range of accessible bathroom solutions are also available to meet the growing needs of this sector of the market.

The process of renovating the Heat Merchants branch network is well underway and this will see the introduction of displays for Bathroom Merchants into most of the 31 branches by the end of the year. The shower and bathroom product range and catalogue are available at www.heatmerchants.ie

MANNOK WINS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING AWARD

Mannok has won the Operational Excellence in Manufacturing category at this year’s Operational Excellence Awards, a prestigious awards programme, held annually in Dublin, to recognise and reward individuals, teams and organisations who have made a commitment to achieving operational excellence and business transformation. Over 60 organisations were finalists in 20 award categories and Mannok was up against six other high performing businesses in the category that it won.

Operational Excellence (OpEx) is an approach to business management that emphasises continuous improvement across all aspects of the business and within all business processes by creating a culture where management and employees are invested in business outcomes and empowered to implement change.

Mannok has been working towards operational efficiency since January 2022, following the launch of the Mannok Leading Excellence Programme, its operational excellence strategy. It was the rollout of this strategy, a transferable framework based on four core pillars of Lean, Sustainability, Skills and Development and Continuous Improvement, and employee receptiveness to the programme, which helped the company achieve this OpEx award.

Within the Operational Excellence in Manufacturing category, the judges were looking for a manufacturing business that has used operational excellence as a critical driver to ensure processing and manufacturing efficiency, that there was a reduction in down-time, that product quality had increased or maintained and that there were cost savings for the business.

When Mannok was announced as the winner of this category, at the awards ceremony on the 15th of June in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dublin, the judge’s comments were presented;

“The excellent and progressive work around Operational Excellence in Mannok grabbed the panel’s attention, with a great Lean and Continuous Improvement programme under pinning all the work and effort that is being put in by the team. This company is taking clear steps to make its operational vision a reality and is a very worthwhile winner in this very competitive category. Congratulations to everyone at Mannok.”

Some of the notable achievements to date from the work of the Mannok OpEx team include:

• Through the Skills Development Programme over 1000 key processes have been reviewed, standardised and developed into video training, within its Packaging, Roof Tiles, PIR Insulation and Bagged Cement facilities, to create standardised, safer ways of working.

• Over 320 staff at all levels of the business have completed Lean training. The training ranges from in-house foundation level to QQI accredited Level 9 awards.

• An automated card swiping process for drivers at the company’s weighbridge has reduced weigh in time by circa 75%.

• Through the implementation of preventative maintenance and problem-solving training to employees, the amount of downtime across Mannok’s facilities has significantly reduced and over the last 12 months the plant availability has increased by 16%. All unplanned stoppages are now tagged and investigated, with actions assigned to help mitigate the chances of the issue arising again.

Commenting on Mannok’s OpEx Team’s work to date and how this award is an excellent representation of not only their work but everyone’s across the business, Operations Director, Kevin Lunney, said, “The implementation of OpEx is underway in four of eight manufacturing facilities and associated support functions across our business, with performance already yielding significant improvements. As we improve process and efficiencies across the business while aiming for best-in-class standards, we are benefiting the business, our customers and our people.

It was a very proud moment for the company to be recognised along with some of the most successful businesses across the country. It was also a very proud moment, when Conor Baxter, our Operational Excellence Manager, was awarded Operations Manager of the Year. On behalf of the whole company, I’d like to commend Conor and thank him for all his work.”

The Operations Manager / COO of the Year award was the only individual award of the evening and the judges were looking for an individual who had an exceptional contribution to the success of their organisation. There were nine people shortlisted with the overall winner being, Conor Baxter Operational Excellence Manager at Mannok.

For more visit mannokbuild.com or follow on LinkedIn or Twitter @mannokbuild.

Adam Kane, Senior Sales Executive at Business River, presents the Operational Excellence in Manufacturing Award to Conor Baxter, Operational Excellence Manager at Mannok, and Paul Melanophy, Business Change Manager at Mannok.

Jessica Minghinelli, Operational Excellence Awards Judge, presents the Operations Manager / COO of the Year award to Conor Baxter, Operational Excellence Manager at Mannok.

MANDATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS OF DIISOCYANATES

Diisocyanates are essential building blocks of polyurethanes, a plastic material used in a multitude of everyday objects and applications. It is the material of choice for a broad range of end-user applications such as insulation, adhesives, sealants and coatings.

The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation EC/1907/2006 aims to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. On the 4th August 2020 the EU adopted a new restriction (Entry 74 of REACH) Annex XVII) on the placing on the market and use of diisocyanates; which impacts professional and industrial users. All professional and industrial users of diisocyanates must undertake adequate training before use as from 24th August 2023. See substances restricted under REACH - ECHA (europa.eu).

Labelling & SDS Obligations

Products sold within the EU, including Ireland, with a total monomeric Diisocyanate concentration greater than 0.1%, intended for professional or industrial use, must have had the statement below on the product container label by 24th February 2022:

“As from 24th August 2023, adequate training is required before industrial or professional use of this product”. This sentence should be visibly distinct from the rest of the label information and should appear in the ‘Other Information section’ of the Safety Data Sheet.

Mandatory training requirements

Professional and industrial users of Diisocyanates will be responsible for ensuring the undertaking and completion of training both for themselves and their employees. The training is mandatory and may be given online. Training and certification, which involves passing an examination, must be completed by 24 August 2023, or prior to use thereafter. Renewal of the training will be necessary every five years and records of the training given to employees must be maintained by employers. There are three levels of training corresponding to the different levels of risk. Each individual’s required training content will therefore depend upon the level of risk to which they are exposed.

Do Retailers have to inform their customers about training?

The legal text specifies that information on how to access the training courses should be communicated throughout the supply chain and it is the responsibility of the operators placing the substances and mixtures on the market to ensure that training courses are available to the recipients of such substances or mixtures.

The retailer should contact their supplier (distributor, formulator or importer) to help identify products affected by this restriction and inform the supply chain of products that contain the substance and require training.

While suppliers are responsible only for informing users of the need for the training, they are not responsible for training workers. No confirmation from the users to the retailers regarding the receipt of the information is required. Retailers must convey to their customers, information received from suppliers.

Do you need to train your sales, administrative and warehouse employees?

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) recommend that retailers raise awareness on the requirement for training on this restriction with their sales staff. It is recommended that you compile an inventory of all Diisocyanate containing products that you sell along with details of the relevant training courses available to ensure that all sales staff are made aware of this labelling along with the provision of training materials requirements.

The HSA would advise staff to inform professional/trade account holders of the training requirements prior to any future sale transactions.

For further details and training options see: Safe use of Diisocyanates - Homepage (safeusediisocyanates.eu)

For any queries relating to the safe supply, use and management of chemicals, you can contact the Health and Safety Authority - chemicals helpdesk on chemicals@hsa.ie or by calling 0818 289 389. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 3:00pm.

VARO’S POWERPLUS POWX PRODUCT LINE

Varo’s Powerplus line was created to provide a solution for any type of budget or project, from light to heavy-duty or professional. It consists of several product ranges, made up of a wide array of electric, battery- and petrol-powered gardening and power tools. The various product ranges each represent a different quality level and they have been made easily recognisable to consumers because of the distinctive colours used for each range.

“Today, we at Varo are proud to introduce our yellow X-line”, says Jeroen Nys, CEO of Varo. POWX is a range developed for the seasoned DIYer, encompassing a wide array of power maintenance and garden tools for frequent and more intensive use. In addition, the POWX line also carries a selection of more specialised tools, such as bench drills, drywall sanders, dust and chip collectors, and welding machines.

At Varo, they always keep in mind that DIYing should be fun and comfortable, which is why the POWX tools were designed ergonomically to ensure plenty of user comfort.

Whether your customer is in search of tools for drilling, sanding, sawing, polishing, grinding, woodworking, cleaning, or anything else, with the wide variety within the Powerplus X product line, it’s guaranteed they’ll find the tool they need.

Varo always strive to offer high-quality products with a long lifespan. However, should something go wrong, Varo’s partnership with Tooltech https://tooltechltd.com/, located here in Ireland is key to ensure their customers are covered with a five-day turnaround.

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

CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS SKILLNET LAUNCHES ITS DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION PACK

Dr. Clare Eriksson, Director of Build Digital, with PJ Rudden, Chairman of Construction Sector Innovation and Digital Adoption at Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform recently launched the Construction Professionals Skillnet Digital Construction Pack.

The aim of the guide is to bring the uninitiated reader logically through the pre-construction and delivery of construction projects using digital technology. The contents are clearly marked to make it easy to dip in and out of the sections as they are relevant. There are four main sections, other than the introduction and context of the guide. These are:

• First steps in going digital

• Digital construction starter pack

• Standards, policies and guides

• Bidding for project delivery

There are handy checklists throughout and links to numerous resources to help construction companies put the best foot forward in their digital journey.

Dr. Eriksson welcomed the pack, saying “This pack is an important piece in any company’s toolbox on their digital journey. It is comprehensive and relevant to all companies, no matter their stage of digital development”.

“The use of digital technology is central to productivity gains in the construction sector and it is great to see the Construction Professionals Skillnet and CIF support the use

and understanding of technology to enable its adoption”, commented PJ Rudden.

Twitter: @CPSkillnet | Linkedin: Construction Professionals

Skillnet. For Further Information Contact: Liz Carroll cpskillnet@cif.ie / +353 86 932 3749

Please click here for the pack Digital-Construction-Pack-10Digital-Compressed.pdf (cpskillnet.ie)

L to R - PJ Rudden, Chairman of Construction Sector Innovation and Digital Adoption at Dept of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Dr. Clare Eriksson, Director of Build Digital, Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland and Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director General, CIF.

INTREO FOR EMPLOYERS

Intreo is the Irish Public Employment Service and a company’s single point of contact for all employment and income supports. Designed for a streamlined approach, Intreo offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for both jobseekers and employers. It is part of the Department of Social Protection.

What does it offer you as an employer?

As an employer, Intreo services can help provide you with supports for:

• Recruitment: help you get the right employees

• Accessibility: help you adapt your business and workplace, so everyone can participate

• Financial grants: help you grow your business

They also have Employer Engagement Teams that work in Intreo centres nationwide to support companies through all stages of the recruitment process. These include:

• Advertising your vacancies for free,

• Matching you with the best candidates,

• Scheduling and providing facilities where necessary

• Organising Job Fairs

• A dedicated Key Account Manager can also work with you to help you meet your current and future staffing needs.

To find an Intreo employer engagement contact, please email employer@welfare.ie

Reasons magazine advertising works

The Hardware

You’re sitting in a reception area and spot some trade magazines on an adjoining table .Do you put down the phone, pick one up and get immediately drawn in? Of course! Even in this digital age, magazines are very much alive and kicking. Magazine advertising offers benefits that no other media can deliver, providing an outstanding showcase for products and services. Particularly in the Building Materials, Hardware / DIY Sector, the visual can be all-important. Readers want to see the products and the results, not on a tiny smartphone screen, but in larger print format. People still love their magazines. And it’s the specialist publications that are doing the best of all. But with more media channels vying for attention than ever before, ensuring your magazine advertising stands out, works hard for you and delivers your message clearly and compellingly, is vitally important.

Every marketing communication is your calling card and reputations are easily won and lost depending on the quality of your advertising. So, it’s vital to choose your publication wisely (think of them as your partner in promoting your brand) and be sure your advertising is a quality production - professional, engaging and motivating. We are also asked by our advertisers to provide a steer on best practice in trade magazine advertising. But before we even get to that point in the conversation, they want to know why this traditional medium still matters as part of the marketing mix. We will get to best practice in the next issue.

So, here are eight compelling reasons for choosing trade magazine advertising.

1. Stand-out

Magazines allow brands to stand apart in an overcrowded digital market and create lasting, memorable engagement. Magazines give you the option to place your ad in an environment that entices your readers and says the right things about your company. Profile and Prestige!

2. Flexible

Your printed content can still be repurposed in digital channels to reach a broader audience: on your website, as e-advertising, as pop-ups or display ads on search engine pages, or on any specialist sites your customers use, as part of your overall brand strategy.

3. Staying power

Magazines are typically kept around for a long time. One single magazine left in a reception area can generate valuable repeat exposure. Particularly for specialist/trade publications, readers will

collect and keep a library of reference magazines, extending their shelf life. An ad placed today will reach people months from now, which can’t be said for all media channels, where the ad and the information can be fleeting.

4. Safety

We’ve all become a bit wary of the internet, following advice not to click on pop up or banner advertising, unless from a trusted source, due to the proliferation of malware viruses and scams. But consumers have nothing to fear by reading your print ad.

5. Space to read

Nobody likes pushy advertising messages intruding on their space and time. With print, your potential customer can choose if and when and how to read your message, and this makes them more relaxed and receptive.

Sure, many customers spend a lot of time online, but most readers only scan a website for 15-20 seconds before moving on! But there is something about settling down with a magazine, scanning through and deciding what to read and when, and in the process, seeing your ad several times before actually reading it.

6. Precision and reach

Magazines allow for highly targeted advertising, so your budget is used only to reach the people who are interested in your offer. Your own captive audience of interested potential customers. The publisher will have detailed data on customer profiles to help you choose not only the right publication, but also the right issue and even placement within the magazine.

7. Brand Recognition

Advertise in a reputable, high profile national magazine, and readers instantly become familiar with your company. This recognition is reinforced when this audience meets you in person, at your place of business, or a trade show or networking event. In time brand recognition becomes brand loyalty.

8. Credibility

Print magazines are highly valued and respected publications that build a sense of community among readers. Many people turn to these trusted publications as their main source of information and advice. Advertisers can greatly benefit from this credibility when their ads are viewed not as ads but as recommendations from a trusted source. This trust, combined with innovation in design and delivery, will continue to make magazines and attractive proposition for brands well into the future.

At

Journal (THJ) we are often asked about the advantages of Trade Magazine Advertising and, how to get the best out of it. There are many books and articles written on this subject. Here are some of our thoughts.

DEANTA DESIGNS, MANUFACTURES, & PRODUCES THE FINEST INTERIOR DOORS

A 100% Irish-owned company, led by Neil and Paul Fitzgibbon. Deanta designs, manufactures, and produces some of the finest interior doors and related products, for the Irish and UK markets and is now one of the largest interior door producers in those markets.

Deanta produces FSC approved real wood veneer doors. They also produce their own range of door frames, skirting & architrave, wall panelling and they complement this with their own range of door ironmongery.

Deanta is driven by three simple ideals;

1. Delivering a quality product at a competitive price

2. Excellence in all aspects of customer service

3. Continue to innovate, develop and lead in the field of interior doors, including certified fire doors and acoustic doors.

Quality: Deanta owns and runs its own manufacturing facility. This enables the company to innovate and deliver what the customer wants, in a world where customer demands and ever- changing trends are the norm. Owning the entire process from conception to the arrival of the product on the shop floor, means they control the quality assurance from design to delivery. The company strive to ensure that the quality of their products is setting the standard for the market. Owning their own manufacturing facility also provides the agility for them to make in bulk or to make to order, with bespoke orders being produced with the same time efficiency as their published range.

Customer Service: Deanta’s customers are the lifeblood of their business. They want to have loyal customers by providing best- in-class customer service. 90% of their customers are served by a bi-weekly delivery run from their warehouses in Tralee, Co. Kerry, and Clondalkin in Dublin. Also, from Cambridgeshire and Haydock in the UK.

Deanta has a team of almost 200 people in Ireland and the UK serving their customer’s needs and every customer query is handled as if they are dealing with their only customer. Deanta believes in developing long-term relationships with their customers, and underpinning this is the expansion of their customer care team. Déanta now have a team of field representatives, complementing their internal sales team, covering all of their customer locations. This allows the customer to always be supported.

Design and Innovation: Deanta has created a range of beautifully crafted stylish interior doors, in oak, walnut, white primed, light grey ash, and satin black, together with a selection of FD30 and FD60 Fire Doors. The innovative design has set the standard for modern contemporary internal

doors, while maintaining the quality and safety standards their customer’s demand. All Deanta fire doors are tested to the European standard EN 1634 – 1.

Deanta has over 20 years of experience built up in the industry. This experience enables them to continually evolve a product that sets the industry best in class standards and creates future standards to meet the requirements of industry professionals and the general public.

For more information please email: sales@deantadoors. ie, call: +353 (0) 66 71 94828, www.deantadoors.ie and addresses at Curraheen, Dingle Rd, Tralee, Kerry V92 EH6E & Unit 2 Cloverhill Ind Est, Clondalkin, Dublin D22 VP70.

The Hardware Show

THE HARDWARE SHOW

After such a successful show in 2022, it’s no surprise that over 75% of stand space is already booked for next year’s show which is set to sell out quickly. Over 97% of exhibitors from the 2022 show where either satisfied or very satisfied with their participation reporting the show the most cost effective way to launch new products into the market and meet new and existing customers.

Some of the key brands and suppliers that have already confirmed their participation include;

Arc Building Products

Ard Ri Group

Axus Decor Ltd

Blaklader Workwear LTD

BMW Agencies Ltd t/a

Synergi Futureproofing Solutions

Bobby

Bolle Safety

Bostik

BW Hardware Ltd

Camsaw

Colm Warren Polyhouses

Combilift

Coolrain Sawmills Ltd

Credit Risk Brokers

Dargan Tools

Dosco

Draper Tools Ireland Ltd

DS Supplies Ltd

Dulux

ECC Timber

EDE International AG

Elite Fence

Expert Hardware Group

Feedwell Dog Food

Fleetwood Paints

Galco

Glennon Brothers Ltd.

Graf Ireland

Growmoor, Better Growing

Guardian Distribution

Henkel Ltd

Hultafors Group Ireland

IITC

Intact Software

Irish Cement Limited

JB Key Ltd

Jefferson Professional Tools & Equipment

John Stafford & Sons (Dublin) Limited

Joseph Murphy (Ballina)

Kärcher Ireland Ltd

Kerridge Commercial Systems

Kilsaran

Knauf Insulation

Looking back at The Hardware Show in 2022 it was not only the suppliers who enjoyed the event, our research over the two days showed that 85% of the visitors also plan to return next year. Much more than just a trade exhibition, The Hardware Show will also host the Presidents Ball and the much anticipated 2024 Innovation Awards.

Laydex Building Solutions

Liffey Distributors Ltd

Locks and Hardware

Luceco Group

Magico Software Ltd

Mark John Ltd

Mascot Workwear

International Limited

McLoughlins RS

O’Neill Wholesale

Origo

Ox Tools

Pipelife Ireland Solutions Ltd

Portwest

PVC Fabrications Ltd

Radius Wholesale

Readydoor

Regatta Professional

Reisser Crate Mate

Reisser Ireland

René Innovations

RESTO

Rhino Distribution

Safety Solutions Limited

Saint-Gobain

Seadec

Shop Equipment Ltd

Sika Ireland Ltd

Solus Lightbulbs

Soudal Ltd T/A Seal Systems

Ireland

South Coast Sales

Sterling Safety Workwear

Storefit Shopfitters Ltd

Tec7 – Contech Building

Products

The Sanbra Group

Timco

Unilin Flooring

Unilin Insulation

Uppercross Enterprises

Limited

Vendek Ltd t/a Powerline

Vink Holdings Ltd t/a Access

Plastics Ltd

Wavin Ireland Ltd

Whiteriver Group

To book your stand today to exhibit at The Hardware Show

2024 - RDS Simmonscourt - February 18th and 19th 2024, please contact:

Margaret Andreucetti, Sales Manager

Phone: +353 (0) 1 846 0020

Mobile: +353 (0) 86 0554181

Mail: margaret.andreucetti@eventhaus.ie

Web: www.thehardwareshow.ie

HAIGS PRESIDENT’S PRIZE

It had been a while since the golf society had visited Munster and Monkstown GC in particular, but it won’t be as long again before we return if those attending have any say in the matter. Great support was received from members at our HAIGS President, Tom O`Connor’s Day at Monkstown GC which was kindly sponsored yet again by Toolbank Ireland. The course was in excellent condition and we were received with great courtesy by the golf and catering staff on the day, our sincere thanks go to them. In welcoming everyone to the

event, our society President and Cork native Tom O’Connor thanked all those attending for their support especially those who travelled a long distance. He also took the opportunity of recognising and thanking Donal Moulton, Sales Director of Toolbank Ireland, on his retirement and thanking him for his and Toolbank Ireland`s many years of support of the golf society and wishing him well in this new stage of his career. Tom also congratulated all the winners on the day.

HARDWARE ASSOCIATION IRELAND GOLF SOCIETY

Friday 31st July - Monkstown Golf Club

OVERALL

First place David Bolger

43 points handicap 23

Second place Paddy Brady 42 points handicap 24

Third Place William Wallace 41 points handicap 24

CLASS 1

First place John Phelan 37 points handicap 12

Second place Martin Rowe 36 points handicap 08

CLASS 2

First place James Wallace 39 points handicap 26

Second place PJ Gunn 37 points handicap 21

CLASS 3

First place William Dixon 36 points handicap 38

Second place Michael Kane 35 points handicap 41

LADIES PRIZES

First place Collette Cuddy 39 points handicap 60

Second place Una Bolger 38 points handicap 62

Third place Kathleen Lynch 38 points handicap 24

Mens Winner David Bolger accepting his first prize from HAIGS President Tom O’Connor.

Class 2 Winner James Wallace receiving his prize from Donal Moulton, Sponsor, Toolbank Ireland.

Ladies Winner Collette Cuddy receiving her first prize from HAIGS President Tom O’Connor.

Class 1 second place Martin Rowe accepting his prize from Donal Moulton, Sponsor, Toolbank Ireland.

Ladies second place Una Bolger receiving her prize from Donal Moulton, Sponsor, Toolbank Ireland.

HAIGS President Tom O’Connor presenting Donal Moulton with a token of appreciation on his retirement for his generous support of the golf society over many years.

Class 1 Winner John Phelan receiving his prize from Donal Moulton, Sponsor, Toolbank Ireland.

HAIGS CAPTAIN’S PRIZE

Although an overcast day, the golf society had great support from members at our Captain Kieran Burke’s Day at Mount Wolseley, kindly sponsored as it has been for many years by Irish Abrasives. The course was in excellent condition and we received a great welcome from the golf and catering staff on the day, our sincere thanks go to them. In welcoming everyone to the event, Kieran Burke thanked all those attending for their support especially to the largest number of ladies playing for many years. He also encouraged current members to invite their trade colleagues and friends to the remaining outing. Congratulations to all our winners and of course thanks again to Irish Abrasives for their continued support which is very much appreciated.

A reminder that the Committee have arranged an extra team event for September as there will be no overseas tour in 2023. We are working on an overseas tour for 2024 and will let you know the details as soon as they are available.

The September Team Event details are below;

Overnight team event in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Co. CavanFriday September 15th and Saturday the 16th 2023; Two nights B&B & two rounds of golf plus one evening meal on Friday 15th, at Drumree Manor, kindly hosted by Jim & Collette Cuddy (a bus has been arranged to and from the hotel) and a second evening meal in the club house on Saturday 16th September. ¤329 per person sharing or ¤419 for single. Golf Friday From 10.30am & Golf Saturday From 12.40pm (Times may vary). The Event is very kindly sponsored by Fleetwood Paints, Irish Abrasives and Wavin Ireland.

Please book your room directly with Aine McCluskey, Golf Administrator, Slieve Russell.

Tel: 049 9525093 Fax: 049 9526474

Email: Aine.McCluskey@slieverussell.ie

HARDWARE ASSOCIATION IRELAND GOLF

Friday 30th June - Mount Wolseley Golf Club

3

SOCIETY

First place William Dixon 38 points handicap 38

Second place James Wallace 34 points handicap 26

Third Place Michael Kane 39 points handicap 29

LADIES PRIZES

First place Kathleen Lynch 36 points handicap 21

Second place Breda Phelan 32 points handicap 14

Third place Aine Parkes 30 points handicap 31

Mens Winner Jimmy O`Neill accepting his first prize from HAIGS Captain Kieran Burke.

Class 2 Winner William Wallace receiving his prize from Jim Cuddy, Irish Abrasives, Sponsor.

Kathleen Lynch receiving her first prize from HAIGS Captain Kieran Burke.

Class 3 Winner William Dixon accepting his prize from Jim Cuddy, Irish Abrasives, Sponsor.

Jim Cuddy, Irish Abrasives sponsor presenting Past Captains Winner PJ Gunn with his prize.

Ladies who played at the Hardware Association Ireland Golf Society Captain Kieran Burke’s Day at Mount Wolseley - Back Row L-R Aine Parkes, Bridie Webb, Brianan Kingham, Dolores Colman, Marian Kelly, Brid Gunn, Patricia O`Shea, Mary Grennan. Seated L-R Collette Cuddy, Kathleen Lynch and Breda Phelan.

Class 1 Winner Captain Kieran Burke receiving his prize from Jim Cuddy, Irish Abrasives, Sponsor.

EMPTY HOMES RESEARCH

Empty/derelict buildings

Local Shops/businesses closing down

Anti-social behaviour

Local bank/post office closures

Little/no access to non grocery shops

Little/no access to public transport Little access to GPs/medical services

access

In the most recent Pulse of the Nation Index – undertaken by Amárach on behalf of Penneys, the research shows that “going to town” is alive and well and consumers want to spend time and money in their local town. 79% prefer to shop locally when they can while 86% believe that busy town centres are vital for the health of the local economy.

However, the research does reflect some of the real challenges that exist in many regional towns with people expressing concerns around derelict buildings (57%), businesses closing down (51%) and anti-social behaviour (41%) ranking as the top three issues in their area or town.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BUSINESS WASTE

MyWaste Ireland has produced a guide to give businesses in Ireland the information they need to implement good waste management practices in their business or workplace. MyWaste say that it is essential for businesses to manage waste in accordance with the law. By doing so, they are likely to save their business money. They will also protect the environment for future generations, embrace the circular economy and help Ireland tackle climate change. In the guide businesses will find out how to:

• Identify and eliminate any excess waste produced by your business

• Recognise items that can be segregated for composting and recycling

• Manage specific waste streams

There are many environmental benefits to good waste management. By segregating recyclable and compostable

material, businesses are helping to extend its life cycle as a valuable resource. There are also many business benefits that can be achieved by good waste management, including:

• Economic competitiveness

• Improved resource management

• Potential cost reductions through improved efficiency

• Improving your company’s green credentials

• Giving a clear commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and enhancing your corporate image

• Increased awareness of environmental legislation.

Find out more about How to Manage your Business Waste here at www.mywaste.ie

BELLOTA TOOLSTIMELINE AND LATEST NEWS

In April 2019 Bellota opened their doors to their first sales and customer service office in Ireland.

In January 2022 Bellota enhanced their success by providing a full install and ongoing merchandising service to all their customers.

In July 2023 Bellota announced their partnership with Tooltech https://tooltechltd.com/ as their first official technical and repair centre, located here in Ireland and covering the UK. Les Ashley, Head of Sales says, “The reality is that machines will break down, even the best of them and at some stage service and spare parts are needed. We are now very well positioned to provide the best aftersales service at all times. Our partnership with Tooltech ensures that all our Bellota power tool customers are in safe hands”.

Inigo Alaba, Bellota’s Export Manager says “We are delighted with our partnership with Tooltech. Tooltech has a highly experienced technical support team offering all our customers a service which includes under guaranteed claims resolved within five days. All spare parts ordered can be delivered within 48 hours of our customers’ orders”. Inigo also says “Ireland is an extremely important market for Bellota. Globally,

we have always prided ourselves on going the full distance for our customers and this is just another way we are able to demonstrate our serious commitment”.

Bellota prepares to open another safety footwear factory plant in La Rioja, Spain.

Bellota manufactures some of the best tools and safety footwear in the world and has opened an additional plant factory, specifically for safety footwear in Spain. This brings the total count of Bellota’s manufacturing plants to fifteen world-wide. This factory has been built to ensure they can meet increasing European demand. Les Ashley says “Bellota recognises that safety regulations are getting tougher and are enforced more than ever before. This means requirements for higher quality safety wear is on the increase. Building owners and builders are always looking for ways to make their job easier, faster and safer and where else to start than with what they are wearing on-site”.

HAI make significant investment in EdTech for the Sector

In the May/June issue of The Hardware Journal we discussed the EdTech journey of Fleetwood Paints and Uppercross Enterprise Ltd. In this issue, we present how Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) are investing in Education Technology (EdTech). In this article, Susan Madden of South East College speaks with Jim Copeland about how HAI will respond to Education Technology in 2023!

Jim, how important do HAI see EdTech as a response to continuous training and development of those employed in the Hardware & Building Materials sector?

Several challenges face the sector, one of which is recruitment, retention and training of staff. Ireland is currently at 100% employment leading to difficulty filling vacancies in most counties nationwide. This has a knock-on effect on the training and development of existing employees. Employers can’t get cover for their staff to attend training to up-skill and cross-skill. There is also a difficulty for new employees, when they are found, whose only way to learn is by getting thrown in at the deep end! “Job readiness” is a critical requirement where employees can be productive immediately on employment. “Job readiness” is now more important than ever, particularly for the employer. Having an employee with basic training in Health & Safety, Selling Skills and Product Knowledge Skills brings immediate value to the organisation.

How will HAI respond to this need?

During the global pandemic, we saw education go “online” from primary school education to third level and everything in between. We at HAI saw our own courses go online. Going “online” had many benefits; However, one very important one

was “access”. The use of technology meant learners from all corners of the country could access education without any barriers. So, in late 2022, we began exploring a systematic approach to utilising technology to deliver and manage education to the sector. This led us to partner with QedON (Quality Education Online) and make a significant investment in our own Learner Platform, The Hardware Education Hub.

What will the HAI response look like?

The Hardware Education Hub will have four main streams of learning. They will be Management Skills, Product Knowledge Courses, Accredited Retail Skills Courses and Health & Safety Courses. These will be in eLearning format. eLearning means the courses are “evergreen”; available 24/7/365 to the learner and can be completed on a mobile phone/ PC and outside core working hours. eLearning is very different to online courses. Online means the course is delivered at a fixed time, where learners join a virtual classroom. Whereas with eLearning, the course is built using teaching software, with voice, images, videos and multiple learner

onscreen activities. Learners interact with the various onscreen activities, complete knowledge tests and a final course assessment. Once a learner successfully completes an assessment, they will receive their HAI Digital Credentials.

Learners will register for the courses as appropriate from The Hardware Education Hub and go directly into their course. Each learner will have their own dashboard with the courses they have purchased and all their Digital Badges. Learners will also automatically receive notification of new courses available. They will be supported to complete their course with frequent engagement from QedON.

Who will the courses be aimed at?

All courses will be designed to upskill existing employees in the sector, to provide recognition for prior learning (RPL) for experienced employees who wish to achieve Digital Credentials and wish to share them with the sector. And, for new employees to the sector who need to be “job ready” ASAP!

How will Product Knowledge courses be delivered?

Traditionally manufacturers & suppliers deliver “in-store” training on an ad-hoc basis. It is generally infrequent but very welcomed and needed by retail stores. Suppliers and Manufacturers are an integral part of this Hardware Education Hub (EdHub) initiative. Initially up to 10 Suppliers will be invited to join the EdHub in 2023 as “EdHub Partners”. The first two to join already are Fleetwood Paints and NIKO Bathrooms. Both are experienced in the EdTech space and bring that experience to the EdHub. On the 1st of September 2023, two eLearning courses from Fleetwood Paints and two from NIKO Bathrooms will be available for learners across the country to complete. Courses will cover the technical aspects of the products and how to sell and upsell to potential customers to maximise sales in your store.

HAI will invite a further eight suppliers or manufacturers to join as “HAI EdHub Partners” for 2023. The HAI’s aim is to have 10 suppliers each contributing a minimum of two courses to the HAI EdHub, therefore we aim to have 20 courses available in 2024 for the sector!

Who are the stakeholders in this project

This exciting initiative has three main stakeholders: HAI, Suppliers/Manufacturers and QedON. This will bring a systematic approach to training and education to all sector employees.

For Suppliers/Manufacturers, this initiative will give them a platform to reach every store in the country 24/7/365 delivering quality education in an organised way.

For QedON, this initiative will provide the main sector players, manufacturers, suppliers and merchants with a one stop shop, the EdHub, using their technology, their industry knowhow and Expertise.

What is a learning partner? And how can they get involved?

A Learning Partner, officially known as a “HAI EdHub Partner” is a manufacturer or a supplier of product(s) to the Hardware, DIY, and Builders Merchants Sector. They are an organisation

that recognises the connection between a sector employee understanding their specific product and the ability to present it ahead of its competitors. They are an organisation that may already provide education to the sector in some format.

A potential HAI EdHub Partner needs to make contact with ourselves at HAI or Fong Hayes of QedON. Fong has extensive experience in the Hardware, DIY and Builders Merchants Sector in Ireland with over seven years in both Chadwicks and Woodies combined.

How much work is involved on the supplier’s part?

Every manufacturer and supplier of products has various types of materials, such as safety data sheets, videos, specification sheets, websites, YouTube videos etc. This information is generally public-facing information. The first tranche of work involves gathering all these up together and handing them over to QedON. This will normally take a half day. They will then sift through them and build an outline of a course.

What content can be used and in what format?

Once the organisation is happy with the outline, QedON then moves on to building out the full course content using any internal materials such as PowerPoints, brochures, handouts, links to manufacturers, links to social media posts. Pretty much everything that talks about the specific product can be used. The information is easier to use in a digital format compared to print.

What are the benefits of using eLearning for Manufacturers and Suppliers?

- Courses will be available 24/7/365 to the entire sector.

- Courses can be completed outside working hours, thereby being time effective for all.

- Courses can be completed on a mobile phone/PC and can be downloaded where internet connectivity is a problem.

- Learners are awarded a Digital Credential, which can be displayed on all social media channels.

- Learners will get automatic emails announcing new courses available so that they can complete multiple courses.

- Courses can be used as a “selling tool” to new stockists by company sales representatives.

How can suppliers get involved and become a Learning Partner?

It’s simple, just email me, jim@hardwareassociation.ie or Fong Hayes, fong.hayes@qedon.com. Critical to this whole initiative is that we get support from our manufacturer and supplier colleagues initially to build a substantial base of courses in our EdHub that will be very easily accessible in one place for all to access in bite sized chunks at their preferred time or when opportunities allow.

We need a defined national strategy for Empty Homes

The Hardware Journal has taken the opportunity of speaking with Hugh Wallace, Award Winning Architect, Director of Douglas Wallace Consultants, TV Presenter and Chairman of The Hardware Show Innovation Awards ‘Dragon’s Den’.

I don’t think there’s anyone in this country who wants our housing crisis to continue. And the only way we’re going to make it go away is to shake things up a bit. Living above the shop is nothing new. We’ve been doing it for centuries - it was the old-fashioned version of working from home!

The arrival of suburban retail parks, shopping centres and local convenience stores has slowly eroded the commerciality of our cities. Add to this the unpleasantness of traffic congestion, the trudge of a daily commute along with the rise of the out-of-town business centres and the unceremonious slow death of our city centres is unsurprising. And then came Covid-19. Need I say more? The only antidote for this sad demise is people. Our cities, towns and villages need people….And our people need homes.

Hugh, you have long been an advocate for rejuvenating empty homes and re-populating our town and city centres, what changes have you seen in the last few years?

It certainly has been an interesting few years, hasn’t it! We’ve gone from the heady days of the boom into the depression of the bust and just when we thought we were out the far side, we find ourselves launched straight into a global pandemic. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted by it all! And as my mother used to say, change is as good as a rest! So, whatever were the changes in the past few years, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing some real change in the future.

And we’ve never been more prepared. It’s refreshing to see new life being injected into fantastic initiatives like the 1994 Living Over The Shop scheme (LOTS), which as you know has been transformed into the Living City Initiative, and which you also know, I’m a huge fan of. As the name suggests, this is exactly what you said, all about bringing life back to our towns and cities by encouraging property owners to refurbish the often-dead space above their premises into modern, comfortable living accommodation. The government are doing this by offering significant tax reliefs on the refurbishment costs. I was delighted

to see that not only has this scheme been opened and its qualification criteria expanded, but the government are finally telling people about it, so it’s not the big secret it once was. The second initiative which I also think presents a fantastic opportunity to homeowners is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. There’s been a lot of talk about this in the news recently with the announcement that since it was established in Sept 2022 there have been 2,868 applications received, of these 1,019 have been approved and 183 have been rejected. But the number everyone is getting upset about is that only four grants have been issued. But what people don’t understand is that the grant will only be paid once the work has been completed! These works aren’t just paint jobs, more often than not they involve fundamental structural refurbishment and will by their nature take time, so really, I’d expect that number to substantially increase over the next quarter.

The point I’m making here is that opportunity knocks for those brave enough to take on a refurbishment challenge that will, I have no doubt, bring life back to our towns and cities.

Hugh Wallace speaking at The Hardware Conference in Kilkenny in March.

And what are the main obstacles to Empty Homes rejuvenation?

Once you get over the challenge of completing the highly technical forms - it’s no joke, they really are very difficult and would explain the high number of rejected applications - the biggest obstacles for both the Vacant Homes and the Living City Initiatives are our outdated planning system and building regulations.

If the Government is serious about these initiatives, and I genuinely believe they are, then there has to be a major overhaul of our approach to the planning, conservation, regulating, and refurbishing of these properties. These aren’t new buildings. They were built at a time when our attitudes to health, safety, fire, and access were substantially different. To try and make them fit into today’s standards is nonsensical. We have to be sensible, in order to make their restoration viable.

Innovations in building methods and materials as well as in fire prevention and detection have made tremendous headway over the last number of years. The extent of new and more sophisticated technologies on offer at The Hardware Show and Innovation Awards last year are a testament to this and clearly offer solutions to some of the challenges this kind of repurposing faces. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, so I say, why not innovate, think outside the box and find the balance between what’s achievable and what’s feasible.

Of course, there is always an alternative. And the alternative here is to do nothing. What then? Demolish and rebuild? Not very environmentally, never mind sustainability, friendly, wouldn’t you agree?

Access – with many shops there tends to be no access to the upper floors – from the ground floor how do we overcome this?

With old buildings, there will never be a one-size-fits all. You have to consider each opportunity separately and tailor the approach to suit. It’s never going to be impossible; it just mightn’t be

Hugh Wallace Interview

that easy! But I’m a firm believer in there’s always a way, you just have to think outside, inside and sometimes under, the box! And that philosophy doesn’t just apply to the architect and the engineer, it applies to the conservationist, the planner and regulator too.

Realistically some older buildings will simply never be accessible on all floors, nor will they ever be triple A rated. We need to accept it, get over it and move on.

What are the benefits of rejuvenating Empty Homes?

Where do I start? Aside from providing the homes that are needed to address the housing crisis that has been on-going for over a century, homes mean people, which means families and communities, which means commerce and prosperity. And that means life. Rejuvenating these empty homes means bringing a vibrancy and security back to the streets of our towns and cities.

I mentioned it briefly earlier, but we cannot escape our responsibility to the environment and the impact our actions have on it. Refurbishing our buildings might not be the easiest thing to do, but it could be the most responsible thing to do from a sustainability perspective. Listening to reports of sweltering heatwaves all over the globe and hottest temperatures ever recorded, one certain benefit of rejuvenating our buildings is that it’s the right thing, even if it’s a small thing, to do for our planet. The longer we wait, the longer we leave these buildings to decay. A consequence of which will be more time, effort and money needed to revive them. Now is the time to take responsible, intelligent, and sensible action.

I’ve said this so many times before, I don’t mind saying it again! We need a defined national strategy, an explicit instrument that will start conversations and enable professionals to make informed and consistent decisions. I’d like to bring our various sectors’ best minds together, the planners, conservationists, architects, developers, politicians, and those looking for a home to refurbish and restore, to explore the possibility of change.

Hugh Wallace has over 40 years’ experience in the Architecture / Interior Design Industry and is renowned for his insight and knowledge as a leader in design industry in Ireland.

As the founding director of Douglas Wallace Consultants, he has a great depth of knowledge in delivering award winning developments such as Dundrum Shopping Centre, Winner ICSC Europe Shopping Centre, Ashford Castle Development Master Plan and The G Hotel, Galway. Hugh is a judge on Home of the Year 2015 on RTE, now in its ninth series, and presenter of The Great House Revival where he is finishing the fourth season to be aired in the spring of 2024.

Hugh was delighted to be awarded “Lifetime Achievement Award “for his contribution to the Design Industry in Ireland in 2014. As a past president of the Institute of Designers in Ireland he has used the opportunity to promote the importance of design and promote that clients use architects and designers to deliver tangible results.

Hugh Wallace, Louth County Council’s Director of Housing, Paddy Donnelly and Martin Markey CEO Hardware Association Ireland all presented at the Empty Homes Roadshow in Dundalk in February.

CORPORATE PARTNER

CASH MANAGEMENT

Brink’s Cash Services Denise McCarthy 1890 474 000 denise.mccarthy@brinks.com www.brinks.com

COMMERCIAL

PRINT

W&G Baird

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

WASP Technologies Richard Baird 086 2857843

richard.baird@wasptech.com www.wasptech.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

Rory Brennan 1800 806 298 rory.brennan@boipa.com www.boipa.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

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

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.

#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

Want

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, www.hardwareassociation.ie

• 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

• 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.

DS SUPPLIES LAUNCH A NEW RANGE

DS Supplies have recently launched a new range of Trojan Gripdex Anti-Slip floor & decking profiles. Included within the concept are retrofit anti-slip decking inserts to deal with dangerous and slippery decking, the strips are fixed within the decking grooves using their Gripdex transparent flexible adhesive to create a safe directional walkway. It also works in snow & icy conditions. DS Supplies also provide a version that can be recessed into both wood and concrete bases.

The Gripdex GRP fibreglass collection of Angles and Flat strips now available can be screw fixed or glue fixed. Suitable for steps, stairs, walkways on both wood and concrete surfaces. Colours available are yellow, black & beige. There is also Gripdex MS technology flexible adhesive now available to suit. Display point of sale units are available. Contact DS Supplies for more information: Tel: 01 4011 666 info@dssupplies.com

Twice the appeal for customers at Callan Co-op Homevalue

Doubled in size and newly rebranded under the Homevalue brand, Callan Co-op’s investment exemplifies a progressive attitude and loyalty to its community and values.

This April, Callan in Kilkenny had plenty to celebrate. Newly renovated and offering twice the space, Callan Co-op also officially launched as a Homevalue branded store. The public were welcomed at a grand opening event which included amazing giveaways, a free family fun day and plenty of special offers.

Becoming a Homevalue retailer is an ideal fit for the landmark Callan business, as it helps the Co-op build upon its reputation for its extensive product range and price competitiveness. A trusted national Irish brand, Homevalue brings strong name recognition.

The store, one of five to open in Kilkenny, joins over 90 branded Homevalue builder merchants and DIY stores nationwide.

Deep roots

Callan has long been recognised for its vibrant community spirit and strong agricultural heritage. And at its heart, Callan Co-op Homevalue; a thriving local institution that has stood the test of time and become synonymous with community support and service.

In 1899, a group of farmers united to form an agri-business serving the area during tough times. For over 120 years, that

progressive, customer-focused ethos has endured. General Manager James Fitzgerald says, “Our Co-op was set up by farmers for farmers. Since then, we’ve come a long way and no longer just serve the agricultural sector. We now cater for the home, DIY and gardening needs of a much wider customer base.”

“However, without our loyal farming customers, we wouldn’t have achieved what you see here today. So, we’re keen to acknowledge how valuable their support is.” Callan Co-op Homevalue have always prided themselves on their knowledge of their customers, products and the challenges facing the local farming community. As the market evolved, the store adapted to suit its needs.

When the new premises on West Street first opened in 2005, the range was predominantly agri-related. The store quickly expanded and diversified into hardware and home items for the general public.

Investing in the future

A major investment in 2022 more than doubled its size, including extensive redevelopment of the yard.

Ten months ago, in mid-project, Siobhan Mason joined as

Retail Operations Manager, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience.

She recalls: “When I started, we had a very compact shop floor. It’s now a 10,000 sq. ft. area, giving much more room to designate to different suppliers and products.”

“For example, fencing used to have two little sections for five suppliers. Now we have more space for each, which really enhances the shopping experience.”

There are 40 free parking spaces on-site, conveniently located just off the Callan-Kilkenny ring road. James says, “We are delighted to see the big mix of customers come in from all around Kilkenny for the keen prices and unbeatable customer service. People will travel for a good deal, and Callan Co-op Homevalue has always been known for great value.”

The comprehensive range is proving to be a major draw. “Our store has always been great at providing the essentials. But this major expansion and new branding represents a real step-change.”

Cornucopia

Under one roof, shoppers can now find: building materials, DIY tools, plumbing supplies, electrical goods, pet products, garden/landscaping supplies, furniture and equipment. In addition to top-quality Canadia Flooring there are expanded paint choices featuring Crown, Dulux and Fleetwood, hardware and accessories, footwear, protective clothing, fuel products and much more.

The emphasis is on choice, quality brands and Irish goods. A Guaranteed Irish retailer, the business contributes to the local economy, provides quality Irish-made products and services, and demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

The team also continually seeks out innovative and sustainable new lines in keeping with customer demands and trends.

Agriculture

Callan Co-op Homevalue has remained true to its origins, with a proud reputation for Agri products. It’s the go-to supplier for feeds for cattle, sheep and poultry, all supplied via a convenient bulk feed delivery service. The comprehensive equine section stocks a range of products from Red Mills and veterinary supplies.

Also on offer is a wide choice of chemicals, dairy detergents and milk socks, plus an extensive fencing section including gates.

Relationship Building

The customer is everything at Callan Co-op Homevalue. “Our team’s only goal is to see customers happy with the solutions we provide,” says James. “Their enthusiasm for working as a team, engaging with customers and supporting the wider community is exceptional.

Many of our people are well-known to our customers, having worked here for over 25 years. Much has changed, but the ethos of being there for shoppers stays strong.

Customers always feel welcome and enjoy the benefits of buying from a local business with great personal service. Above all, they like dealing with experts who understand what they need and are keen to share their expertise.”

During Covid, the Co-op was a vital community hub, providing a safe space where people could meet and get their essentials.

Outlook

James expects the hardware industry to continue facing challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, with many factors at play. However, there are always growth areas. One of the biggest is the trend in home improvement and renovation. As more people take on these projects themselves, the DIY culture has gained momentum.

Hardware stores can capitalise on demand by offering a wealth of DIY-friendly products, educational resources and support. This is where outstanding customer service and staff knowhow, of the standard at Callan Co-op Homevalue, can deliver a major competitive advantage.

Fertile Environment

The focus on sustainability presents further opportunities; a superb platform for hardware businesses to develop and market eco-friendly products and solutions.

Callan Co-op Homevalue stocks a wide range of energyefficient appliances, sustainable building materials, watersaving devices and environmentally friendly alternatives for many product categories. All to help customers choose options that reduce their environmental impact.

Callan Co-op Homevalue Store Team.

Sustainability has become a priority for the store, explains James, “We’re taking steps to help customers and our own operations to become more efficient and green.”

The Co-op actively promotes its own waste reduction, with recycling programmes for paper, cardboard, plastics and more. And, by encouraging customers to recycle and providing information on proper disposal, the Co-op is fostering a circular economy. Even providing an on-site area for recyclable electrical goods and water filter cartridges.

James outlines their drive to reduce packaging waste. “We want to work with suppliers who use sustainable materials and encourage the use of recycled or recyclable packaging. Customers are advised on packaging too, encouraging responsible waste management.”

Improving energy efficiency within its operations includes implementing energy-saving practices, fitting energy-efficient lighting and optimising heating, ventilation and cooling systems. By reducing consumption, the Co-op cuts both its carbon footprint and costs.

“We believe in education. Employee training raises awareness about environmental issues and encourages them to incorporate sustainable practices at work. And we share educational resources with customers, offering guidance on making eco-friendly choices.”

The Co-op collaborates with suppliers who share this commitment. “A partner in the Teagasc Signpost Programme, we actively communicate its measures to our milk suppliers.”

Net worth

Online is another key area for growth. The Co-op’s current major development aims to harness the potential of the internet with a host of initiatives to widen its target market and enhance customer engagement. “We’re working towards online shopping, click-and-collect services, digital catalogues, customer loyalty programmes, sustainability initiatives and other innovative solutions to bring our great offers to the public,” James states.

“It’s one more way that our business continues evolving to meet the changing needs of customers. These innovations will enhance the overall experience, deliver convenience and showcase our motivation to stay ahead of industry trends.”

Community heritage

Callan Co-op Homevalue plays a significant local role; actively engaging and supporting community groups and initiatives. “It’s the Co-op spirit to give back. We are proud supporters of John Lockes GAA Club, Dunnamaggin Ladies Football, Callan Féile and many more, and have continuously supported the Men’s Shed and Tidy Towns,” says Siobhan.

“As a valued and integral part of Callan, our involvement goes beyond business transactions. Our dedication to the wellbeing and development of this community is genuine.”

Through sponsorships, collaborations, educational support and environmental initiatives, the Co-op strengthens relationships and contributes to Callan’s growth and prosperity.

Unique selling point

If there is one special quality that sets Callan Co-op Homevalue apart, it must be: customer service based on strong relationships and being rooted in the community. James’ definition: “We deliver a personal experience that ensures every customer feels valued and heard. Our staff have extensive knowledge and can offer tailored recommendations for specific requirements. Whether it’s helping with DIY projects, providing practical tips, or after-sales support, we go the extra mile to ensure satisfaction. Customers know they can rely on our guidance to find the right solution. It’s what keeps people coming back for all their hardware and home improvement needs. Trust, allied to a progressive outlook, underpins a positive attitude for the future. We look forward to the challenges ahead and feel confident that Callan Coop Homevalue has a structure and growth mindset that will ensure continued success.”

Donncha O’Sullivan, Chairperson of Callan Co-op Homevalue, cut the ribbon with the board of Callan Co-Op Homevalue and some staff members in the background. Flooring Centre.

Our people, protecting yours

Keypoint provide sustainable and innovative hand and foot protection solutions, designed wit h t he wearer in mind.

Celebrating 65 years in Ireland as Wavin look to the future

The Hardware Journal has spoken to Michael O’Donohoe, Wavin Country Director, on developments since the company first came to Ireland and where it is going in terms of customer service, innovation and sustainability.

Since its arrival in Ireland in 1958, Wavin has always been interested in helping to solve the big challenges of the day. Michael says, “At that time the challenge concerned delivering safe drinking water to Ireland’s growing population, while today our purpose is to build healthy, sustainable environments - an issue more top of mind than ever as we see the effects of climate change in real time”.

As Wavin reaches 65 years in Ireland, they’re delighted to look forward, to celebrate their continued innovation and to keep focused on their purpose. As part of the global Wavin Group, which in turn is part of Orbia, they are helping to tackle some of world’s biggest challenges: water supply, sanitation, climate resilient cities and building performance.

Customers at the heart of what we do

“Customer service remains at the heart of our business. Our Merchant Web Shop, launched last year, helps make ordering and tracking order history easier than ever before, it’s another way for us to think customer first. The Merchant Web Shop allows Wavin merchant customers a simple and effective e-business solution for ordering”. Further enhancements currently being rolled out include stock availability and multiple order file formats, which will see further growth in customer orders placed online by year-end. In parallel with this, Customer Service has been enhanced with a wider next-day delivery area and with a lunchtime target cut-off for important site deliveries.

Wavin`s technical expertise is always on hand to help merchant customers with product selection and innovations. They offer a full technical consultancy, Building Information Modelling (BIM) services, Continuous Professional Development Training (CPD) and customer support to ensure efficient, high-quality installation and project delivery.

The early days

Wavin Ireland began life in a small industrial unit in Cian Park, Drumcondra, Dublin 3. It enjoyed prosperous growth and in 1962 relocated to a new 26-acre purpose-built site in Balbriggan, where it remains today.

Wavin Ireland is part of the wider Wavin organisation globally which is Orbia’s Building & Installation Business Group and is a world leader in plastic pipe systems for residential, nonresidential and civil engineering projects. Systems include market leading above and below ground drainage and Hep2O hot and cold plumbing and underfloor heating, as well as a wide range of Wavin drainage and stormwater management solutions for all application areas.

Wavin’s sustainability promise - rooted in innovation Wavin has always been known for innovation. In 1978, Wavin Ireland developed and launched the market leading Wavin Access Junction or WAJ as it’s known. It has been the number

Wavin AS+ Range.

one selling Access Junction for the last 40 years and one of the company’s most successful export products, a position that is still maintained today.

In recent years, they have introduced several new product innovations that offer solutions for their customers in terms of quality, efficiency and sustainability.

For example, Wavin AS+ is an innovative wastewater system designed to reduce noise levels, Wavin AS+ is the ideal solution for tackling noise pollution in multi-occupancy developments, such as apartments, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and offices.

HepVO, their slimline waterless trap is ideal in modern builds where space is at a premium and can be installed horizontally or vertically. Suitable for a wide range of household plumbing applications, from showers to kitchen sinks and as a dry sealing valve it can’t fail due to evaporation, movement or siphonage.

HepVO’s latest iteration, which will be available soon, offers a 15-year guarantee and features sustainable packaging. Building on the success and reliability delivered by its predecessor, Tigris K1/M1, the new Wavin Tigris K5/M5 press fit plumbing and heating system delivers compelling new features for installers. The fitting is the first of its kind to feature an innovative Acoustic Leak Alert function meaning any unpressed fittings will be heard loud and clear, even if the installer is working in a noisy environment. To further assist installers, the In4Sure 360 view feature gives a quick visual check to ensure the pipe has been inserted fully into the fitting before pressing. The new fittings also offer an improved flow and can now be pressed with multiple pressing profiles.

In terms of systems innovation, Wavin developed Recycore® Technology, an innovative and state-of-the-art manufacturing process developed to reduce the use of virgin materials by using at least 50% recycled content yet ensuring the same high performance and handling characteristics that customers of its virgin products have come to expect. With the success of Recycore in drain and sewer pipes, Wavin will extend the technology to gutter and gutter downpipes - containing a minimum of 55% of recycled PVC-U.

Wavin`s sustainability promise extends across products, processes and community involvement and they’re committed to reaching carbon net zero status by 2050. Their goal is to lead the industry in sustainability by 2025 and they are committed to help reduce emissions in the built environment.

They have recently launched environmental product declarations (EPDs) for their suite of products sold in the Irish and UK markets. Based on third-party verified life cycle assessments (LCAs), EPDs transparently map production processes to resource impacts. Providing details on the environmental impact across the entire life cycle, EPDs enable building designers, planners, contractors and developers to choose more sustainable products and solutions.

Continuing on the path of sustainable innovation, RootSeal repels tree roots which solves a number of challenges for architects, specifiers, developers and planners. RootSeal Technology gives drainage systems enhanced protection by using a naturally sourced inhibitor to harmlessly repel tree roots and to reduce the risk of damage and upheaval. It also removes the disruption and environmental cost of repairing or replacing drainage systems damaged by tree root ingress and is being rolled out across our sewer range - look out for the green seal. Find out more at wavin.ie/rootseal

Wavin have also introduced water absorption products like TreeTanks which can be easily and effectively integrated into urban areas without disrupting vital infrastructure. Delivering nutrients and water to trees, the product allows for the greening up and cooling of cityscapes, vital as our cities manage the challenge of increasing temperatures.

Community support

Wavin Ireland remains committed to the local community. The Wavin lake for example is approximately 26 acres set in a wildlife sanctuary. The lake was man made in the early nineteenth century (1826) to provide water for the Cotton Mills in the Balbriggan area. It was acquired by Wavin in 1974 to augment the Balbriggan water supply to the factory, to ensure a constant level of water for the plant’s cooling process. Twenty years later, after improvements to the water supply system in the area, Wavin no longer needed the lake as a commercial natural resource and effectively gave it back to the community in 1993 by entering into a 99-year lease with Gormanstown Anglers. The angling club have transformed the lake into what is now a rich community resource full of beautiful wildlife and fauna.

Support for community activity has continued since the 1960s. In 2022, Wavin further extended this support programme through a collaboration with the Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS) development in Balbriggan. Sustainability is at the heart of the IIMS development and Wavin AquaCell units have been supplied to facilitate stormwater management within the site. As a result, the IIMS plans to name this out-door area ‘The Wavin Amphitheatre’.

Another local project which Wavin currently supports is Bí Urban, a social enterprise in Dublin’s North-West inner city. Bí Urban’s Rain Garden project harvests rainwater to create little oases in the urban landscape. Their support for TU Dublin’s Design + Construct Centre at the Broombridge site in Dublin is another local support initiative that reflects their confidence in the future. Michael says “We`re delighted to celebrate this milestone anniversary at Wavin Ireland, and we’ll continue to innovate in terms of products and customer service as we look to the future.

For more information on any Wavin product speak to your representative or contact customerservice.ie@wavin.com

Michael O’Donohoe, Country Director, Wavin Ireland with Sadhbh Burt Fitzgerald, Project Manager, Bí Urban Rain Garden Project.

Work on the business not in the business!

Throughout the years several books have made an impact on how I think about running our business, but I am sure I have not referenced any as much as Michael Gerber’s E-myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to do about it.

According to Gerber, “The E-Myth, or entrepreneurial myth, is a fundamental misunderstanding in business. It’s the notion that skillful technical work and a good idea form a sufficient basis for business success.”

The author opens the book by describing two professionals: one, a pie maker and the other, an auto mechanic. Both are very confident in their skills and have decided they should open a business. The pie maker knows their pies taste better than any they can buy in the area and the skilled mechanic knows they will run an auto shop better than their current boss.

Unfortunately, their road to failure begins almost immediately and this is where Gerber steps in.

I’m going to cut to the chase and share the summary version of this initial lesson with you – when we master a technical skill, we are a technician. This does not automatically make us entrepreneurs or business owners. We have to be able to work ON the business, not just IN the business.

Think about this for our own hardware industry. Master carpenters or plumbers might be first in their fields when it comes to cutting wood or changing fittings, but that doesn’t mean they have a clue about the universal components of running a business.

I call these components the three P’s – People, Product, and Profit. I’ve heard the three P’s categorised differently by various authors and experts but I like to think of them in their simplest form.

The People

“I bet you think this business would be easier without having to deal with employees and guests”.

A teammate once said that to me and we all got a good chuckle out of it. But if we want to run a business, we have to be able to professionally take care of the human aspectthe teammates who serve our customers and the customers themselves. So, while humorous, the comment certainly holds a bit of truth.

The carpenter is confident in their ability to build beautiful furniture all day long but if they want to sell it, they will have to deal with people along the way. They will need helpers in their shop, or a marketing plan. They will have to explain how their product works and should be cared for over its lifetime. Having employees means understanding Human Resources. That means hiring, training and counselling. It also means understanding, documenting, and following national regulations regarding employee treatment, that requires consulting a Human Resource advisor when developing a handbook.

Fortunately, customers don’t require handbooks or HR advisors, but they do come with their own set of needs. For example, documenting guidelines for how to treat customers and skillfully communicating those expectations to the team will go a long way in ensuring smooth service. Document the entire customer experience from start to finish. Include such processes as answering the phone and handling special requests.

Have you heard the adage “Common sense is not that common”? This is a reminder that we need structure and standards. It would be reassuring if we knew every customer/ guest would be treated the best way every time but that’s not realistic without some guidance. Over the years our company has carefully honed our employee handbook, written detailed “how to” manuals regarding service, and trained to the standards we expect rather than leaving it up to common sense.

The carpenter and plumber might be great with their products, but PEOPLE is the P-word needed to excel in this aspect of business ownership.

The Product

“If you understand one product, you understand them all” When I opened my first hardware store in 2003 I did so because of need. My community had become downtrodden and sites were becoming derelict for decades but was showing signs of revival and I wanted to be a part of that renewal. Everyone I spoke to mentioned the need for a community hardware store – a place where we could buy paint and plants, ironmongery and floor stain. Beautiful old Victorian homes were being brought back to life and I could help, one bag of screws at a time.

At that phase in my life, I might have fallen victim to the pie maker and mechanics mentality. My desire to fill a need could have made me a technician, if I didn’t think more holistically about building a business with products my neighbours needed.

But this is where hardware store owners really shine as business owners. The diversification of our product and service mix means we are constantly learning how to market and sell new things. Is it too bold of a statement to say, we could also sell books or cars or insurance with this mindset? I don’t think so.

Knowing our products and leaning into diversification proves our creativity and highlights our adaptability. Bottom line, we can sell darn near everything. We’ve got product down pat.

The Profit

“We want a super organisation, not super humans.”

My CFO made this exclamation one day in a leadership meeting when we were talking about how to improve our operations. His point was that we can’t rely on one or two exceptional individuals to make things work but rather our focus should be uplifting the entire team.

In my own business growth, the finance department was my tripping point. I am not proficient in, comfortable with or interested in numbers. It took me a long time to be comfortable making those admissions but as soon as I did, I freed myself to find someone who was.

Just because Gerber says we should understand each aspect of running a business, doesn’t mean we must do each task! Knowing when to ask questions, consult an outside resource or hire an expert are equally important. For us to scale, our business needed an inside expert to build a finance department that met regulatory requirements and ensured we were profitable, spending and calculating like the world class company we wanted to be. Having that person on board freed up my time for business components that are more aligned with my skillset.

One final note on this topic: we could probably argue all day about which role is the most vital when building a business, but that same CFO likes to remind me that without a sound financial footing, none of the other roles can exist for long. This is the E-myth simplified to one sentence.

A Key Takeaway

How will you lead? What are your strengths? I would argue that if you can understand People, Product and Profits in one business, you can start or run any business.

To be honest, Gerber’s book strongly resonated with me because people often ask me how I compete in a maledominated field. Gerber made me believe that I could run a daycare center, a bookstore or a hardware store if I mastered the appropriate skillsets.

Step back and take a look the big picture. That is exactly where we belong as business owners and leaders. Our role is to be able to see, manoeuvre through, and understand all the parts, not get stuck in the weeds. To work ON the business, not IN the business.

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 from Waterstones.

“These people work as team members in our business. I work as part of our managment team on our business.” Gina

A View from Europe

The Greek DIY myth

Our colleague and friend Thierry Coeman conducts an interview with Dimitris Galanis, CEO of Praktiker Hellas, one of the leading DIY brands in Greece. In barely ten years and thanks to the combined support of the European Central Bank and an active export policy, the country has managed to weather the financial crisis.

The revival of the Greek economy is seen by many including Barclays analysts as a startling economic development. Without a doubt, the resurgence has been driven by a practical political vision, in this case the policy of the team around Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. However, this can also only be achieved with the energetic approach of visionary leaders who also have the ability to direct and mobilise their teams for this purpose.

“Each man delights in the work that suits him best”, Homer (800-750 BC)

One such visionary leader is undoubtedly, Dimitris Galanis, Managing Director, Praktiker Hellas, the Greek market leader in Home Improvement. https://www.praktiker.gr/

In late 2020, Dimitris Galanis (Dixons UK, South Europe) was appointed as MD by Praktiker’s owner, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, a Canadian private equity fund. This strategic move was made to prepare Praktiker for future advancements and opportunities.

“Do the things you need to do”, was the instruction by Fairfax and Dimitris remembers it like it was yesterday, when he surveyed the investor’s expectations in Toronto. The message was clear to him, he was given ‘Carte blanche’ when he entered Praktiker’s Headquarters at Tavros.

“Man is the measure of all things”, Protagoras (490-420 BC) Similar to many European retailers, Praktiker Hellas experienced a common challenge where important strategic decisions were often made with limited insights, and sometimes without access to updated data. This was also the situation at Praktiker Hellas prior to 2020, reflecting a common trend in the industry. As a convinced believer in the critical importance of data in a retail organisation, Dimitris Galanis decided within the first few months of his preliminary research and field analysis, to create a management information system to facilitate the flow of information within the organisation to provide timely and accurate data to support managerial decision-making at different levels.

The next step was to set Key Performance Indicators ( KPIs ) per department for the customer-centric Praktiker organisation of the future. Those KPIs became the drivers for a holistic data policy, from the administrative department to logistics and from store operations staff to the marketing team. To this day, all operational and strategic decisions are based and made on current and up to date facts and figures.

The strategic decision to launch a Customer Contact Centre

was aimed at prioritising the Greek Home Improvement customer and end user by placing them at the core of the organisation’s new strategy. The contact centre acted as a catalyst to enhance customer communication. With over 2,000 calls made every day, the contact centre serves as a hub for customers seeking assistance, advice, or information related to improving their houses, homes, and gardens. This initiative demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and ensuring that customers’ needs and aspirations for a better living environment were met. At the same time, Dimitris constantly reminds his team that it continually needs to improve operations and customer service and that “We are still at the beginning of our transformation”.

“Three things support the perfection of man: character, learning and practice”, Plato (427-347 BC)

Under the title ‘Lifelong Learning‘, A substantial investment was then made in the Praktiker Hellas Training Centre. “On top of the new corporate culture, knowledge and expertise is paramount,” Dimitris says. “From now on, every team player in this organisation will enjoy at least five days of product and service training on an annual basis. The courses will include 12 modules in classes of no more than 25 attendees. The main focus for the staff member will to be recognised as an expert communicator for every omnichannel Praktiker customer. Over 32,000 training hours have already been provided in all categories, from construction to decoration, from power tools to smart home equipment.

“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance”, Socrates (470-399 BC)

All these training investments are continuously measured and rewarded through a unique tool, namely RooL application, this is a software programme developed specifically for the company by a German provider. “RooL is a scorecard for each employee, linked to their individual KPI’s from their annual appraisal and aimed at achieving targets in terms of sales, product upselling, cross-selling and results of regular mystery shopper surveys,” says Dimitris.

“We communicate the results to each employee on a quarterly basis and immediately reward them with cash, a true motivation”, explains Dimitris.

This overall process has been very successful and is now well established. “I meet every new employee here personally, in private. I want to see the fire in their eyes”.

“Your future will be good if you arrange well the present”, Isokrates (436-338 BC)

What is the long-term vision and how will Praktiker further distinguish itself in the Greek Home Improvement Market? “Together with Praktiker’s Management Team - myself, Christos, Maryam, Nikos & Neophytos, we have been mapping out the support base for the long-term development of Praktiker Hellas since last year using this ‘2024 Transformation Quadrant’:

• Transformation of our 16 stores

• Transformation of the marketing strategy: responding to customer needs

• Transformation of our staff: empowering all teams

• Transformation of our offer, from products to services, underpinned by a sophisticated sustainability policy and a performing e-Commerce platform, as well as a brand new click & collect counter in the stores.

Dimitris briefly outlines two of them: The transformation of the stores and the marketing strategy.

The transformation of the stores: This is an unprecedented turnaround that puts the focus on operational efficiency. For this, we now have a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution - Microsoft Dynamics 365, a modern and feature-rich ERP, that supports multiple aspects of our organisation’s operations.

Also Spaceman, a unique automated planogramming process with diverse modules to support our needs, analysing performance and opportunities across planograms to help us make the best merchandising decisions.

The marketing policy transformation stands on three pillars:

- Fix the Job: offer a wide range for all supplies needed for Home Improvement.

- Improve the Home: offering unlimited inspiration to make a house a home. But also with an offer that responds to the ageing society and the specific needs of people with disabilities. With the ‘Open House’ concept we make a promise to allow anyone to improve their home. Praktiker tries hard to make everyhouse a home, especially the accessible and inclusive living room, bathroom and bedroom.

- Live outside: under the slogan ‘Urban Kipos’ (Urban Outdoor Living), we make the dream come true for numerous Greek flat dwellers to beautify and enhance their balconies and,

depending on the area, equip them with creative amenities, including bbq’s and up to creating a ‘cinema’ feel by installing lounge seating outside.

“This, with the linking of operational tools, the motivation of our employees and the positive response from our customers, I can provide reassurance to the Canadian management: “We are on track,” Dimitris sums up.

The myth of Praktiker Hellas is revealed: the passion-driven dynamics and interaction between people, management and data management have created a rollercoaster effect in the Home Improvement market:

Practical Hellas in Numbers

Establishment: 1991

Current CEO: Dimitris Galanis

Owner: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, Canada

Number of shops: 16

Total shop area: 100,000 m²

Revenue 2022: ¤195M

Number of employees: 1,400

Number of SKUs per shop: 35,000

Number of SKUs online: 50,000

Number of registered customers: 6 Million

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, independents 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.

Lifestyle Department.

Dimitris Galanis CEO.

Thierry Coeman.

Costello’s ACE Hardware - 50 years in business!

Costello’s Ace Hardware is one of the top Ace Hardware retailers in the USA and operates 46 locations in five states - New York, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has even more ambitious goals. The retailer has stated its objectives of reaching 75 stores and $250 million in sales by 2025. Costello’s had four stores doing $8 million in 2000 when it entered a growth mode.

The Hardware Journal has spoken to CEO Mike Costello, one of six siblings in a leadership position with the company. We will learn over the next three issues all about their successful strategies that has led to its fast track to growth.

Where it all began

In 1976, when the USA was going through a tough recession. The local economy was devastated. Vincent Costello (Vinny) was forced to close his air conditioning and heating contracting business. Looking for a means to support his wife and 10 children, Vinnie stumbled upon a business opportunity, a retail hardware store. Originally opened in 1973, it was a small, neglected, under stocked store, just over 2,000 square feet located in Deer Park, NY.

With no previous retail experience and no other options, Vinnie courageously embarked on a journey that few would ever have dared. Sales were dismal and the store was in desperate need of attention. Vinnie worked every day for five years and managed to make the store profitable. While most would have been satisfied with this amazing feat, Vinnie was determined to grow beyond that one small store. By refinancing his home, he opened a second location in 1982. This 5,000 square foot industrial store was also

located in Deer Park, on the other side of town.

In 1988, another opportunity arose. A shopping centre was being constructed in the little-known town of Nesconset. It wasn’t the most populated area, but Vinnie had lived there for over 10 years and he thought that the residents of Nesconset would respond well to a neighbourhood hardware store. Did they ever! The 4,000 square foot store was an instant success, profitable from day-one. Over the next four years, the success of that store helped fuel the expansion of the company to larger stores.

During those early growing years, Vinnie`s children worked in the business and contributed to its success. “Our dad taught us the importance of taking care of our customers. ‘Treat them like family,’ he would say. He taught us how to solve their problems and how to learn from them. Most importantly, he taught us that the most sacred bond between us and our customers is trust.” “A guiding principle of Vinny`s also was ‘The Customer is King’“ says Mike.

In 2001, with Vinnie’s encouragement and guidance, six of his children opened a 25,000 square foot store in Bellmore, NY. This store was the size of all of the other locations combined, it was

huge. Mike remembers “I remember thinking that we would never be able to find enough products to fill it. It took some time, but eventually we had a successful home centre.” The Costello’s team replicated the success of this hardware/home centre concept and today they now have 46 locations across Long Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Costello’s has successfully distinguished itself as the loyal, helpful hardware store, staffing each location with associates eager to assist and relate on a personal level with their neighbours.

Just prior to Vinnie’s passing in 2016, his son Mike Costello became CEO, and his daughter Jamie Costello Maloney became President. The company have a very strong and experienced Executive Leadership Team including family and non-family members. In August & September every year the Costello Ace Leadership Executive team start doing their strategic planning for the following year. This process has been in place for a number of years as they proactively identified the need to do extensive longer-term planning. The Executive Leadership Team came up with the five-year plan for a company growth strategy from 2020 to 2025. They have a goal of reaching $250 million in revenue and 75 stores by the end of 2025. At that time in 2019 they had 34 stores.

81 percent of employees at Costello’s Ace say it is a great place to work, compared to 57 percent of employees at a typical U.S. company, according to Great Place to Work® 2021 Global Employee Engagement Study. www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7026133

Are there specific geographic areas where Costello`s are looking to add stores?

Mike says “Virginia is definitely an area we’re looking at as a growth area. Maryland still offers a lot of opportunity. We just added four stores in northern New Jersey and one just across the border into Pennsylvania with a five-store acquisition (Smith’s Ace). We’re looking to fill in strategic areas between our New Jersey and Maryland locations. If there are opportunities to push a little bit to the west, we would consider that. We prefer to stay in more of a metropolitan area or suburbs of a major city. If we had an opportunity to buy a really successful business in California that had five great locations that were making money, I don’t think we would shy away from it.”

How difficult is it to continue growing aggressively during a period of economic uncertainty?

“We have a positive long-term outlook for the businesses we

are in, so our desire to grow isn’t deterred during unfavourable economic cycles. We also possess the confidence that we can and will make whatever changes are necessary to compete and improve. That said, we rely heavily on the profitability of our business to produce the cash needed to grow, so economic instability can certainly have an impact on our speed. Thankfully, our relationship with Ace Hardware assists us in that growth by offering incentives and programs to tap into future earnings. Our partnership with Ace has had more influence on our growth than any other factor.”

What factors are most important when considering possible acquisitions?

Costello`s Ace growth is largely dictated by the opportunities that are around them. Historically, the company has grown mainly through ground-up locations. But in the past five years they have grown by 18 locations and 14 of those have been through acquisition. In the coming years, the company say that acquisitions are their biggest opportunity.

Their Modus Operandi is identifying great retailers already out there that have built amazing businesses but don’t have a succession plan in place. They look for strong companies with similar values and try to help those owners monetise their life’s work while continuing to support their communities and people at the same high level as they did.

They look at market demographics, location, competition in the area, sales history, operating profit, store size to see if there is any opportunity for improving the current business model. The company have in some instances acquired fellow Ace members as well as some from rival group True Value.

Costello’s also identify what learnings they can take from the acquired business by identifying when they are doing something that Costello`s are not doing.

What about the Future & the current economic climate?

As you can tell from Costello’s Ace Hardware’s exceptional growth, growing is in their DNA. Even during difficult trading periods including a pandemic, the organisation continued to be in a position to grow exponentially. This growth culture is in no small part due to the company values outlined following which permeates throughout the company.

These Costello’s Ace Values following, were developed from speaking with and taking on board all views within the company.

Jamie Costello Maloney, President Costello’s ACE Hardware.

Mike Costello, CEO Costello’s ACE Hardware.

SOLVING

We are CURIOUS: The more I know and understand, the better I can formulate a solution.

We are INNOVATIVE: I suggest what’s best for the customer. Always the RIGHT way; never the EASY way.

We OWN IT: My customer’s problem is MY problem. Even if I don’t know, I will still see that a solution is found.

We SAY “YES”: I am empowered and driven to find a solution. Saying “No” makes me uncomfortable.

SERVING

We need SELF FULFILLMENT: Helping others makes me feel better!

We treat everyone like FAMILY: I create lasting relationships with teammates, customers, and neighbors.

We are CUSTOMER FOCUSED: Interacting with customers is my priority. I always choose customer over task.

We make a POSITIVE IMPACT: I leave a lasting impression by smiling and showing I am happy to serve others.

COMMUNICATING

We are SHARERS: Knowledge is currency; I generously share what I know.

We are LISTENERS: I listen to understand and to allow others to be heard.

We are CANDID: I respectfully speak my mind and value honest, constructive feedback.

We BUILD TRUST: I speak straight and honor commitments. I never say “maybe”, “probably”, or “I think so”.

COLLABORATING

We hold ourselves ACCOUNTABLE: I understand my responsibilities and own my actions.

We are COMPETITIVE: I push for an environment of high-performance, success, and fun.

We show RESPECT: I value the differences and viewpoints of others.

We are LEADERS: I set a great example, support others, and reciprocate- without regard for position.

GROWING

We are CONTINUOUS LEARNERS: I strive to get better every day. It helps me; it helps the team.

We take RISKS: I am driven to TRY, willing to FAIL, and quick to LEARN.

We take ACTION: I don’t wait to be asked; I take initiative and act with urgency and agility. We champion CHANGE: I embrace change and progress and question “the way we’ve always done it”.

WINNING

We strive for EXCELLENCE: I execute my duties to the highest standards.

We “$EE MONEY”: I treat the company’s inventory and assets like they are my own.

Our RESULTS MATTER: I understand that in business we keep score with money.

We are AT WAR: I fight for my customers to have a place that delivers service, convenience, quality in their neighborhood!

HAI Certificate Graduation Day 2023

After nine months, nine modules and nine Product Knowledge modules, the students of the second year of the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting completed their learnings, and their hard work was recognised at the Graduation Day on the 15th of June.

A number of this year’s students, their mentors, and some of the tutors of the Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) Certificate joined the HAI team at The Osprey Hotel in Naas to celebrate the students’ successful completion of their learning.

The morning began with a welcome address from HAI CEO Martin Markey, who congratulated all students while giving all a quick overview of the sector and an update on HAI’s current activities.

Octabuild, the building manufacturers group who represents some of the top manufacturers in Ireland – Dulux Paints, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation and Wavin Ireland – was represented by its Chairperson, Declan Conlon from Wavin Ireland. Declan gave a compelling address congratulating the students on their hard work and encouraging them to continue their learning and development journey.

He commented: “The training and development offered by the HAI Certificate as a whole, and the Product Knowledge modules in particular, plays a significant role in ensuring the future development and ultimate success of the industry. This is fundamental to Octabuild’s purpose and we are delighted to be able to bring it to life through this partnership.’

Noel Davidson from the Entrepreneur’s Academy, who delivered the Communications Skills and Team Building & Team Leading modules, was present via video, giving the students an impassioned address commending them on their efforts and wishing them the best in their future. Students were also joined by Declan Flood, The Credit Coach, who delivered this year’s Credit Control and Basic Instore Finances modules.

Each student attending was presented with their Certificate of Completion by Declan Conlon and Martin Markey.

Student Awards

While all students displayed excellent commitment to their learning, it was decided by the tutors and HAI team to present the following students with special awards, in recognition of their outstanding efforts, module attendance, assignment submission and demonstrated growth:

High Achieving Student:

Tracy Walsh - Morris DIY & Builders Providers

Student of the Year 2023: Sarah Day - Morris DIY & Builders Providers

With thanks to Octabuild

HAI would like to congratulate all students for their successful completion of the HAI Certificate, and wish them all every success in their careers.

We would also like to thank Octabuild for their support as sponsors of this second year of the Certificate, and to all companies, including Octabuild members, who provided their industry knowledge to deliver our Product Knowledge modules this year.

2023/2024/ Enrolment Open

Enrolment is now open for the 2023/2024 year of the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail & Merchanting.

For queries about enrolling please contact Aoife Kinsella O’Reilly at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969

Students and mentors with their Certificates of Completion.

Declan Conlon, Octabuild Chairperson with student award winners: Sarah Day – Student of the Year and Tracy Walsh – High Achieving Student, both from Morris DIY & Builders Providers, and Martin Markey, HAI CEO

HAI Training Schedule Autumn 2023

Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) recently launched our Autumn 2023 training schedule, which features the return of our most popular workshops, and the return to the physical classroom for our Sales, Customer Service and Sales Management workshops, along with the return of our Leadership and Communication Skills two-day course for managers and supervisors.

All workshops are tailored specifically to the needs of the building materials, hardware/DIY industry.

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

To book places or for queries about any of our upcoming training courses please contact Aoife Kinsella O’Reilly at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969.

How data and efficiency can drive sustainability

Meeting the needs of regulators, consumers and trading partners for greener products and services requires companies to move towards circular and more sustainable value chains. Driving efficiency and reducing waste across those values chains is a significant part of a business’ effort to reduce their environmental impact and to reach their decarbonisation goals.

Under the three pillars of sustainability – Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) - sit several areas to be addressed. Those areas look at how a business is run and managed, and how it relates to its social community, locally and globally.

While many businesses focus their attention initially on headline areas such as the carbon footprint of their transport and logistics processes, to changing the type and quantity of packaging, there are other, possibly more lowkey ways of making your business more economically sustainable.

Reducing the amount of paper used in a business and switching to electronic forms of communication – for orders, invoices and delivery dockets, for example, is one way of reducing the amount of paper and ink consumed in a business, as well as the cost of the physical storage of those paper files.

Adopting new ways of doing business electronically increases efficiency and accuracy and reduces the human-related costs of manual paper pushing, freeing up employee time for more value-add activities. Consider the adoption of EDI – Electronic Data Interchange - and switching to electronic and automated forms of business document management as part of your drive towards being a more sustainable business.

The master data challenge

One of the first challenges in terms of sustainability and circularity lies in obtaining information from upstream suppliers of goods, services and raw materials – this includes everything from components and supplies to packaging and energy.

The second part of that challenge is to ensure that information is accurate, complete and up to date; that the data quality is high. Collecting this information is not unfortunately a one-off exercise, so the process needs to be efficient with the minimum of manual human intervention in its collection, cleansing and standardisation. This is an area that GS1 data standards can support in terms of data definitions and data interoperability.

Challenges present new opportunities

Evolving a business to be more circular and sustainable presents an opportunity to adapt to new business processes and workflows and to incorporate sustainability data management as part of ongoing digital transformation initiatives.

Across many industry sectors businesses today leverage barcode

scanning to enable automatic data capture, which is fast, accurate and economically effective.

New 2-dimensional (2D) barcode types including Data Matrix and QR codes offer ways to share information about products, assets, locations and more, in a quick, accurate and cost-effective manner. Combining these 2D barcodes with data sharing standards including GS1 Digital Link opens a new world of possibilities to create multiple connections between products, consumers, and regulators.

By scanning 2D barcodes:

• Trade customers and consumers can find the fuller story behind products – where they originated, what they contain and where they have been during their supply chain journey

• 2D barcodes can help retailers to easily record and track products by batch or serial number

• Regulators can identify, validate and count products for recycling schemes and regulatory compliance purposes. Meeting the expectations of customers will require next-level product data management capabilities across the value chain. Today GS1 standards provide a trusted and proven way for organisations to identify and trace companies, locations, products and more, to support their sustainability and circular economy initiatives.

Over 3,700 organisations in Ireland use GS1’s global standards to help manage the sharing of product and sales information along their supply chains. GS1 data standards help to connect data repositories and to break open data silos within and between organisations.

Maximise the benefits of GS1 standards adoption

Consider these four steps to ensure you maximise the benefits to your business by fully deploying GS1 standards

1. Ensure every single product sold in-store or online has its own unique digital identity with a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)

2. Connect all newly issued digital product identities to the GS1 Global Product Registry so trading partners and other stakeholders can check the data using Verified by GS1

3. Use a single, multi-purpose 2D barcode encoded with GS1 standards to unlock a range of ways to deliver new experiences to consumers and to improve business operations.

4. Use GS1 data sharing standards to ensure reliable and complete information gets to everyone who needs it and to support transparent and traceable supply chains.

Contact GS1 Ireland today to learn more www.gs1ie.org/ standards/intelligent-barcodes

SEAN DENNISON GS1 Ireland.

How a simple to use phone system can help you do business better

All businesses today are looking for innovative ways to stay ahead of the competition, and the Hardware industry is no different. One of the simplest and cost-effective ways to achieve this is by having a cloud-based phone system. By taking advantage of the cloud, businesses of all sizes can increase their efficiency and scalability, while reducing their costs.

Don’t be put off by some of the jargon out there – cloudbased just relates to how you control your phone calls –much as all your online banking, emails and even how you book your holidays is all done online, the same can now be done with the way your phone calls work. Traditional phone systems were a box that sat in the corner of your office or shop and acted as a way of routing calls. But things have moved on substantially since then.

It’s the same for the way that our calls are now being handled. Cloud-based phone systems handle calls via the internet rather than through traditional phone lines. Which means that if you have broadband, you can use that line to make and receive phone calls (and if you need broadband, we do that too) – so if you’re still paying line rental, this can be eliminated straight away. This system (known as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP) isn’t a new technology, rather by 2025 nearly all phone calls across Europe will be carried this way.

Cloud-based phone systems offer a host of features and benefits that can help businesses expand their reach and increase their productivity. These systems are often more cost-effective than traditional phone systems because they don’t require any hardware, and they don’t require a longterm contract or commitment. Additionally, they provide businesses with the ability to scale quickly and easily as their business grows.

We’ve all been in the hardware shop where the phone is ringing but all the staff are busy. And that could be the next big sale, going unanswered. With cloud-based systems such as IP Telecom’s, calls can go to multiple devices at the same time or be sent to specific numbers if all staff are busy. Calls can go to physical phones, laptops, mobiles –

wherever you want it to go. If you’re in the storeroom of the yard, you can answer calls through a wireless headset or earpiece that allows you to take the call and have both hands free.

And if you are a larger operation and run a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, our system integrates with multiple systems, so customer records are kept up to date and you can see who is calling and what it’s about even before you answer.

With flexibility and connectivity key to any business, cloudbased phone systems allow businesses to access the same features and services from any location, at any time. This makes it easier for businesses to stay connected and reach customers, no matter where they are. There’s often no need for any new handsets either as we can deploy second lines onto your mobile devices using VoIP based softphones – which allows you access to your landline number or extension from anywhere, so you can keep your business number separate from your personal mobile number.

We’ve worked with many in the hardware sector, from single shops through to combining six different phone systems and premises under the one system – and removing loads of line rentals – for Grange Builders Providers, you can read more about this on our website. IP Telecom is a dedicated, Irish-owned, business to business communications provider and proud to be a Corporate Partner of HAI.

For more information visit www.iptelecom.ie or call us on 01 687 7777

RORY J WHELAN Head of Marketing, IP Telecom.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software provides numerous advantages for retailers

ERP can revolutionise the way retailers manage and streamline their operations. Here are some key benefits:

Centralised Management: ERP software integrates all aspects of retail operations into a single unified system. This centralisation allows retailers to efficiently oversee stock, sales, purchases, customer data, and financials from a single platform, eliminating data silos and enhancing decision-making.

Enhanced Efficiency: Automating routine tasks like stock management, order processing, and invoicing saves time and reduces human errors. Retailers can optimise processes and focus on core business activities, ultimately leading to increased productivity and reduced operational costs.

Real-time Data Insights: ERP systems offer real-time analytics and reporting. Retailers can access critical performance metrics, sales trends, and stock levels instantly, enabling them to make datadriven decisions promptly. This agility helps in adapting to market changes and customer preferences quickly.

Stock Optimisation: With ERP, retailers gain a comprehensive view of their stock across various locations. This enables them to maintain optimal stock levels, avoid stockouts, and reduce

overstocking, leading to minimised stock holding costs and improved cash flow.

Customer Relationship Management: ERP solutions include CRM functionalities, allowing retailers to manage customer data, track interactions, and personalise marketing strategies. Building stronger customer relationships enhances loyalty and boosts sales. Streamlined Supply Chain: ERP facilitates seamless communication between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers. Retailers can forecast demand accurately, manage supplier relationships, and coordinate logistics efficiently, resulting in a smoother supply chain.

Compliance and Security: ERP systems aid retailers in adhering to industry regulations and security standards. Data encryption and role-based access controls safeguard sensitive information, protecting both the retailer and their customers.

In conclusion, ERP software empowers retailers with the tools needed to optimise operations, enhance customer experiences, and stay competitive in the fast-paced retail industry. By leveraging the advantages of ERP, retailers can achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.

Cut down on paperwork with effortless document management

Dealing with the constant influx of paperwork and manual data entry can be overwhelming, leading to valuable time and resources being wasted. The key to overcoming these challenges and achieving greater efficiencies relies on harnessing cutting-edge solutions that effectively simplify and streamline your document management processes.

Intact inDocs is an innovative solution that effortlessly handles all your document management needs. This new addition to Intact iQ’s next-generation ERP software, combines cutting-edge technologies like QR Code, OCR, and PDF text scraping to provide an easy and integrated document storage and retrieval system. This in-house development ensures a reliable and integrated solution without the need for third-party platforms. There are two main components to Intact inDocs: inScan and inAP. You can choose to use either one or both applications depending on your needs. With inScan, you can digitise and organise your documents effortlessly. From proof of deliveries to purchase invoices, it automatically links documents to relevant transactions in Intact. No more sorting required! inAP revolutionises your purchase ledger management, reducing manual data entry and freeing up time for more strategic tasks. It utilises text scraping and OCR for accurate data extraction, and with its web interface, you can make informed decisions swiftly.

With Intact inDocs, you can bid farewell to manual paperwork and embrace streamlined and efficient document management. To learn more about inDocs document management or to see how Intact iQ can get you operating at your best, get in touch at 042-9331742 or email info@intactsoftware.com

Family-run merchant up their game with a digital trading system for a more efficient and profitable business

Renowned bathroom, plumbing, and tile merchants, McDaids, have implemented K8 Trader from Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) as their new digital business management system so they can improve efficiencies and deliver greater customer service in-store and online. KCS is a world-class ERP and business management software provider for merchants, distributors and retailers, and K8 Trader is their comprehensive cloud-based solution for small to medium-sized businesses. Having used and evaluated a number of systems, McDaids are embarking upon a profitable new chapter in their history with K8 Trader as they expand and future-proof their business. Established in 1974 on the Isle of Doagh, McDaids is a family-run business that sells to the trade and consumers from their extensive store in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. “It’s great that K8 Trader is fast,’ says Lisha Mhlanga, McDaid’s IT & Marketing Executive. “Product enquiries happen instantly, meaning we can serve customers quickly and further improve our service levels.”

One key differentiator is K8 Trader’s ‘one-screen’ functionality. This feature makes it easy for staff of all abilities to administer the various parts of a successful merchant business, with instant access to the information they need. Also, the tilespecific features create a smoother sales process for the business. For example, a big challenge for tile merchants concerns how they calculate the tiles needed for a project. “Instead of our sales staff working out tile quantity requirements by hand,” Lisha explains, “they simply input the length and width into K8 Trader to instantly learn how many tiles and boxes are required for the project. It’s a very intelligent system, yet so simple in how it helps us maximise sales and minimise potential wastage.”

McDaids are delighted with the speed of their new system in processing sales orders and enquiries. With K8 Trader’s fast Sales Order Processing module, products and records appear instantly. As the movements are updated immediately within the system, McDaids can confidently sell without multiple checks.

“Before, we’d have to devote two days to running stock takes. But with K8 Trader, sales and goods receive updates immediately, so we’ll always have the correct closing stock value. Also, seeing instant trading stats - with positive and negative results for each line - saves time and helps make better decisions. K8 Trader is a real game changer for us.”

“We’re delighted to partner with McDaids,’ explains James Mitchell, KCS Ireland & UK Managing Director. “We’re always innovating and delivering software solutions to help our customers be more successful. One such example is WebPro, our fully integrated B2B and B2C web platform, which McDaids will shortly introduce in their business. Once in place, McDaids will save more time and lose that second layer of processing as orders taken on the website feed directly into their management system for immediate processing.”

“We can trade with increased confidence because K8 Trader is a cloud-based system,” Lisha concludes. We know that all our customer data is secure and protected in case of any cyberattack or system failure. So, we can get on with providing outstanding service to our customers without worrying about backups or server maintenance.

You can learn more about the advantages of K8 Trader at www.kerridgecs.com

Data and Decisions

The Hardware Journal asked Justin Lawless, CEO at Intact, headline sponsor at The Hardware Show 2024, to outline some key data reports that are available to Hardware Stores & Builders merchants through their ERP Software.

Mark Twain said, “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them”, and I’m pretty sure he’d say the same today about data. We’re continuously collecting data in our businesses, and we’re told of its value, but it’s only valuable if we get curious about it.

As providers of data collecting tech, we often get asked about trends in trends, that is to say, what are people in our industry measuring these days? I wanted to share some of these insights; they may be valuable to someone who reads it. So, what are people in the industry thinking about and looking at today?

1. Trade Customer Pricelists and Terms Analysis - Agreed pricelists stick around much longer than initially planned, so analysing them is a good idea. Here are a few things many of our users are considering:

• Keep it simple - Excessive complications in pricing erode margins and make it onerous to review and revise. Despite expiry dates being set, rolling them forward unchanged is more straightforward and, therefore, too common. The old approach was to give each customer a price to maximise profit, but when prices started moving quickly upwards, this became impossible to maintain. The new policy is to boil down and simplify customers to groups and then attach prices to those smaller groups.

• Discounts given on non-price-sensitive items is margin that the merchant could and should retain.

• How often are your staff overwriting agreed prices at the time of transacting? Measuring manually priced items (or margin) by customer and by salesperson/rep can paint a meaningful picture. Overriding the systemsuggested price can tell us a couple of things:

– lots of manual price overriding - perhaps the prices aren’t competitive enough.

– low levels of manual price overriding - maybe the prices are too competitive.

2. Transaction analysis is always the favourite, but what are people looking at right now on top of their regular budget vs actual and actual vs last year vs last month?

• % and monetary value of discounted transaction linesself-explanatory and nothing new to anyone in this world (this ties in with pricelist maintenance)

• Single line transactions - how many, how often, and why? Related products are an opportunity to upsell when prompting the user and customer at the point of sale.

• Average order values - YoY, Year over rolling 12 months, Month over Month Last Year

• Volume, Volume, Volume - the ups and downs of material prices make value less informative when analysing comparatives - though it requires a wellmaintained product and product classification dataset.

• Trending product categories - energy saving, renewables, and water products continue to outperform other categories.

3. The Customer - in this people-to-people business, your customer is getting much attention from your competitors, so paying attention to trends is essential. Here are some of the things our users are keeping an eye on:

• Customer loyalty - sales drift, what was the customer buying from you and is no longer buying? Once again, this can be related to agreed price lists which is why it started in position one on this list!

• Customer contacts - how often are your customers being contacted by your team? How can it be measured if it’s not in the CRM?

Justin Lawless, CEO Intact.

• New accounts not (or under) trading - setting up a new account can take time, depending on your process. Check to see new customers and how much trading they have been doing since they became a customer. Many are now storing an expected budget against each customer and monitoring it to actual performance.

• Invoice Queries and Invoice to Credit Note ratio trends - understanding the reasons for raising credit notes is topical at the moment, so capturing this information will be helpful in better understanding any trends, for example, if many credits are being raised, and ‘Pricing Adjustment’ is the selected reason, this once again links back to pricelists and terms.

• Quotation Analysis - a particular favourite - how much time are your staff spending creating quotations? Finding the correct products, ensuring accurate pricing, and sending them to your customers. And then, too often, not being followed up. What is the conversion ratio per rep? Much value is locked up in ‘active and unfollowed’ quotations that can be a daily or weekly task for the team. It can also provide essential insights into your pricelists!

• Budget variances - We see budgeting trending toward quantity, volume or weight-based budgets to smooth out price fluctuations.

• An important thing to think about when analysing customers is to group them into cohorts based on size or location, industry, or branch. Contemplating opportunities that might exist with one customer while analysing another only makes sense if the customers are in the same cohort, i.e., seeking upselling opportunities by measuring if Customer 1 is buying X and is also buying Y – only works if the control

Customer 2 is a similar size or industry or dealing with a particular branch.

4. The Products - Supply chain constraints drove particular behaviours in the market, added to inflation, and normalising made replacement product costs lower. As such, specific attention is being paid to the following:

• Stock accuracy - more frequent cyclical stock checks and ABC revisions are more common now.

• Specials/non-stocked items - are the right items being stocked and sourced from the right vendor, or are alternative suppliers and manufacturers being sought?

• Specials/non-stocked items received and not yet delivered or, worse, cancelled, a.k.a Dead Specials.

• OTIF - on time in full - on both the sales and supplier side - how often are these goals being achieved by both you and your suppliers, and are there particular products or suppliers that underperform?

These are some of the trends we are seeing across the marketplace at the moment, and perhaps one or two of these might inspire you to look at your data differently or more frequently.

Our philosophy is ‘record your data, measure your data, control your processes’ when it comes to the purpose of your system. I’d love to hear from anyone about other essential measures in your business data and whyjustin@intact.ie

Magico AB CommerceCreating Smart Commerce

Why Magico?

Magico is an award-winning eCommerce agency that has been delivering online solutions to Irish retailers since 1999. All their online stores are built on their own proprietary eCommerce platform, AB Commerce.

Magico’s focus is to get your company live fast and grow fast. They work closely with ambitious retailers who see their team as an extension of their own internal team. This partnership approach is how they have taken retailers across many industries from six figure revenues annually to six figure revenues per month. Today they are proud to work with some of the country’s best known and loved retail brands including www.stakelums.ie, www.caulfieldindustrial.com, www.murtaghs.ie, www.airimpact.ie, www.powertool.ie, www.heavins.ie, www.toolfix.ie and many more.

Why AB Commerce?

AB Commerce is a turnkey eCommerce platform supported by a local expert community. It brings all the technical features of a modern cloud-based eCommerce platform to businesses that want to do more, better, faster and go beyond the online boundaries.

• Magico own the platform, they control it

• AB Commerce is Irish owned and Irish developed for Irish Retailers

• AB Commerce integrates with leading ERP/ePOS systems including Intact, SAP B1, Epicor and Meridian

• AB Commerce (Analytics Based Commerce) offers powerful analytics driven out of the box solution to start selling fast

• AB Commerce is one common shared platform with regular free and paid upgrades, so your online solution never goes out of date

• AB Commerce offers powerful B2C & B2B capabilities

Magico AB Commerce allows retailers to focus on what they do best, trading in their businesses, safe in the knowledge that their digital flagship store is operating seamlessly. For more information visit www.magico.ie

LCMS LtdCredit Management and Cash-Flow Solutions

LCMS Limited is an Irish company based in Naas that provides services in areas of credit control and overdue account collections to individuals, partnerships, companies, and government bodies/agencies. They operate in the most efficient and professional way which has allowed them to build a portfolio of satisfied clients from a spectrum of industries. They also pride themselves on their ability to maintain a professional and quality relationship between their clients and their customers. This preserves future business to allow their clients to grow by successfully unlocking their money.

LCMS are certified compliant to international standards ISO27001 and ISO9001, so their clients are assured that their data is handled and processed to the highest international standard. They are members of the Credit Services Association in the UK and were recently recognised for Excellence in Credit and Debt Management services for the public sector.

LCMS now offer a highly efficient outsourced credit control service where they can contact your current customers in your company name remotely using your phone number to ensure efficient payment of your invoices with all the administrative pressures taken away. Their friendly and highly trained credit controllers can increase your cash-flow while saving you in areas such as staff time, annual leave cover, phone and letter costs and PRSI etc. while also allowing your business to expand.

HAI Members are offered an initial free one to one consultation.

You can contact Billy Nolan, Director of Operations at LCMS at 045 431143, www.lcms.ie

BOI Payment Acceptance

BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA) has partnered with Hardware Association Ireland to offer members exceptional value and service on card acceptance. They have a terminal option for every scenario - in-store, on-the-go, over the phone, online. They can help you accept payments wherever your customers are.

Why choose BOIPA?

• No hidden fees - No PCI fees, Authorisation fees, Minimum monthly fees.

• Next Day Settlement - The money will be in your account the next working day (irrespective of who you bank with).

• Simple switchover - Digital boarding process and easy set up.

• 24/7 customer support - and nationwide field engineer team.

• Integrated with leading hardware EPOS systems including Agility Software.

Visit BOIPA.com/HAI for more information.

Unleashing efficiency: CORE retail and complementary apps

In the hardware and building materials sector staying ahead of your competitors requires efficient operations, streamlined processes and innovative solutions. At CORE Tech they understand the unique needs of hardware merchants, as they have been developing innovative solutions for over 40 years.

CORE’s ERP system forms the backbone of hardware and builders’ merchants’ operations. It can integrate various business functions such as sales, inventory management, pricing, purchasing and financial accounting into one easy to use platform.

While their ERP system empowers your business with a solid foundation, they understand that hardware merchants face unique challenges that demand specialised solutions. That’s why they offer a suite of powerful apps designed to supplement and enhance their ERP system, driving efficiencies throughout your business. These apps can be run from any Android or IOS device - removing the requirement for an expensive outlay on computer hardware.

CORE Sales order app is a powerful tool for your sales team. With real time accurate information such as product prices and customer information at their fingertips, sales representatives no longer have to phone in orders or wait until they have access to a laptop. This empowers your sales team to close deals faster, provide accurate quotes and ensure customer satisfaction.

Being efficient on the shop floor is also crucial – CORE have a range of easy-to-use apps designed specifically to cater for these needs – including stocktaking, cycle counting, sales,

purchasing, goods inwards and in store pricing and labelling. They have seen how their mobile solutions transform day to day operations. Also, they can help you eliminate the issues of disputed deliveries and cumbersome paperwork with their proof of delivery app by enabling drivers to capture signatures, photos and even GPS co-ordinates when dropping onsite.

“We have recently completed stock takes across our branch network, using the CORE Stock mobile app with Bluetooth barcode scanners. Feedback from our staff was very positive and I would be happy to recommend this to others.” Michael O’Driscoll, Bandon Co-Op.

Analytics Dashboard drives informed decision making. CORE`s analytics dashboard integrates seamlessly with their ERP system, providing you with visualisations, key performance indicators to monitor sales trends, inventory turnover etc. As a hardware store or builders merchant you need a comprehensive system tailored to your unique requirements. CORE goes beyond that by offering a suite of powerful apps that complement their ERP system, revolutionising the way you do business. From streamlining operations and optimising inventory management to empowering your sales team and providing valuable insights, their ERP system combined with complementary apps drives efficiency, propels growth and positions your company at the forefront of the hardware merchant industry.

For further information visit https://coretechnology.ie/

Avoiding burglaries, damage and financial losses to large structures

In the Hardware & Building Materials sector warehouses, yards & sheds contain immense amounts of valuable stock, often worth millions of euros. Any breach can cause significant financial losses and can also cause emotional and mental strain on employees and owners. This industry, in particular, relies on storing stock in large and sometimes unprotected structures which makes them vulnerable to theft. To provide peace of mind to owners and ensure secure safe storage of their stock, Mynet have outlined essential guidance on optimising large structure security.

Implementing video surveillance system - remote monitoring

Effective video surveillance cameras play a crucial role in ensuring large structure security and offer a cost-efficient alternative to security guards. The mere presence of cameras often serves as a deterrent to potential criminals. In the event of an intrusion, the Mynet intervention specialist’s monitoring the facility is notified for immediate action. This includes alerting the appropriate authorities and keyholders/owners.

Through the use of video surveillance, you can also effectively monitor health and safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards. This helps to mitigate risks, minimise liability, and prevent work-related injuries.

Public adress (PA) system and audio warnings

Audio warnings, delivered through a Public Address (PA) system, are an essential component of any remotely monitored surveillance system. These warnings, dispatched by the Mynet intervention specialists, play a vital role in enhancing the proactivity of CCTV systems. With an audio warning, intruders instantly become aware that they are being monitored, and that the authorities are on their way. In fact, Mynet have statistics that say almost all incidents of theft can be potentially prevented through the use of live audio warnings.

Intruder alarm

Having an Intruder Alarm system installed on your site is crucial and can effectively deter potential intruders and prevent any damage. Once a sensor is triggered, you and/or the monitoring centre will be immediately notified of any unwelcome presence on your property, enabling you to take prompt action to safeguard your site. It’s a smart idea to think about installing an access control system, proper lighting, and fencing around your large outdoor structure to ensure your valuable items are securely stored. This way, you can feel confident that everything is well-protected.

For further information contact, Ana Zupetic, ana@mynet.ie, or on 062 69112 / 083 892 6264

IntelliBrand introduces new customer sales health features

WASP Technologies have recently added extensive new features to their IntelliBrand Sales Platform, which leverage AI to provide greater information around your customer sales health. No more sifting through endless spreadsheets and struggling to make sense of your sales data. There is now a smarter and more efficient way to analyse your customer sales health.

IntelliBrand sales health features are designed to provide in-depth insights into your customer sales like never before. Using advanced machine learning algorithms, IntelliBrand effortlessly analyses your customers and product sales data, allowing you to uncover hidden patterns, trends, and opportunities that can significantly benefit your business’s bottom line. With IntelliBrand, you can effortlessly track key metrics such as customer retention, churn rate, revenue growth, and sales forecasting. The intuitive interface makes it easy for you to understand the health of your sales at a glance. Furthermore, IntelliBrand’s powerful predictive analytics capabilities empower you to anticipate customer behaviour and make data-driven decisions to drive revenue growth.

Sales reps now have detailed customer health information available to them at their fingertips in their IntelliBrand app, with the ability to view dashboards and drill into sales data.

They can set filters to focus on customers in decline and with no orders YTD, so that actions can be taken to increase sales and meet targets. It will highlight those customers that have not been called on recently to prompt a call and get their sales back on track. Don’t let valuable insights slip through the cracks. Unlock the full potential of your sales with IntelliBrand.

For more information and a demonstration of the IntelliBrand Health feature, please contact info@wasptech.com

Plumbing & Heating Trends

Builders Merchant News in the UK, www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/Heating-and-plumbingtrends-for-2022-and-beyond/52042, outlines a recent industry report by Delta-EE that suggests home energy management will grow by about 30% annually over the next five years, as homeowners seek lower bills. The moment large energy suppliers start offering lower tariffs for more efficient homes, it is likely to affect sales.

The publication also says that Push-fit fittings have an increasingly important role to play in solving a growing problem for the plumbing and heating industry – a shortage of skills. Research by the Skills Training Group in the UK shows an alarming decline in the number of people entering the industry in recent years.

While the industry is working hard to attract new talent and apprentices, they say there’s also a need for faster, simpler and more efficient technologies. Helping compensate for the lack of expertise, push-fit ticks all of these boxes, so expect it to gain even more traction.

Some wider industry news and trends include -

Energy Efficiency: Consumers in Ireland & the UK have also shown increasing interest in energy-efficient plumbing and heating solutions. With a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability and cost-saving measures, consumers are seeking products that are more energy-efficient and ecofriendly, such as high-efficiency boilers, smart thermostats, and renewable energy heating systems.

Smart Home Technology: The adoption of smart home technology has extended to plumbing and heating systems. Consumers are embracing smart thermostats, leak detection

systems, and remote-controlled heating systems, which offer greater convenience, energy savings, and control over their home environments.

Renewable Energy Sources: As part of the broader sustainability movement, there is a rising interest in renewable energy-based heating solutions. Solar water heaters, groundsource heat pumps, and biomass boilers have gained traction among environmentally conscious consumers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Water Conservation: With increasing awareness of water scarcity issues, consumers are looking for plumbing fixtures and systems that promote water conservation. Low-flow toilets, water-saving taps, and rainwater harvesting systems are gaining popularity as consumers seek to minimise water wastage.

Health and Hygiene: Consumers are more conscious of the cleanliness of their water supply and are investing in water purifiers, water softeners, and filtration systems to ensure the safety and quality of their drinking water.

Online Shopping: Like many industries, the Plumbing & Heating sector has seen a surge in online shopping. Consumers are increasingly researching and purchasing plumbing and heating products through e-Commerce platforms due to the convenience, a wide range of options, and competitive prices.

These trends are likely to continue evolving in Ireland & the UK as consumer preferences, technological advancements, and regulatory changes continue to shape the Plumbing & Heating industry.

Image courtesy of Sonas Bathrooms.

Grant leading the way with its efficient & effective professional heating design service

Dedicated to providing comprehensive calculations which enable the correct specification of sustainable heating technologies and relevant supporting products, Grant is leading the way with its free-of-charge professional heating design service.

To ensure a fully integrated heating system, Grant offers those working on new build or retrofit properties a free of charge 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 heating design service ensures that each property’s heating solution is bespoke, bringing it into a new class of efficiency.

Commenting on the continued success of the Grant heating design service, Barry Gorman, National Renewables Sales Manager at Grant said, “We have been offering our heating design service to professionals within the heating industry for several years now and are delighted to see so many availing of the service throughout Ireland. As a company, it is a priority for us to ensure that our heating technologies can be specified and installed with minimal effort for the heating engineer. This is why we offer the services that we do, whether it be the free of charge heating design service or indeed our range of product awareness and installation training courses.”

are recommended. These calculations are included as standard by the technical specialists at Grant as part of the heating design service.

In addition to providing the heat load requirement for each room, which helps to calculate the output of the air to water air source heat pump, the Grant team also correctly sizes and specifies complementary technologies for each individual build. This includes supporting technologies like the Grant Integrated Unit, hot water cylinder range and heat emitters for each room in the home whether that be radiators, and / or underfloor heating.

Specifically, when a heat pump like the Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pump is chosen as the main heat source, then full heat loss calculations in line with SR:50 requirements

Avail of Grant’s free of charge heating design service in two easy steps:

1. Send planning drawings, contact information and your preferred choice of heating emitters (rads, underfloor or both) to heatpump@grant.ie

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

Following submission of the information required, heat loss calculations will be carried out by the Grant technical team. Once complete, you will then receive full property specifications with recommended products all available from Grant. Think Heating. Think Grant.

Visit www.grant.ie for more information on Grant’s range of innovative heating solutions. Follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL.

Grant Aerona3 R32 air source heat pump.

Grant professional home heating design service.

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@grant.ie

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

UEL now distributing Flamco Expansion Vessels

Uppercross are delighted to announce that they are now distributing the comprehensive range of Flamco diaphragm expansion vessels available to customers nationwide.

Flamco HFC (Hydronic Flow Control) – Part of the Aalberts group produces a comprehensive range of diaphragm expansion vessels, equipped with innovative technology and both the steel vessel and the diaphragm are manufactured to the highest quality and are factory tested. They are compliant with all prevailing European standards and carry the CE mark of conformity. This wide range of expansion vessels is suitable for both potable, chilled and heated water systems in sizes ranging from 2 litres up to 8,000 litres.

Flamco Expansion Vessels offer a range of features and benefits that make them the ideal choice for a wide variety of applications. One key feature is that Flamco vessels are renowned for their high-quality construction. They are built to last, with durable materials that can withstand the pressures and demands of modern plumbing and heating systems.

Performance is another key feature, so all Flamco Expansion Vessels are designed to provide a reliable and consistent performance, ensuring that your customer`s plumbing and heating systems operate efficiently and effectively. With a focus on efficiency these vessels operate with minimal energy consumption, helping to reduce your customer`s energy bills and minimise their carbon footprint, making them the perfect choice for customers who prioritise environmental sustainability.

The installers choice:

The fixed bag-type diaphragm is a key feature recognised by installers, mainly due to its ability to prevent water coming into contact with the bare steel of the vessel.

Niall Fitzgerald, UEL Sales Director says ‘The versatility of the range is impressive, with a vast range of sizes and capacities available to suit all types of applications. With options for both heating and potable water systems available across the Baseflex, Contra-flex, Flowfix and Airfix P range of vessels, for use in domestic and commercial applications – it’s the complete solution”.

“Here at Uppercross we pride ourselves on partnering with brands that are the best in their category and also align with our company values, so we are delighted to include Flamco Expansion Vessels to our product portfolio”.

For further enquiries contact sales@uel.ie or 01-400 0000 or your UEL area sales manager.

In recent years, Sonas has noted a shift towards embracing colour in bathroom design, moving away from the traditional white fixtures. Among the various colours that have gained significant popularity, black has emerged as a dominant and enduring choice within interior design due to its simplicity, timeless appeal, and elegance.

Reflecting the growing demand for black products, Sonas has seen an increase in demand of over 100% since 2020 across various product categories, including shower enclosures, brassware, accessories, and even sanitaryware.

Anne-Marie Craig, Sonas Nationwide Showroom Designer, shares her thoughts on incorporating black in bathroom design: “I love working with black and creating monochrome spaces in

Increase in demand for black products since 2020 Partnership with Habitat for Humanity

Sonas Bathrooms are also proud to announce their partnership with Habitat for Humanity Ireland by supporting the charity’s social enterprise Habitat ReStore. Based on the value of products that will be donated, Sonas becomes the most significant corporate partner of Habitat. Habitat ReStore directly tackles poverty in Ireland by helping families access low-cost home improvement materials, providing training and employability support and diverting thousands of tons of material from landfill protecting the planet.

Jenny Williams, Chief Executive, Habitat for Humanity Ireland said “We are thrilled to announce this formal partnership with Sonas, which is our most significant all Ireland partnership and will make a real impact on the people we support. Since 2012, Habitat ReStore has opened four stores across Northern Ireland and launched in Drogheda in 2022, with plans to expand throughout Ireland. Our stores sell donated building supplies and home improvement materials at low prices, enabling local people to improve their homes, while also raising vital funds worldwide.”

For more information see www.sonasbathrooms.com

my designs. It’s a simple yet incredibly effective choice. Some people worry that the absence of colour might make the space feel cold or clinical, but in reality, it creates a restful and tranquil atmosphere.”

In the latest addition to the ever-popular Scandinavian collection exclusive to Sonas, black takes centre stage. Its versatile tone allows for endless possibilities when reimagining and designing the perfect bathroom. This strong and independent colour can be seamlessly mixed with various fixtures in different finishes, including chrome, brushed gold, and brushed nickel. Sonas say that with the right lighting and accent colours, incorporating black elements in your customer`s bathroom can instantly transform their space into an elegant design that feels modern, sleek, and clean.

Louise Murphy, Sonas with Jenny Williams, CEO, Habitat for Humanity and Bryan Hockley, Operations Director Sonas.

Designed to Impress

A new range of sustainable and stylish taps and showers from SONAS.

• Cold Start Technology saving energy

• Aerators infusing air and saving water

• Supplied with choice of smooth and knurled handles

Impressed? Discover the full ALITA range.

Chrome

Matt Black

Make the quality connection with Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” Pipe

Drawing on 50 years of manufacturing experience from their production plant in Cork, Pipelife has been to the forefront in developing innovative products. Being a leader through continuous innovation and providing solutions that address the challenges that plumbing professionals face every day is who they are. Whether your customer is repairing a water pipe, installing an underfloor heating system, upgrading their heating or plumbing a system on a new house, Pipelife Ireland provides proven solutions that save them time, reduce costs, and have the versatility to overcome the most difficult situations.

Long-lasting, safe and reliable products have always been the hallmark of the Pipelife name.

Pipelife is one of Europe’s leading producers of plastic pipe systems. Pipelife has grown to become a key supplier of innovative products in the plumbing, water distribution, gas distribution and renewable energy industrial sectors.

On every product they make, you’ll find the Pipelife monogram proudly stamped, as a mark of trusted authenticity and quality. And behind this mark is the most rigorous design, engineering and testing process that’s helped build their trusted reputation for over 50 years. For complete quality control, they engineer everything in-house at Pipelife, including their own moulds, tools and machinery.

Reasons to use the New Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” Pipe Pipelife`s new Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” Pipe is more than meets the eye. It’s been specially designed for the installer. It’s an amazingly flexible, incredibly efficient & versatile system.

Ultra Flexible

The new Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” Pipe is noticeably more flexible than other pipes. It’s quick and easy to uncoil and the flexible material allows you to manoeuvre the pipe with complete ease. Increased flexibility delivers added value. Now easier and quicker to install using less materials and less labour. Your customer will save every time.

Manufactured in Ireland

Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” is 100% Irish made and is manufactured to the most stringent standards allowing your customer to install with confidence. Plus, with every purchase of Qual-Pex Plus+ Easy-Lay Pipe your customer is supporting Irish Jobs!

Quality Choice

Your customer is choosing a quality product manufactured by a trusted leader of plumbing & heating pipe in Ireland. With almost 50 years’ experience this means that their next phase of plumbing success starts here!

Versatile

Qual-Pex Plus+ “Easy-Lay” Pipe is designed to complement Pipelife`s existing ranges of Qual-PEX Easy-Crimp and Tectite fittings. The pipe is also recommended for use with standard brass compression fittings, and manifolds, as well as with some specific press and push-fit fittings. Available in Tan in lengths and coils, in imperial sizes of ½” (14.7mm), ¾” (21.0mm), and 1” (27.4mm), and in white in metric sizes of 16mm, 20mm, 26mm & 32mm.‘Qual-PEX Plus+ Easy-Lay’ will be provided in ‘Pipe-in-Pipe’ ‘Eco-Pex’ & Eco-DUO’ formats.

Put to the Test

To ensure performance at the very highest standards Pipelife have a state-of-the-art test lab. Here they batch check the quality of all their products. Pressure, thermal, endurance and impact testing are carried out, along with a full range of approvals to gain relevant accreditation.

QUALITY YOU TRUST, FLEXIBILITY YOU WANT, VALUE YOU DESERVE.

For more information visit their website www.pipelife.ie or contact their sales department on 021 4884700 / 021 4510600 or e-mail them at ireland@pipelife.com

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Avail of a brand new Affinity Deal for HAI members

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E: Denise.Mccarthy@Brinks.com

Qual-Pex Plus+ Easy-Lay Pipe is noticeably more flexible than other pipes. It’s quick and easy to uncoil and the flexible material allows you to manoeuvre the pipe with complete ease.

EVERY METRE COUNTS!

Qual-Pex Plus+ ‘Easy-Lay’ Pipe is available in tan lengths and coils, in imperial sizes of 1⁄2”, 3⁄4”, and 1” and white multilayer sizes of 16mm, 20mm, 26mm & 32mm. This extensive range of pipe offers installers the solutions they need. Your next phase of plumbing success starts here!

FLAT | FAST | FLEXIBLE