The Hardware Journal March/April 2024

Want to find the perfect front door colour for your home?

Reach out to our Let’s Chat Colour team for a complementary colour consultation.

E: letschatcolour@akzonobel.com

DM us via @duluxIreland on Facebook or @duluxirl on Instagram to book a call.

Painting your front door can transform the look of your whole house. Dulux are delighted to announce the launch of six new bespoke colours, available for colour mixing into a satin or high gloss finish, perfect for refreshing front doors, wood and metal.

Visit weathershield.ie and dulux.ie for more handy colour schemes, tips and inspiration.

messagefromtheCEO

The Hardware Show 2024 was a great success. We were hoping that it would be the biggest and most successful on record. And it was. Our visitor numbers were up by 17% on 2022, and by every metric both our exhibitors and visitors were satisfied with the event and are keen to visit and exhibit again in 2026. It was a major team effort with valued input from the HAI Board Hardware Show subcommittee, the HAI team, all our sponsors, our exhibitors, visitors and EventHaus who projectmanaged the event. Thanks to all.

It gave the sector a great boost to start the year. For a full report on The Hardware Show, The Innovation Awards and the President’s Ball please see pages 35 to 45.

The Business Index figures are in for Quarter Four and the full year 2023. In brief it is showing a flat market - there was 1% growth in Q4 and an overall growth of 1% in the sector in the year. While there is no shortage of demand – issues of project affordability, a shortage of tradespeople and competition for the consumer’s wallet from holidays and new cars are having an impact. In 2023 in GB the market decreased by 5%. Renewables bucked the trend showing an increase of 28%, albeit from a low base. It is likely that there is considerable opportunity in this market here as well. We need to better understand it and how HAI members can be a valuable part of the supply chain. HAI are setting up subcommittees for both suppliers and merchants to address the opportunity. For those interested please get in contact. Rejuvenating empty homes continues to present a huge opportunity to the sector. A few weeks ago, an information evening hosted by Topline Rogers in Ballymote attracted an audience of 250, see page 11. The idea is gaining momentum and hosting an information evening is a great way for merchants to connect with potential customers and to gain new business. HAI will support merchants who decide to progress this. In the next few weeks HAI will combine with other like-minded businesses and professional associations to propose workable and effective incentives to address the opportunity in renovating these “above the shop” empty homes. Many of them have the potential to be turned into three or four homes. This would be a major catalyst in providing housing.

Last month HAI hosted a meeting with merchants on profitability. With participants’ information and a deep dive into information provided to the Companies Registration Office we now have a generic P&L for the sector. Based on the results of 23 merchants fairly representative of the sector – in size, focus and location - see page 9. This is a very key and timely insight. As we know, the Government is planning many labour and other changes. Recent Government statements have spoken about “rewarding enterprise.” If the proposed changes are let go through in their current form they will see the profitability of the sector halve over the next two years. HAI will not acquiesce to this. We have prepared our response and will roll it out in the run up to the local and European elections in June. This campaign will involve all 400 members.

In this issue we look at what is trending in the garden sector in mainland Europe and Gina Schaefer looks at the “returns” process in the US. We also have a supplier profile of manufacturer EliteForm`s SmartFence, tracking their success from a small business in the 1970s.

We look back on Page 52 at our successful Spring Training Programme and take a look at the progress of the HAI Certificate - enrolment for 2024/2025 is now open. There are also details on the Hardware Education Hub and free eLearning courses for your staff members, see pages 54 & 55.

HAI’s next board meetings will be offsite in Limerick and Cork - in May and September. We will invite local members to meet with the board for dinner and will have a guest speaker on the evening. In the meantime, HAI will be out and about meeting members around the country.

Martin Markey Chief Executive Officer - HAI

features

35 THE HARDWARE SHOW 2024 review in words, images and graphics

38 THE HARDWARE SHOW INNOVATION AWARDS bring excitement to the RDS

46 A VIEW FROM EUROPE: Regular contributor Thierry Coeman visits Kremer Natur Talente Garden Centre in Germany and sees how their long-term strategy of facilitating organic growth and bringing people back to nature is transcending the typical norm of garden centre offerings.

48 LOCAL RETAILING IN THE USA: Gina Schaefer tells us how `The Reverse Industry (returns) has been built up around retailers handling returns of $billions of goods every year` and how it affects us all, big and small.

training

52 HAI CERTIFICATE IN HARDWARE RETAIL AND MERCHANTING: Students have completed their Instore Finances, Operations and Instore Promotion training, by completing the Credit Control, Stock Control, Merchandising and Digital Marketing & Social Media modules.

53 HAI TRAINING: HAI’s Spring training began with an impactful Profit Maximisation workshop launched as part of the Association’s focus on business costs, it aims to assist organisations in maximising profits and optimising efficiencies.

54 eLEARNING: The latest in the new and improved Hardware Education Hub, including a new FREE eLearning product knowledge course on Agriflow Plastic Compression Fittings.

business support

56 TACTICAL TALENT RECRUITMENT Iseult McLaughlin brings us on a journey of Embracing Potential over Experience when recruiting.

57 SECURITAS TECHNOLOGY Denise McCarthy outlines The Role of Technology in Safeguarding your Business.

50 profiles

50 SUPPLIER PROFILE

Irish Manufacturer of SmartFence, EliteForm, tell us that `Good fencing makes good business` and how starting small, but thinking big, spotting opportunities and constantly innovating, yields stadium-scale success for family-run Irish manufacturer

COMMERCIAL FEATURES

58 BATHROOMS & SHOWERS

Consumer preferences and lifestyles are reflecting changes and trends in the Bathrooms and Showers Market. Some of the latest product and industry news is outlined.

67 ADHESIVES & SEALANTS

The Adhesives and Sealants market Is currently experiencing significant growth and transformation in 2024. Several key trends have emerged that are shaping the future of this industry. A look at the latest products and industry trends in this sector.

classified ads

75 A SELECTION OF CLASSIFIED ADS

THE WEATHERSHIELD ADVANTAGE

With a climate that veers between ‘bucketing down’ and ‘splitting the stones’ in the blink of an eye, is it any wonder that Dulux Weathershield continues to lead as one of Ireland’s preferred exterior paints?

Weathershield Ready

Mix Masonry Paints and Bespoke

Colours have a triple protect formula that inhibits the growth of mould, providing an extra layer of protection against the elements and leaving your customers home looking cleaner and fresher for longer. Superior coverage with every stroke guarantees maximum efficiency and value, delivering what Dulux call The Weathershield Advantage, just one of the many things that makes Dulux Weathershield one of the decorators’ - and homeowners’ – favourite paint!

ULTIMATE DURABILITY, WITH IMPROVED MOULD AND ALGAE PROTECTION

Maintain the beauty of your customer`s home exterior with Weathershield`s proven durable formula. The addition of the extra mould and algae protection means your customer`s house stays looking freshly painted for longer. The latest formula is three times more effective than any previous formula they have had.

SUPERIOR COVERAGE

In addition to exceptional durability and protection, Weathershield also offers one of the best exterior masonry

coverages on the market. With an amazing 16sqm per litre, your customer`s money goes much further when they buy Dulux Weathershield. That’s a big advantage.

BEAUTIFUL COLOURS MADE SPECIALLY FOR IRISH WEATHER

Whether your customer lives in the city or by the sea, Dulux`s expert colour consultants have chosen their range of colours to complement the beautiful Irish landscape. Not only are they specially selected for Ireland, but they’ve also made colour choice even easier with colour trios. Giving your customer Dulux approved colours that work perfectly together in any combination.

AIDAN DOYLE JOINS UNILIN INSULATION AS GENERAL MANAGER FOR UK AND IRELAND.

Aidan Doyle has joined insulation manufacturer, Unilin Insulation, as General Manager for both the Ireland and UK businesses.  Working alongside the management team across the UK and Ireland, Aidan’s focus will be on continuing the growth trajectory for the company that is part of Unilin Group and was most recently known as Xtratherm. The company rebranded in early 2023 to Unilin Insulation and has four manufacturing plants in the UK and Ireland with other locations in Belgium, France and The Netherlands.

Aidan’s background is in general management, having worked across a number of business sectors including construction, distribution and agriculture, both nationally and internationally over the years. He previously was the MD for SIG in Ireland, a supplier of Specialist Building Products to the construction sector.

Commenting on the appointment, Jeroen De Temmerman, President Insulation, Unilin Group “Aidan brings a wealth of experience and a new perspective to the business. We are delighted that he has joined a company that is poised for development and growth while we are working to identify

further opportunities within the construction space. He will lead and foster the talent that makes Unilin Insulation a preferred partner for countless businesses.”

Aidan Doyle comments “I’m thrilled to join the Unilin Insulation business. I have been hugely impressed with those I have met already who have supported me.  The history and heritage of the business is evident in the entrepreneurial spirit I’ve experienced since I arrived. I plan to build on that entrepreneurial spirit and culture as we invest in having a solid pathway in place for product development, driving sales and great customer service with sustainability top of mind for us as we partner with our key customers.”

BUSINESS INDEX Q4 2023 RESULTS

The year-on-year change for the sector as a whole in Q4 is 1% with a total year increase – also of 1%

The Business Index is collecting and analysing data at category level. If members would like to contribute and benefit from category data please contact Martin at 087 2226532.

HAI FUTURE COSTS TO BUSINESS CAMPAIGN

Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) members are well placed to weather the storms that may come our way. In the last few years, we have had the challenges of Brexit, Covid 19, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Now it looks like we will have to deal with a new level of costs of doing business that are imposed by our own Government. We cannot afford to have Government’s aspirations paid for by businesses. If implemented these costs will severely damage the profitability of the sector and result in further increases in the costs of housing and a collapse in Corporation Tax paid by the sector.

HAI will not acquiesce to this.

At this point we are proposing that the Government decrease the level of employers PRSI to 1%. This will offset some, though not all of the increases in costs to businesses. HAI is lobbying for further changes. A research document has been produced as the output of a HAI subcommittee’s work on profitability in the industry. It was sent to all Fine Gael politicians in advance of their recent Ard Fheís and to all other politicians. It is important that we make our case especially as the local and European elections are in June.

Background

Supplying the built environment is a core competence of our members. Uniquely we are involved in all aspects of residential construction – new build, extensions, energy upgrading, empty home rejuvenation, commercial and Agri build.

HAI have conducted a very extensive research project on the profitability of the merchanting and hardware sector. We received percentage P+Ls from nine merchant members and we used the audited and filed accounts of 23 members, representative of our membership geographically, by size and by business focus. Most accounts are from 2023 and we used their P&Ls supplied to get a fair and true representation of the financial health of the sector.

In brief, we now have a generic P&L for the sector. This enables us to assess the impact of changes in government policy on the profitability of the sector. see Chart 1 below:

Please see here for the full report here https:// hardwareassociation.ie/future-costs-to-business-campaign or scan the QR code below.

News & Products

SONAS PROMOTES INTERNAL TALENT TO MARKETING DIRECTOR ROLE

SONAS Bathrooms, a renowned brand in the bathroom KBB sector, is delighted to announce the promotion of Louise Murphy to Marketing Director – a new role in the company. Demonstrating a wealth of experience and a strong track record as Head of Marketing and previous experience as Marketing Director with Citroen, Louise brings a deep understanding of the company’s goals and an unmatched commitment to its success.

Having played a key role in brand development in SONAS in recent years, initially as a Marketing Consultant and then joining the company as Head of Marketing in 2022, Louise will play a pivotal role in driving brand awareness and supporting the brand’s recent expansion into the UK market. The expanded remit of this role brings the added responsibility for environmental, social, and governance ESG; reflecting the value of sustainability for SONAS.

Louise expressed excitement about taking on this new challenge, stating, “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to serve as the first Marketing Director at SONAS. The increase

in the company’s marketing investment has supported the transition from a distributor of bathroom products, to become an asset light manufacturing bathroom brand.”

Prior to working in SONAS, Louise held a range of different marketing roles as a Marketing Consultant in the motoring and sport industries. She currently serves on the Board of Cork City FC.

For more information see www.sonasbathrooms.com

MDF: A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE

Now more than ever, it’s important to consider the environmental benefits of materials. Carbon emitted from construction currently accounts for 11% of Ireland’s emissions, however, the Climate Action Plan is calling for a 45% reduction1 So, it’s important to move towards sustainable materials that lock away carbon, as they will effectively reduce the carbon footprint on your customer`s projects. Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is one material that’s growing in popularity due to its sustainability attributes and versatility when it comes to design.

All MEDITE SMARTPLY products are made using sustainable wood from responsibly managed forests in Ireland. MEDITE SMARTPLY is part of Coillte, a sustainable and innovative Irish forestry company, which is FSC certified. MEDITE MDF timber content consists of 40% wood logs and 60% of wood chips, a by-product from Irish sawmills. Carbon is stored in the panels from the growth of trees, to point of manufacturing, and stays locked in for the lifespan of the product and the building they are used within. The MDF range boasts some of the most environmentally efficient building materials on the market, with a product-specific Type 3 Environmental Product Declaration to support this.

MEDITE SMARTPLY has an extensive range of MDF products that offer standard, speciality and technical variants, to meet a multitude of specifications. This includes MEDITE PREMIER, a multi-purpose MDF ideal for furniture, shelving and domestic

applications, and MEDITE OPTIMA, which features added density, enhanced machinability and higher surface quality than is found in standard moisture resistant panels.

Examples of the many creative uses of MEDITE MDF can be found on the exclusive online platform MEDITE Makes It Real: www.meditemakesitreal.com. Those who join can share work, get exclusive content and win prizes that will enable the user to build bigger and better with MDF. Sign up and receive a free gift. For more information about the MEDITE MDF range, visit: https://mdfosb.com/en/products/medite-mdf.

Louise Murphy, Marketing Director SONAS Bathrooms.

TOPLINE ROGERS’ INFORMATION NIGHT A GREAT SUCCESS

On February 1st Topline Rogers in Ballymote hosted an Information Night on Self Build/Vacant Homes/Grants. They initially expected a crowd of around 200, and nearer the day they had to get a bigger room as word came through that the crowd was going to be in excess of 250.

Amongst the speakers were Hardware Association Ireland`s (HAI) CEO Martin Markey as well as a number of HAI members. These included Caroline Ashe Brady from Kore Insulation and Fergal Flatley from Ecological Building Systems. Also presenting on the evening was Kieran McCarthy from RTE`s Cheap Irish Homes and Eve Hughes ATU Sligo.

After the presentations the panelists along with Adrian Grandison (vacant homes officer, Sligo County Council) answered questions from the floor.

The night was a great success thanks in large part to the marketing and networking prowess of Padraic and Micheál Rogers and their team at Topline Rogers. The interest in Empty Homes continues to gain momentum – there are now over 7,000 applications for the grants.

Just for the record - according to research carried out by ATU Sligo - 15% of residences in Ballymote and environs are empty.

A large crowd was in attendance.

Kieran McCarthy from RTE`s Cheap Irish Homes.

Caroline Ashe Brady, Kore Insulation.

L to R Martin Markey, CEO Hardware Association Ireland, Padraic Rogers & Micheál Rogers, Topline Rogers, and Kieran McCarthy, RTE`s Cheap Irish Homes.

News & Products

CHADWICKS APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION AWARDS

Chadwicks Group have recently announced the winners of its second annual Chadwicks Appreciation and Recognition Awards (CARAs).

The CARAs celebrate and recognise excellence across Chadwicks Group nationwide from best-in-class customer service to colleagues who are making a positive contribution to their local community.

In total, 13 winners were announced at a ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, 26th January, with 350 attending to celebrate the achievements of colleagues, branches and departments across the country. Winners included Gary Williamson from The Panelling Centre, Swords who was named Branch Manager of the Year for his commitment to going above and beyond for his customers and colleagues. Gary first joined the team in 2000, working his way up the ranks from general operations to branch manager in 2017. He now manages a team of 22 colleagues who are proud to celebrate his achievements. Sitetech won Destination Brand of the Year, commended for their excellent performance across their operations. The team of 23 colleagues receive consistent high praise, they are leaders in the financial performance category and have an impressive internal audit score along with strong inventory management ratings, their collective efforts have secured their well-deserved title this year.

Pat Walsh from Chadwicks Groups’ finance team was named winner of the Leadership Award. Pat is the Head of Credit and Legal at Chadwicks Group and has been with the business for 30 years. He was recognised for his crucial role in driving the company’s strategy around credit and risk appetite, while improving the customer experience through automation and structure.

CHADWICKS GROUP REVEALS NEW LOOK WEXFORD BRANCH

Chadwicks Group have recently unveiled its newly revamped Wexford branch. Wexford GAA stars Lee Chin, Simon Donohoe, Eoin Porter and Eoghan Nolan were on hand to cut the ribbon with branch manager Enda O’Brien.

This marks the latest branch in the Chadwick Group’s ongoing nationwide branch upgrade programme, which began in 2018 and has seen 33 branches revamped to date.

Chadwick’s Wexford is located in Drinagh Business Park and has been serving the needs of local tradespeople and DIYers for 45 years since 1979. While the branch has been upgraded with a new look and feel, customers can expect the same level of service and dedication they have come to know and expect from the 19-strong team at Chadwicks Wexford.

A key feature of the new look branch is the Chadwicks ECO Centre, a new one stop shop for everything the customer needs to know about sustainable building including insulation, heat pumps and controls, solar energy and water-saving products, and ventilation systems. Customers can also make a free appointment directly with the Chadwicks team online or in branch for advice relating to retrofitting their home through Chadwicks’ partnership with www.YourRetrofit.ie

Enda O’Brien, Chadwicks Wexford Branch Manager, said: “We’re excited to unveil our newly refurbished branch which has been designed with our customers in mind. DIYers and tradespeople can expect an improved layout with new showrooms showcasing all the latest quality products, as well as a new ECO Centre where they can come for specialist advice about all things sustainable building.

Branch Manager of the Year Gary Williamson, The Panelling Centre, Swords.

Chadwicks Group Management, invited guests and Chadwick’s Wexford Branch colleagues at the official opening in Drinagh Business Park, Wexford.

2024 OCTABUILD BUILDERS MERCHANT EXCELLENCE AWARDS LAUNCHED

Octabuild has announced that the competition for the 2024 all-island Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards will be opening for entries on May 1st.

This year, for the first time, every store that enters the awards will automatically qualify for free entry into a draw for a chance to win €4,000 for the benefit of the store’s employees.

Declan Conlon, Chairperson of Octabuild said: “Witnessing excellence and innovation daily in builders’ merchants across the country, we are delighted to host another all-island competition for 2024, with an added bonus for merchants who enter. All those who enter have the chance to win €4,000 to use specifically for the benefit of their staff. On behalf of the eight Octabuild member companies – Dulux, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation and Wavin Ireland, I would encourage every merchant across the country to enter their business.”

Categories include the overall Octabuild Award for Excellence, which is open to the winners of the Leinster, Munster, Northern Ireland and Connacht/Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan Awards for Excellence. There are also Awards for Excellence in the areas of Business Management, Customer Service, Sales & Marketing, Sustainable Business and Community Outreach, plus an opportunity to recognise up and coming talent in the industry with the Rising Star Award.

Declan explained: “There are many benefits in entering from enthusing and motivating staff to public recognition of your business achievements, creating marketing opportunities and boosting customer confidence.”

The Awards will be open for entry from May 1st with closing deadline of July 1st. Entries can be made online, by email or by post and merchants can choose which award categories to enter. Shortlisted merchants will receive a 90-minute visit from the independent judges during August/September and winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in Dublin on Thursday, 17th October 2024. See www.octabuild.ie for more information.

Judges for the 2024 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards, L - R, Liam O’Gorman and Joe Harlin.

JMBL INTRODUCE NEW WAREHOUSE FULFILMENT SERVICES

Need more space for your business, want to sell more but don’t have the workforce or the space? Get in touch with Joseph Murphy Ballina Ltd (JMBL) today. They are already working with clients in Ireland, the UK, and across Europe. They now offer Pick & Pack, Warehouse Distribution and Secure Storage at their 100,000sq.ft. facility in Ballina.

MD Lorraine Burnell explains, “We are excited to introduce our JMBL Fulfilment Centre Services. We support online direct-toconsumer retail brands and wholesale groups-direct to-retailer. Our mission is to enable companies to easily grow and scale their businesses in Ireland with our quick, flexible, and reliable order fulfilment Pick & Pack and Central Distribution Centre services.”

How does it work?

JMBL connect your online orders or portal to their warehouse.

From their fulfilment centre in Mayo, JMBL are conveniently located to provide quick delivery to the rapidly growing Irish eCommerce market.

Send JMBL your inventory, they’ll store & distribute!

Ship your inventory to the fulfilment centre and JMBL safely stock it, store it and monitor your inventory stock counts for you at their 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Ballina.

Continue to sell your products as you normally do. Simply continue to sell your products through your eCommerce store or through your ordering portal like you normally do. Once an order comes in through your store, JMBL pick, pack, and ship your products to your chosen delivery schedule.

Sit back as your products are delivered to your customers. Your orders will be delivered directly to your customers, and you’ll automatically receive tracking information. If there are any returns needed, JMBL can receive and process those for you as well. It’s really that simple!

What’s the capacity?

JMBL can fulfil more than 500,000 unique orders and millions of products per year. And they have the capacity to do much more than this!

Lorraine describes further, “The 100,000 sq. ft. facility is fully monitored by CCTV and a Monitored Alarm System. We have a secure fenced yard with Secure Guard Service. We can offer flexible terms and yearly contracts.”

To find out more or request a quote phone

Lorraine directly on 089 236 5176 or email

lorraine.burnell@josephmurphy.ie. To find out more about JMBL visit www.josephmurphy.ie

EMPLOYEE TRAINING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

South Coast Sales and Gallagher Power Fencing team up with Dairygold to provide staff training.

In late January and early February South Coast Sales had the pleasure of providing product training to Dairygold staff. Over the two days they teamed up with Gallagher Power Fencing Systems to deliver even more value to the training.

South Coast Sales had over thirty Dairygold staff visit their premises in Cork where they were provided with a tour of the facilities and an overview of the company’s operations.

The focus was to help new and existing staff of Dairygold to upskill and learn about new products and the importance of an efficient water system on farms. This training was stripped back and started from the basics and expanded from there so they could cater for all different levels of product knowledge. Topics covered during training were; the Philmac range including new products, installation instructions, ballcock selection, pipe size demonstration and efficient water systems design.

Training is a key part of any job. Not just for new employees, but also for existing employees who require refresher training or updates on new product lines. It plays a vital role in personal and professional development and contributes to the overall success of individuals and businesses.

By providing off site training, the Dairygold staff reported they were more relaxed and open to asking questions and engaging in conversations as they were away from their day-to-day roles. It also created an opportunity for team bonding with their colleagues. Following this training the Dairygold staff have a better understanding of the Philmac range, of efficient water systems and will in turn be able to advise the farming community about best practices in the industry.

South Coast Sales would like to thank all the Dairygold staff who attended and Gallagher Power Fencing Systems for helping them conduct these two informative days of training.

If any company would like to avail of similar training, please email david@southcoastsales.com or contact your local South Cost Sales Representative.

COMPOSITE NUMBERS ATTRACT

Whiteriver say that one of their customers` favourite construction-based flooring is their all-weather composite material products. The range choice and brands are ever expanding which indicates that demand is high and it is worth stocking.

By now, we all know the low maintenance benefits of composite over traditional timber, and it is a relatively easy sell once you get talking to your customers. It is always worthwhile spending time discussing installation as part of your sales pitch which will give your customers confidence that you are a one stop solution. As with all the products Whiteriver sell, it’s always a good idea to get to know how each product works and how to apply or install, so you can share that information with your customers.

When it comes to composite decking, installation has never been easier as hidden fixing clips are easy to install and removes the need for ugly screw holes in the surface. That said, beauty is only skin deep and it’s what lies beneath that really matters. When it comes to substructures it is important to get the basics right. Once your customers have the groundwork done and are happy there is good drainage and ventilation, it’s time to assist them choose the right materials for their substructure. If they want to build a deck to last, the experts recommend aluminium joists coupled

with recycled pedestals to help get the levels just right. Trade customers caught up with some of the country’s pioneering composite experts on the Whiteriver Stand recently at The Hardware Show. Co-CEO & Head of Sales, Iain Wogan says that an increasing amount of the composite decking they sell is installed on aluminium joists, coupled with their Solidor pedestals. These recycled plastic pedestals can accommodate structures from as low as 17mm to 1000mm and everywhere in between and will stand the test of time.

Whiteriver have an extensive range of composite decking to suit all budgets as well as a very attractive range of composite cladding which is available in both a traditional and contemporary style. Like the decking, the cladding has its own hidden fixings for a flawless finish and is available in four colours to match their Ultrashield decking range. Those who visited The Hardware Show in February will have seen their new composite fencing boards which can be retro fitted to existing concrete H Posts. Iain says that they will be ready to launch very shortly along with a new decking brochure for the season ahead.

You can view the complete Whiteriver Composite range at www.wrg.ie where you will also find lots of installation tips. Contact their sales team for instore display solutions to help you attract those all-important composite customers.

A COMPREHENSIVE IRRIGATION SOLUTION

Introducing the latest innovation from Colm Warren Polyhouses: the all-new Garden Irrigation Merchandiser. This revolutionary product offers a comprehensive irrigation solution in one convenient package, designed to streamline the sales process for stores and simplify the purchasing experience for customers.

Gone are the days of piecing together individual components – with their Garden Irrigation Merchandiser, everything your customers need is right at their fingertips. From vegetable gardens to flower beds and raised beds, this versatile system can adapt to suit any gardening need.

What sets the Merchandiser apart is its ability to be modified and customised using the accessories conveniently displayed on the stand. This flexibility ensures that each customer can tailor their irrigation system to perfectly fit their unique requirements.

Strategic placement in high-traffic areas of your store ensures maximum visibility, capturing the attention of potential buyers and driving sales. With the Garden Irrigation Merchandiser,

speed is of the essence – offering a quicker and easier sale compared to selling individual components.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to revolutionise your garden irrigation sales. Join the countless satisfied customers who have already simplified their gardening experience with Colm Warren Polyhouses’ Garden Irrigation Merchandiser. Contact them today to learn more and elevate your gardening business to new heights.

Contact Deirdre Warren on 046 9546007 or Email: dwarren@cwp.ie.

Reversible Boards

EMERGING TALENT: SALES APPRENTICES GRADUATE FROM MAYO SLIGO AND LEITRIM EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOARD

Sales apprentices from across the country celebrated their graduation at a ceremony held on Friday, March 8th in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon.

Graduates who successfully completed apprenticeships in Sales were presented with their certificates by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) Chief Executive Tom Grady and Frank Feighan TD.

Developed in collaboration with industry experts and supported by MSLETB, the Sales Apprenticeship Programme aims to bridge the sales talent gap. Its primary goal is to provide committed, adaptable, and skilled individuals to SMEs across the country.

Jessica Martin, National Programme Manager of the National Sales Apprenticeship, commended the graduates, employers, and mentors for their dedication and support throughout the two-year program.

The Sales Apprenticeship is delivered through a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training that allows apprentices to earn while they learn and gain an internationally recognised qualification.

This award-winning programme is now in its fourth year and over 120 employers are using this programme to enhance the skills of existing sales staff and train individuals aspiring to excel in sales careers. With zero training costs, employers can also avail themselves of an employer grant worth €4,000 for each apprentice registered.

Employers may choose from seven locations nationwide: Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Leitrim, Louth, Mayo, and Tipperary. For more information contact apprenticeship@msletb.ie or call 1800 100 100

Sales Apprenticeship Graduates 2024

Frank Feighan TD

Jessica Martin National Programme Manager

EOIN MCGETTIGAN TO CHAIR UNITED HARDWARE FOR A SECOND TERM

United Hardware Limited (UHL) has announced the reappointment of Eoin McGettigan as its Non-Executive Chairman. As Non-Executive Chairman of United Hardware, which has a network of over 150 DIY, homeware, garden and builders’ merchant stores with combined annual retail sales in excess of €500 million and 2,000 employees, Eoin will continue to oversee the implementation of the company’s ambitious business strategy which aims to grow the Group’s nationwide footprint, strengthen its market positioning and improve operational efficiencies.

During his first term, Eoin oversaw the completion of a long-term merger between Associated Hardware and National Hardware, 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 new single entity structure operates as a true cooperative business with the sole focus of delivering maximum value to its 115 equal shareholding members with the majority of profits being returned to members through rebates and loyalty bonuses, and remaining profits being reinvested into the Group to facilitate future growth and development.

Eoin McGettigan will complete his tenure as CEO of Cork Port in May. He has over 30 years’ retail experience, having previously held Executive Director roles with some of Ireland’s leading companies including Musgraves, Dunnes Stores, and Lifestyle Sports. Eoin was also previously CEO of The Co-op Group in the UK.

PORTWEST TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE!

Portwest and over 3,000 Mayo GAA supporters took over Times Square on the 6th of April!

Passionate Mayo GAA fans answered the call put out by Portwest to turn Times Square green and red to celebrate ten successful years in business in the USA, ahead of Mayo’s Connacht Senior football clash with New York.

Portwest, a leading global supplier of workwear and PPE, was thrilled to celebrate 10 years of success in the USA with a larger-than-life presence in Times Square, New York City. To mark this momentous occasion, Portwest secured a prominent billboard in Times Square, a bustling crossroads known for its iconic displays. The billboard showcases Portwest’s commitment to providing high-quality workwear to workers in the USA.

Portwest is a proud sponsor of Mayo GAA, and this Times Square event was a testament to the company’s support to the Mayo community, both at home and abroad. “We are

extremely grateful for the incredible support we have received from our customers in the USA over the past 10 years,” said Harry Hughes, CEO, Portwest. “This event is our way of giving back to the local community and celebrating our shared passion for Mayo GAA.”

Eoin McGettigan, Non-Executive Chairman of United Hardware

WESTLAND LAUNCHES BOOST ALL PURPOSE COMPOST

Westland Horticulture is announcing the launch of a brand-new peat free compost, Boost All Purpose Compost, specifically crafted to be the perfect partner to its Boost All Purpose Liquid Plant Feed.

Less hassle, more blooms for your customers

Westland is tackling the challenges faced by consumers when using peat free compost in containers and baskets head-on, with the introduction of the Boost All Purpose Compost that features patented West+2 Moisture Lock Technology™. This proprietary technology helps to retain and lock in moisture. To further support this, Boost Compost also includes water-storing granules and a

surfactant that makes it easier for customers to rewet, if it has been left to dry out. These guarantee optimal plant health, whilst combatting the inconvenience consumers face when attempting to keep their containers moist throughout the summer.

Multi item baskets

Following the success of Boost All Purpose Liquid Plant Food, which has been one of the fastest growing plant foods in the market*, Westland is once again revolutionising the market. The new Boost All Purpose compost, available in 46 litre bags, is now available via Westland Live.

Understanding the importance of educating consumers to feed their plants when using peat free composts, Westland has crafted an eye-catching packaging and point-of-sale solution that encourages shoppers to consider purchasing feed at the same time as compost. The Boost All Purpose compost helps to keep plants hydrated. Boost All Purpose Liquid Feed has been proven to give gardeners four times more blooms**. Together, these will help plants reach their full potential. In common with all Westland products, Boost All Purpose Compost and Boost All Purpose Liquid Feed can be ordered 24/7 via Westland Live, https:// trade.westland.com/ and frequent top-ups are easy as part of a Westland weekly delivery. Scan the QR Code above to login in or sign up.

*Boost All Purpose Liquid Plant Food is the fastest growing all-purpose plant food. Source: GfK Management Report 2022/23, Fertilisers, Plant Food, Non-Straights Liquid.

**Bedding plants fed with Boost liquid plant food versus unfed.

AT BRITA, THEIR GOAL IS TO OPERATE MORE SUSTAINABLY

Freshly filtered water from BRITA water filter products can make a huge difference to the amount of waste we all produce including having a positive environmental impact from the production, transport, collection and recycling of bottled water.

With BRITA, every tap becomes a source of fresh tasting water that never runs out. The new Style eco innovative water filter jug is made of 60% bio-based material.

- Each BRITA Jug includes 1 x MAXTRA PRO All-In-1 filter cartridge. This innovative 4-stage filtration with natural activated carbon from coconut shells & ion exchange pearls, filters trace impurities such as certain herbicides, pesticides and pharmaceuticals & reduces taste-impairing chlorine and metals like lead & copper.

- For extreme hard water areas there is also the opportunity to upgrade to the BRITA MAXTRA PRO Limescale Expert Filter Cartridge with over 50% better limescale reduction compared to the MAXTRA PRO All-In-1 water filter cartridge. Optimum filtration is for 150 litres / four weeks use. This filter cartridge

also reduces chlorine, lead & copper, certain herbicides, pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

- The new Style eco has an innovative Smart Light Sensor. This traffic light system flashes red to indicate when the cartridge should be changed for optimal filtration results when 150L of water has been filtered or after four weeks use.

- The new Style eco can be opened with one hand for refilling thanks to the comfortable flip-lid with silicone-strap

- all parts of the jug are dishwasher safe (except BRITA Smart Light)

The full range of BRITA products are supplied to the Irish market by Bluestone Sales & Distribution Ltd, located in Oaktree Business Park, Trim, Co. Meath, supplying BRITA & other household brands to all major retail outlets throughout Ireland & Northern Ireland.

For further information please contact Darren Shigginsdshiggins@bluestone.ie Tel: +353 (0)46 94 83100 www.bluestone.ie Web: www.brita.ie

STOP EFFLORESCENCE IN ITS TRACKS

Following on from a very successful Hardware Show 2024, ProtectiT SP Ltd are delighted to announce Doorworks Ltd, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon as the primary distributor of ProtectiT’s range of products into the Hardware, Builder’s Merchants & DIY market in Ireland. TradeX Monaghan will continue to distribute ProtectiT products into the Decorating and Paint Merchants.

ProtectiT Efflorescence Blocker & Sealer was a short-listed finalist in The Hardware Show Innovation Awards 2024. This product will be available in the coming weeks in all leading builders` merchants and hardware & DIY stores throughout the country. The product can be used as a preventative treatment during the building process or can be used on existing efflorescence following removal, using ProtectiT’s Efflorescence Remover. Ideal for use on newly built block work, natural stone & brickwork which is left exposed during the building process to stop efflorescence occurring.

Doorworks are also introducing additional products from the ProtectiT range such as Surface Reviver, Seal-iT, Efflorescence Remover, Rust Remover, Concrete Remover and Oil Off.

These products are already extensively used throughout the country on commercial projects.

Doorworks representatives will introduce these products to you over the coming weeks.

TradeX will also be introducing products such as Anti-Graffiti coatings, Graffiti Remover, Paint strippers from the ProtectiT range into the Paint Merchants.

For further information please contact, Doorworks, sales@doorworks.ie, 094 9621364

Tradex Ltd, tradexsupplies@yahoo.com, 042-9754573.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOWERPOTS

Gardening is not just a hobby; it’s an art form that allows us to connect with nature and express our creativity. One essential element of gardening that often goes overlooked is the humble flowerpot.

Dosco are proud distributors of the unique collection of flowerpots from the Stefanplast range, including the all new Ethica eco-friendly range which is made of waste material making it 100% recycled and recyclable.

The right flowerpot can enhance the beauty of your plants and also contribute to their health and growth. The size and shape of the flowerpot plays a crucial role in the health and development of your customers plants. Dosco have you covered with a variety of sizes available in various colours, designs and finishes allowing your customer to express their personal style. These flowerpots are ideal for indoor and outdoor use due to their self-watering system.

Flowerpots are not just functional containers for your plants; they are essential elements of garden design that can enhance the beauty. For further information go to www.doitwithdosco.ie

HOUSEHOLDERS URGED TO TACKLE HOARDING OF ELECTRICAL WASTE BY MAKING 2024 A YEAR FOR RECYCLING

Householders have recently been urged to make ‘recycling of household electrical waste’ a new year resolution for 2024. With 84% of Irish households containing an average of 15 to 20 broken or unused electrical items in their home, there has never been a better time for people to declutter while positively impacting the environment and supporting a more circular economy.

To encourage people to recycle their electrical waste, a national awareness campaign has recently been launched by Minister of State, Ossian Smyth. The “Recycle your Electrical Waste for Free!” awareness campaign will inform and educate people on what items can be recycled and advise them of the multiple civic amenity sites and participating electrical retailers across Ireland.

Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, said “I am delighted to launch this national awareness campaign today, to remind everyone that they can return their electrical waste for free recycling at hundreds of drop off points across the country.

“This campaign is a collaboration between the Government of Ireland, www.MyWaste.ie and the two national compliance schemes ERP Ireland and WEEE Ireland. It demonstrates our commitment to working together to raise public awareness of the importance of responsibly recycling electrical waste.”  He added, “Electrical products contain valuable raw materials, and recycling these materials will help Ireland transition to a circular economy, where waste is minimised.”

Independent research house, iReach undertook consumer research, comprising 1,000 respondents, on electrical waste within homes in Ireland.

It demonstrated that 30% of Irish households store old, broken or unused electrical items in garden sheds, 25% hoard them in drawers and 16% keep them in the attic, rather than recycling correctly.

Martin Tobin, CEO of ERP Ireland said, “Ireland is embracing a more sustainable future, and we are encouraging people to declutter their households, sheds and attics and recycle their broken and unused electrical items. Electrical waste allows us to extract secondary raw materials which is crucial to a fully circular economy.

“All electrical items, including smaller ones like mobile phones, laptops, toasters and plugs can be recycled! Regrettably, people are either hoarding their electrical appliances or

disposing of them incorrectly in general waste which ends up in landfills. This can negatively affect the environment, so we encourage everyone to declutter their old and broken electrical items and recycle them at their local electrical retailer or civic amenity site – and remember its free!”

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally. Recycling is crucial to produce enough secondary raw materials and by recycling electrical waste we ensure these items can be used again in the manufacturing process, saving on the environmental impacts and creating a more circular economy. Leo Donovan, CEO of WEEE Ireland said, “For every 10 new small electrical products sold in Ireland last year, only four are eventually coming back through the Irish approved e-waste recycling system when they reach end-of-life. Ireland has performed exceptionally well in recycling our larger household items such as fridges and washing machines. We now need to extend that great effort to the smaller electronic items that end up languishing in our homes forgotten about or worse still, binned.”

“It is vital to remind everyone that old and broken electrical items with a plug, battery, or cable contain valuable components that can be given a second life through recycling. You can easily return these items for free recycling at your nearest civic amenity site or participating electrical retailer.”

SALE OF SMOKY COAL IN WATERFORD IS BOTH ‘DISAPPOINTING AND CONCERNING.’

The Irish Independent have recently reported that the sale of smoky coal in Co. Waterford still remains a concern despite the implementation of a nationwide ban on its sale.

In Autumn 2023, a consortium of six local authorities, including Waterford City and County Council, commenced a solid fuel sampling exercise with particular emphasis on monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022.

Under these Regulations, coal products and manufactured solid fuels must have a sulphur content of less than 2% by weight on a dry ash-free basis, and this limit will reduce to 1% from September 2025, subject to a market assessment.

A total of 25 coal samples were taken across the participating local authorities, including in Waterford, and were analysed for sulphur content by an accredited laboratory in the UK. Of the

25 samples tested, 18 samples (72%) were found to breach the current prescribed sulphur limit of 2%.

Niall Kane, Senior Executive Engineer in the Environment Section of Waterford City and County Council said, “the breaches were disappointing and posed a serious concern.”

Mr Kane added: “The local authorities are collaborating with the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in this regard, with each agency currently engaging with producers and suppliers in accordance with their respective roles under the regulations. “Local Authorities are undertaking a further sampling round in Spring 2024 and are committed to using all available powers to secure compliance with the regulations.”

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/waterford/news/ sale-of-smoky-coal-in-waterford-is-both-disappointingand-concerning/a597185350.html

NEW GEL TECHNOLOGY FOR LOW VOLTAGE APPLICATIONS

Protect your outdoor connections from moisture with Cellpack Express+ Gel from Switch Electrical Solutions. Now that it is coming to the season when many of our customers are looking at improving their outside spaces – Switch Electrical Solutions find that there is a demand for materials and components to facilitate the installation of electrical services and systems outside.

One such component is Express+ Gel from Cellpack. This gel has been created to ensure that any outdoor electrical installations* are protected against the elements. It is a silicone gel which is used to seal connection covers and lamp housings. This Gel can protect electrical cables in flexible tubes against moisture and even protect electrical connections where high humidity levels and temperatures are a consideration.

EXPRESS+ GEL is a Two-Component, Non-Toxic, shaking gel based on silicon which is in an Innovative mixing bottle. To “Activate” the gel, just shake the bottle and then pour the Gel into the electrical housing (e.g. socket backbox/connection box). The Gel will then cast in eight minutes, providing quick and permanent protection of electrical components.

This one stop shop bottle can be used indoors and outdoors* and its design will ease the pain of protecting electrical components in unfavourable installation conditions such as up ladders or on raised scaffolding etc.

For more information on Express+ Gel from Cellpack and other similar products, just call Switch Electrical Solutions on 01 452 4182 or visit www.switch.ie

* Can be used outdoor for electrical systems up to 1 kV

A 30-YEAR JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE IN POWER TOOLS AND ABRASIVES

Established in October 1994 by Michael O’Loughlin, MOL Tools & Abrasives (MOL) has become a powerhouse in the world of power tools and abrasives. Centrally located in Northern Ireland, the company’s strategic position has enabled it to cater to the entire Island of Ireland, becoming a trusted name over the past 30 years.

At the heart of MOL’s success lies with its efficient Workshop Repair Centre, where they serve as warranty agents for renowned brands such as Bosch Power Tools, Milwaukee, DeWALT, Makita, Panasonic, Hitachi, Rotabroach, and FLEX. This commitment to quality service has boosted the company to the forefront of the industry.

In January 2006, MOL Tools & Abrasives achieved a significant milestone by joining the THS Tools Group, enabling unlimited access to an extensive array of leading brands, including Makita and Hitachi. This affiliation has proven to be a gamechanger, evident in the remarkable acceleration of sales since becoming a part of the group.

MOL Tools reached new heights as it was acquired by www.troyuk.co.uk in September 2021. This strategic move has opened avenues for the company to make further advancements in the market, solidifying its position as a distributor of the four biggest power tool brands available: Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee, and DeWalt.

In January of this year, MOL Tools & Abrasives announced a new opportunity with ToughBuilt, when they were officially appointed their wholesaler for the island of Ireland.

With its forward-looking approach and commitment to delivering quality products, MOL Tools & Abrasives are a company constantly seeking improvement and striving to expand its range to meet the needs of every customer, offering a comprehensive one-stop-shop for all things power tools. As the company continues to evolve, its dedication to excellence remains a driving force in the industry.

To find out more about MOL Tools & Abrasives or to discuss opportunities, contact the team today, T: 028 7964 5139 | E: sales@moltools.co.uk

W: www.moltools.co.uk

GRANT’S INTEGRATED HEATING PACKAGES ARE LEADING THE WAY IN THE HEATING TRADE

Leading heating technology manufacturer Grant continues to work with those in the construction and heating industries to deliver bespoke Integrated Heating Packages to ensure new build properties can benefit from highly efficient, low carbon and cost-effective heating.

Dedicated to ensuring a simple process for builders, architects, specifiers and heating engineers, Grant’s technical specialists work closely with contractors involved in building the property to design and correctly size and specify a fully integrated heating package featuring Grant’s award-winning heating technologies. This careful combination coupled with in-depth heat loss calculations to ensure the correct sizing and specification of technologies is vitally important so that the heating system performs at optimum efficiency and achieves the necessary building energy compliance.

Grant’s bespoke integrated heating packages for new builds feature sustainable heating technologies including a main heat source, hot water storage and heat emitters. Smart heating controls can also be added for further efficiency.

A typical Grant heating package includes the Grant Aerona³ R32 air to water air source heat pump as the main heat source, complemented by a hot water storage system like the Grant Integrated Unit. Finally, the most effective heat emitters are sized and specified for the property, which may include Grant Afinia aluminium radiators or the Grant Uflex underfloor heating system which itself is designed to suit each individual room within the property.

Every heating package is professionally designed by the technical specialists at Grant as part of the company’s home heating design service. This free of charge service is helping to save significant time on new build projects and reassures contractors and property owners that the heating system has been professionally designed for the individual property and includes high quality, reliable Grant heating technologies. To avail of Grant’s free of charge heating design service, customers simply send house plans, contact information and preferred choice of heat emitters to heatpump@grant.ie.

The Grant Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump  Reinforcing Grant’s commitment to providing market-leading heating solutions, units within the Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump range have achieved an A+++ energy rating at low temperatures such as 35°C or 45°C. All four models also boast superior seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) and depending on climate conditions and demand on the heating system at the time, can deliver 4kW of heat energy for every 1kW of electricity used. The 13kW and 17kW models within the range have also been recognised by the international award programme Quiet Mark for their low noise qualities.

The Aerona3 R32 heat pump range has been developed by Grant to work in tandem with other innovative heating technologies within the manufacturer’s product portfolio. In particular, the Grant Aerona3 works well when combined with Grant’s Uflex underfloor heating system or Grant’s Afinia radiator range, as all these technologies can run at lower temperatures, therefore providing significant carbon and financial savings for the property owner. Each of these heat emitter technologies included in Grant’s integrated heating packages can be controlled using Grant’s latest heating controls system.

Grant’s innovative Integrated Heating Packages for new builds are playing an important part in helping properties become sustainable as the journey continues towards achieving a zerocarbon future for Ireland.

Visit www.grant.ie for more information on Grant’s innovative heating solutions.

Follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or on Instagram @grant_irl or LinkedIn @grantengineeringulc.

The Grant Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pump.

THE TOP REASONS CUSTOMERS VISIT YOUR SHOP

The main reasons to visit a bricks-and-mortar shop are the ability to see an item and assess its quality in-person, according to research carried out on behalf of Elavon.

When more than 1,000 adults were questioned in an online survey, 72% said the top reason to encourage a visit to a physical store was seeing what they were about to buy.

Meanwhile 61% said they like to assess the quality of products and more than half (57%) said they would be encouraged to shop in store if they needed something urgently.

Let your customers get up close and personal “These insights drive home the importance of design in your store. Make sure shoppers can see and even handle the products they are thinking about buying,” says Andrew Neenan, Regional Sales Manager at Elavon Europe in Ireland.

“It’s not enough to just show them what’s available; let them get close enough to assess quality and value for money.”

Other survey results highlight that almost one in five (19%) like the option to click and collect, where they buy online and pick up in store.

They can pay as they order or on collection, perhaps at a dedicated time, from a dedicated place in store to reduce queues and make it a convenient and smooth transaction for them, and you.

This offers an opportunity to expand your retail business into a so-called ‘omnicommerce’ model, mixing real life interactions with eCommerce options to take advantage of this market.

After all, if you are offering click and collect, you’ve got another opportunity to sell things when customers visit your shop while using the power of the internet to widen your market reach.

GLENNON BROTHERS AND LONGFORD LADIES EXTEND THEIR PARTNERSHIP

Glennon Brothers, the third-generation timber business headquartered in Longford, is delighted to renew its sponsorship of the Longford Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) for an additional three years.

This continuing commitment includes the LGFA Senior group who have been advancing through the NFL table. This sponsorship will likewise cover U/14, U/16, and minor LGFA teams.

Pat Glennon, Glennon Brothers, said: “We remain delighted to be the main sponsor of all of Longford Ladies intercounty teams. We have all followed the development of Longford LGFA over the past three years and are thrilled to be on board for future successes.”

Mike Glennon, Glennon Brothers, continued; “Glennon Brothers is very much a family business rooted in our communities so of course this extended sponsorship allows us to sustain our support for the Longford GAA family. This partnership continues to celebrate the enormous contribution

made by the many people from County Longford for generations and for many more to come.  Glennon Brothers acknowledges the importance sport has on everyone’s lives, especially over the last three years since working with Longford LGFA.

Pat and Mike Glennon at the LGFA Longford launch 2024 with some team members and coaching staff

INTRODUCING AKTIVORA BLACK MOULD SOLUTION

Finding the ultimate defence Against Stachybotrys Chartarum, commonly known as ‘Black Mould’, https://tinyurl.com/ AKTIVORABLACKMOULD, is a persistent issue in damp or water-damaged properties, often associated with adverse health effects.

AKTIVORA BLACK MOULD Solution is PH 7.2 neutral and is a highly effective, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and biodegradable spray, and is here to eradicate this menace. Your customer`s can say goodbye to the strong, musty smell and the slimy appearance of Black Mould that thrives in lowly lit and nonventilated areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, pipes, and cellars. AKTIVORA BLACK MOULD Solution targets and eliminates black mould spores, providing a comprehensive solution for areas with high condensation.

Key Features of Stachybotrys Chartarum:

• Flourishes in damp and flood-damaged properties

• Emits a distinctive, strong odour and very damaging to health

• Produces trichothecene mycotoxins, harmful metabolites

• Linked to adverse health effects through prolonged exposure

• Dark green to black in appearance

• Exhibits a slimy, shiny texture

• Commonly grows on cellulose-based materials

Choose AKTIVORA BLACK MOULD Solution for a powerful, safe, and environmentally conscious way to combat Stachybotrys Chartarum. Your customer can protect their living spaces with a spray-on solution that cares for their health and the planet.

For more information please visit www.aktivoraireland.com or

Email Gary at gary@aktivoraireland.com

Email Declan on: tradewoodandco@gmail.com

Mobile: 00 353 87 9326632

IE DOMAIN PROFILE REPORT 2023

HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTH OF .IE DOMAIN CYBERSECURITY

The latest .ie Domain Profile Report 2023, launched recently, reveals that 48,689 new domains were registered up to 31st December 2023, a modest increase of 0.34% on the previous year. These new domains take the total .ie database to 328,245, representing a marginally small net reduction on 2022. Now in its ninth year, the Report is an annual exploration of the .ie database and is published by .ie, the national registry for .ie domain names. It analyses the entire database that sectors domains are operating in and counties and countries they are registered in. It also highlights several regulatory changes that will come into effect in 2024 and which will impact the wider digital landscape.

Strength of .ie cybersecurity services

The .ie Domain Profile Report shows a slight increase in the number of cyberattacks (552 in 2023) on the .ie namespace vs 2022.  These attacks ranged from phishing, web shell and website defamation to shopping site skimmers and survey scams. Phishing scams were by far the most prevalent of all cyber security attacks, representing 49% of the overall total.  However, .ie websites boast significantly lower levels of spam and cyber threats, such as phishing, malware and botnets, when compared to other top-level domains. The SpamHaus Project, an international non-profit organisation that tracks spam and related cyber threats such as phishing, malware and botnets, collates a Badness Index for top level domains, with .ie domains ranking at 0.1% / 0.00.

Low Levels of eCommerce Functionality across .ie domain database

Over one in three (31.8%) of new .ie domain registrants declared themselves as ‘commercial’ in 2023 while just over one in ten (11.43%) .ie domains have e-Commerce functionality on their websites. Digitalisation is essential to business and it is clear that Ireland needs to do more to help SMEs survive and thrive online.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond said, “This report from .ie highlights just how important digitalisation and e-Commerce is for Irish businesses. While many companies may have an online presence, be that a ‘shop window’ or click and collect, the option to shop online is hugely important for customers both in Ireland and abroad. This will open businesses up to new markets and more customers. There are a number of supports available for businesses of all sizes who want to improve their digital footprint, from the Local Enterprise Office to Enterprise

Ireland, and I would encourage all businesses to avail of these as the opportunities that come with an enhanced online presence are endless.”

There has been a considerable increase in the use of thirdparty security features with 70% of content rich .ie websites now being secured with a security certificate (+18.1% YoY).    ‘Business and Industrial’ websites are the most popular category of .ie domains with 16.6% of the overall total. That is followed by ‘home & garden’ with 7.9%, arts and entertainment (5.8%) while travel (2.8%), finance (3%) and autos & vehicles are amongst the least popular categories.

Additional Domain Database Findings

Donegal recorded the largest percentage growth (+34.55%) in new .ie domain registrations compared to 2022. Amongst the border counties, Sligo has shown strong growth of 16.91% in 2023 vs 2022. In Leinster, Westmeath leads the way with 18.72 % YoY growth compared to 2022 while Waterford also features in the top performers with a 16.65% increase in new .ie domain registrations 2023 vs 2022.

Keywords used in domain registrations continue to provide interesting insights as 24 counties had their county name and/ or Ireland as one of their top keywords in 2023. Green, Solar, Fest, Kebab and Pizza are among the other top keywords used.    The Report 2023 can be viewed here, www.weare.ie/ie-domain-profile-report/

L - R David Curtin, Chief Executive .IE, Oonagh McCutcheon, Chief Communications Officer and National Director of the .IE Digital Town Programme and Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

MAGICO RETAILER SUMMIT 2024

HAI attended the AB Commerce Magico Retailer Summit 2024, a celebration of the latest and upcoming eCommerce tools and trends that retailers could consider to optimise their online presence and trading.

We look at some of the key insights offered by the summit’s experts on how to use existing tools, systems and data to get the best performance.

Using Analytics from Growth

Magico’s Orla Cooney opened the Retailer Summit in The Glasson Lakehouse, Athlone, which also marked Magico’s 25 years in business. Those 25 years saw great growth for the company, for technology, and for its relationships: “Technology has gone from strength to strength, but the biggest thing we are proud of is our relationship with our clients.” explains Orla. She was joined on stage by her colleague Jillian O’Leary to discuss their recommended analytics that retailers can use. Orla and Jillian agreed the important figures that retailers should keep track of are:

• Sales by month

• Merchandising insights, such as:

o Top brands

o Top categories

o Top products

• Top products viewed but not added to cart (abandoned baskets)

• Marketing insights (what is driving traffic to your website –social media, organic marketing, paid advertising, etc.)

They moved on to an interesting demonstration of how to drive online growth and revenue, which can be done in one of three ways:

Traffic x Conversion Rate x Average Order Value = Revenue

• Increase Traffic

• Increase Conversion Rate

• Increase Order Value

To build traffic, Orla recommends more consistent communications, and the best way to do this is with a Marketing Calendar.

Orla advises prioritising stockholding for top-moving products to improve conversion rates, (the ratio of orders placed to unique website visitors).

For Average Order Value, understanding why a product isn’t selling is crucial. They demonstrated on a sample webpage how enhancing product information like descriptions, additional images, videos, and testimonials can boost engagement and sales.

How to Future-Proof your Paid Media Strategy

Paul Walsh from Adhere Digital shared key advice for enhancing paid media strategy. He highlighted the importance of utilising analytics tools for data optimisation, defining metrics for campaign success, implementing scripts for extracting extra insights from analytics, automating processes for efficiency, monitoring competitors, and tapping into free resources such as the Google Merchant Centre. Paul concluded his session by showcasing the Merchant Centre and Keyword Planner’s ability to offer real-time crosscomparisons of competitor products and keywords. He highlighted the platform’s capacity to swiftly adjust product prices and information, enabling quick responses to market fluctuations and gaining a competitive edge.

Creating Winning Content

Breige Grogan from Little Rock Digital explored how to create and share engaging content that will help retailers reach their customers.

The first step: know your customer. To do so she posed a series of questions to attending retailers: Who is your target customer? What do they want to hear about? What marketing channels do they favour? Are your future-proofing your audience?

She recommends customer personas as a helpful template to input customer demographics to help build communications more specific to their needs.

Briege offered three key tips for retailers to optimise their content:

1. Use forward planning to sustain creativity and consistency, particularly around key events.

2. Adopt a through-the-line approach by aligning every channel with your social media calendar.

3. Harness all available data sources (interactions, shop floor insights, marketing/sales analytics, etc) to inform content decisions effectively.

The key lesson from these presentations was how small changes can make big differences in deliverables, while also highlighting the options available to online retailers to optimise data and performance.

In the next issue we will look at other insights shared by presenters, including what’s coming in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) and how retailers can (and should!) be using them.

Jillian O’Leary and Orla Cooney from Magico

HAI Corporate Partners

CORPORATE PARTNER

CASH MANAGEMENT

Brink’s Cash Services

Customer Services 0818 111 330 nationalservicecentre@brinks.com www.brinks.com

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

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

Andrew Connolly 01 236 5400

afinneran@weare.ie

www.weare.ie

Kerridge Commercial Systems

Elaine Snuggs 01 5457100

Magico

Orla Cooney 065 6864580

elaine.snuggs@kerridgecs.com

www.kerridgecs.com

ocooney@magico.com

www.magico.com

Monsoon Consulting

Bharat Sharma 01 4750066

bharat.sharma@monsoonconsulting.com

www.monsoonconsulting.com

HAI Corporate Partners

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

DCS Group

Caroline Sugrue 066 7181836

carolinesugrue@dcsgroup.eu www.dcsgroup.eu

Solgrid Ltd

Damien Howe 085 1649497

damien.howe@solgrid.ie www.solgrid.ie

FIELD SALES & MARKETING

CPM Ireland

Anne Kelly 01 7080300

akelly@cpmire.com

www.cpmire.com

WASP Technologies

Richard Baird 086 2857843

richard.baird@wasptech.com

www.wasptech.com

HR SUPPORT

Peninsula Business Services

(Ireland) Limited

Michael Gombart 1800 719 215

michael.gombart@peninsula-ie.com

www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/ie

TSA Consultants

LEGAL ADVICE & SUPPORT LOGISTICS

Finders International

Maeve Mullin 01 567 6940

maeve.mullin@findersinternational.ie

www.findersinternational.ie

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

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

www.aibms.com

BOI Payment Acceptance

Rory Brennan 1800 806 298

rory.brennan@boipa.com

www.boipa.com

Elavon Merchant Services

Peter Cooke 081 820 2120

peter.cooke@elavon.com

www.elavon.com

HAI Corporate Partners

RECRUITMENT

Tactical Talent

Vinny Kelly 01 9079192

info@tacticaltalent.ie

www.tacticaltalent.ie

Store 2000

Paul Bennett 087 2332402

Paul@store2000.ie

www.store2000.ie

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SALES & INSTALLATIONS

European Recycling Platform

Martin Tobin 01 6624040

ireland@erp-recycling.org

www.erp-recycling.ie

MyNET Security

Jack Raeburn 062-69112

jack@mynet.ie

www.mynet.ie

Securitas Technology Ireland

Denise McCarthy 086 1916327

denise.mccarthy@securitas.com

www.securitastechnology.com/ire

IP Telecom Sales Team 01 6877777

sales@iptelecom.ie

www.iptelecom.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.

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

#WeGetRetail

Johnston Shopfitters

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

• 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.

Want to find out more?

Contact us today to become a HAI Corporate Partner

info@hardwareassociation.ie or phone 01 2980969

Home Category Innovation Award Winner

EVOLVE’S DECORATIVE LIGHT SWITCHES AND SOCKETS SCOOP CATEGORY AWARD

The range of Evolve decorative wiring accessories from BG Electrical is proving popular thanks to end user demand for value for money, style and décor-matching elegance with easy, quick fitting and ‘no-return’ reliability for the installer.

Practical and aesthetic

The Hardware Show 2024 Home Category Innovation Product Award-winning Evolve range of decorative switches and sockets are designed for both domestic and commercial applications and are the perfect way to ensure all essential power points enhance décor rather than detract from it. Aesthetically attractive, the slimline switches and sockets are designed with screwless face plates which easily clip on and off making decorating easier.

Launched by leading lighting and electrical brand Luceco under its specialist wiring and accessories brand BG Electrical, the Evolve range boasts eight different colours including brushed

BG_ADVDOC_EN_20240306RO_Evolve-Advert-half page-horizontal-outlined.pdf

steel, black chrome, and matt blue as well as satin brass, polished copper, matt black, matt grey, and pearlescent white.

The range includes switches, sockets and innovative fast charge USB sockets, Wi-Fi range extenders, touch dimmer switches as well as Grid range extension and Euro module range extension combining power, data, TV, telephone, and audio.

There are 25-year warranties, and the range design ensures a ‘right first time’ approach to any wiring installation. BG’s Hazel Whittingham, Product Manager said “We are thrilled to have won the Best Home Product category at The Hardware Show 2024 Innovation Awards, which further reinforces the Evolve range.”

For further information please email James O’Byrne, Retail Sales Manager, james.obyrne@luceco.com, phone +353 (0)861 581 262 or visit www.luceco.com

1 08/03/2024 12:34

HYGEIA WIN INAUGURAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD AT THIS YEAR’S INNOVATION AWARDS

For the past 85 years, Galway based manufacturer Hygeia have been producing products for the gardencare, agricultural, amenity and animal care markets across Ireland and the U.K. Over those 85 years, they have learned how their business impacts the environment in many ways. Not just their manufacturing practices but also the impact their products have on the environment around us. It made them really consider the future of their business and caused them to be more innovative and question the norms. It made them ask “Can seaweed save the planet?”. Seaweed has long been used in agriculture, food and even skin care, now it’s being used as part of the Nature Safe Garden Care range to boost people’s flower, vegetables and lawns. But why seaweed?

• Seaweed can capture carbon and remove it from the atmosphere

• It is a natural biostimulant

• Seaweed allows for organic growing and gardening

• Wild hand harvesting of seaweed is more sustainable than mechanical harvesting

• Completely safe for use around children and pets

• Wildlife safe too

The Hardware Show 2024 Sustainability Innovation Awardwinning Nature Safe Seaweed Enriched Feed promotes a naturally healthy eco system and ensures strong, healthy plants. A concentrated blend of seaweed and plant-based fertiliser that contains humics to invigorate and improve soil. It is ideal for use on fruit and vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs, lawns and composting. Hygeia’s seweed enriched feed is bursting with benefits, in fact their entire Nature Safe range is enriched with seaweed. This range is growing each year and the demand for organic gardening products is on the rise with consumers becoming more conscious of their decisions and how they impact the environment. To learn more about the Nature Safe range manufactured by Hygeia, check out www.hygeia.ie

Spring into Action with Nature Safe

Feed naturally this Spring with Irish-made Nature Safe. Certified organic and enriched with Connemara Seaweed, our range of liquid and granular feeds ensure brilliant blooms and tasty veg, the natural way.

The range is available in leading garden centres and homestores nationwide To learn more and see the full range visit www.hygeia.ie

The Hardware Show 2024

The Hardware Show 2024 took place in Dublin’s RDS Simmonscourt on the 18th and 19th of February. Sponsored by Intact, the event was a huge success.

From the set-up days on Friday and Saturday to the close of the show on Monday there was a constant hum of activity and business getting done. Exhibitors and visitors met face to face in large numbers with an air of excitement and anticipation.

The show was officially opened by Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail, and Hardware Association Ireland President, Paul Candon on Sunday when the category winners for the Innovation Awards were announced. Exhibitors` stands were at a new level and it was very evident that many had spent much time and effort thinking about what they were going to showcase and the best way to present it. The level of engagement at most stands was such that several had to be re-visited.

Thank you to everyone who supported the President’s Ball, a highlight event of The Hardware Show 2024. Set amidst the elegant surroundings of the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, this exclusive gathering took place on the Sunday evening.

The President’s Ball, kindly supported this year by Dulux, Irish Cement, Saint Gobain and Unilin Insulation, is a prestigious affair, affording an unforgettable night filled with glamour, networking, and camaraderie among industry peers. It offered a perfect opportunity to unwind and connect with fellow professionals, leaders, and enthusiasts in the hardware sector. At the event over 340 key figures in the hardware sector had the opportunity to socialise and to network. MC for the evening RTE`s Shay Byrne opened the evening with a humourous reflection on his previous life as a painter and decorator.

In the main points of his Presidential address, President Paul Candon said, “As we celebrate our resilience, we must also acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. We are in danger of sleepwalking into a level of Government imposed costs that will greatly hurt the business community and put a serious risk into our housing growth agenda.

Three main challenges stand out prominently:

1. Firstly, we’re facing a slowing market, not due to lack of demand, but due to high prices and a shortage of trade professionals. This presents a significant challenge, but also an opportunity if we address the issues.

2. Secondly, the rapidly increasing cost of doing business in Ireland with the growth in wages (living wage), pension auto enrolment, increases in sick pay, additional bank holiday, extended parental leave, right to request remote work, gender reporting extended and enhanced reporting of non-taxable expenses all putting significant pressure on our industry. Thie wave of cost increases cannot be borne by us without significant supports from Government.

3. Thirdly, the war for talent is raging in our sector both directly in the form of recruitment and retention, but also in the context of a shortage of trades professionals which continues to slow down activity. The shortage of trades professionals is directly affecting building projects, and again this needs to be addressed urgently.

Late last year we conducted a major Strategic Report to reevaluate the sector and listen to you, our members. The report confirmed what we are experiencing. It highlighted that recruiting and retaining staff and maintaining and increasing profits in a time of increasing costs is as a major challenge. Positively, the report revealed high levels of optimism for the future among our members with 70% saying the market would increase substantially over the next few years.

Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of our industry.

In my role as President, I will continue to strengthen our membership and further grow our Brand and Representation. We will continue to be the voice of the sector, advocating for our members and ensuring that your concerns are heard and addressed.

Collectively, we are stronger together and it’s important we leverage the collective approach and focus on all members, big or small to ensure that we address the issues and challenges we face, and embrace the opportunities presented to us, together.

Together, we will overcome any challenge that comes our way and continue to thrive as a sector. Let’s seize the opportunities before us and build a brighter future for the hardware industry in Ireland”.

The evening continued with music from Stella Jazz and dancing into the night in the company of the band Who`s Eddie.

Innovation Awards 2024

INNOVATION AWARDS 2024

Supported by Ahern Ireland

Ahern Ireland stands at the forefront of Aerial Lifting Solutions delivering excellence in equipment and services.

OVERALL WINNER

Soudal Ireland

SWS Airtight Foam Kit

Hardware Association Ireland

President, Paul Candon with Stéphane Dalimier, Soudal Regional Director, Benelux & UK, Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland, sponsor of the Innovation Awards and David Farrell, Managing Director, Soudal Ltd.

SUSTAINABILTY AWARD

Hygeia

Nature Safe Seaweed Enriched Feed

Hardware Association Ireland President, Paul Candon with Peter Horkan, Key Account Manager, Hygeia and Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland, sponsor of the Innovation Awards and John Byrne, CEO Hygeia Chemicals Ltd.

CATEGORY WINNER: BUILD PRODUCT

Soudal Ireland

SWS Airtight Foam Kit

Hardware Association Ireland President, Paul Candon with Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland sponsor of the Innovation Awards and Glenn Williams, National Sales Manager, Soudal Ltd.

Innovation Awards 2024

CATEGORY WINNER: GARDEN PRODUCT

Simpson Strong-Tie Design Series - Decorative Hardware for Garden Structures

Hardware Association

Ireland President, Paul Candon with Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland sponsor of the Innovation Awards and David Mooney, Country Manager Ireland, Simpson StrongTie.

CATEGORY WINNER: HARDWARE / DIY PRODUCT

OX Tools UK

BORA Centipede

Hardware Association

Ireland President, Paul Candon with Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland sponsor of the Innovation Awards and Sean McQuade, Area Sales Manager Ireland, OX Tools UK.

CATEGORY WINNER: HOME PRODUCT

Luceco Evolve

Hardware Association

Ireland President, Paul Candon with Martin Masterson, General Manager, Ahern Ireland sponsor of the Innovation Awards and James O’Byrne, Retail Sales Manager, Luceco Group.

The Presidents Ball 2024

PRESIDENTS BALL SPONSORS & PAST PRESIDENTS

Hardware Association Ireland President Paul Candon with The President’s Ball joint sponsor, Kieran Holohan, Managing Director - Ireland, Saint Gobain.

Hardware Association Ireland President Paul Candon with The President’s Ball joint sponsor, Ray Molyneaux, Managing Director, Irish Cement Ltd.

Hardware Association Ireland President and Past Presidents at The 2024 President’s Ball.

Back L to R - Pat Byrne 1997 - 1998, Michael O’Donohoe 2021 - 2022, Paul Candon 2023 - 2024, Sean Moran 2019 - 2020, Hugh O`Donnell 2015 - 2016. Front L to R - Eddie Kelly 2001 - 2002, Jack White 1999 - 2000, Joe Nolan 1985 - 1986, Joe Maher 1987 - 1988.

Hardware Association Ireland President Paul Candon with The President’s Ball joint sponsor, Wayne Murphy, National Sales Manager for Ireland, Unilin Insulation.

Hardware Association Ireland President Paul Candon with The President’s Ball joint sponsor, Seamus O`Donoghue. Managing Director, Dulux Paints Ireland Ltd.

SWS AIRTIGHT FOAM KIT: CELEBRATING INNOVATION AND SUCCESS Innovation Award Overall

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of The Hardware Show 2024, Soudal Ireland stood out as a beacon of innovation and excellence with the triumphant unveiling of the SWS Airtight Foam Kit. Garnering two prestigious awards - Best Build Product and Innovation Award Overall Winning Product for 2024 - this revolutionary product has solidified its position as a trailblazer in the construction industry.

Soudal wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to promoters Hardware Association Ireland, EventHaus the organisers and Ahern Ireland the sponsors of The Innovation Awards for providing a platform to showcase innovation and celebrate industry leaders. This recognition is a testament to Soudal`s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of possibility and delivering products of exceptional quality and performance.

Engineered with polyurethane foam filler, the SWS Airtight Foam Kit offers unparalleled versatility and performance. With an impressive acoustic rating of ISO 717-1: 63 dB and thermal conductivity of DIN 52612: 34.5mW/mK, it ensures optimal insulation and energy efficiency, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. Practicality is at the forefront of the SWS Airtight Foam Kit’s design. Its wide application temperature range (-10 to +30 °C) and linear yield of 21 metres facilitates seamless installation in various conditions.

For retailers, the merchandising units are compact in design and easy to assemble making it accessible to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. The inclusion of a 3D Headboard design enhances the product’s visual appeal and also serves as a marketing tool to capture customer attention. Furthermore, its ability to hold 12 boxes in a Free-Standing Display Unit (FSDU) underscores its suitability for retail environments. Clear explanation of the product’s benefits ensure customers are well-informed, while QR codes provide instant access to additional information, enhancing the overall user experience.

As Soudal celebrate the success of the SWS Airtight Foam Kit, they are reminded of the importance of innovation and excellence in driving progress and shaping the future of the construction industry. This prestigious recognition serves as a testament to their dedication to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of their customers. Together we will Build the Future.

For further information contact by email at: enquiries.ireland@soudal.com or phone 01 8855 555 or visit www.soudal.ie

• Optimal ventilation: Ensures proper functioning of systems.

• Improved EP-level: Enhances energy performance calculations.

• Quality assurance: Indicates building envelope quality.

• Targeted sealing: Addresses 30%-40% of window leaks.

• Heat preservation: Prevents heat loss for cosier spaces.

• Sound insulation: Maintains acoustic performance.

• Enhanced comfort: Creates a more comfortable living environment.

• Mold prevention: Reduces risk for healthier indoor air.

Innovation Award Winner

THE BORA CENTIPEDE - NOT JUST ANOTHER WORK BENCH

The BORA Centipede isn’t just a workbench— it’s a total workspace solution designed to adapt to your customer`s needs, wherever they are. With a range of sizes available, including the smallest boasting an impressive 1134kg weight capacity, there’s a Centipede for every project.

But what truly sets the BORA Centipede apart is its instant setup and tear-down. No more wasting time fumbling with complicated assembly instructions, just throw it and go. With the BORA Centipede, your customer can get to work in seconds, giving them more time to focus on completing the task at hand.

Plus, with a plethora of accessories available, the BORA Centipede offers even more versatility and functionality. The two x four brackets are perfect for securing 89mm Canadian Lumber Standard (CLS) timber in place, lay flat

or on its side, while working. BORA Quick clamps ensure materials stay put while working, while BORA hooks keep wires from power tools tidy and out of the way allowing your customer to work safely. BORA six-inch risers can be added to allow a taller working surface. With the BORA non-slips, your customer can trust that their materials will stay sturdy and secure on top of the workbench.

Sean McQuade – Area Sales Manager for Ireland said “It’s an incredible honour for the BORA Centipede to be recognised as The Hardware Show Innovation Awards, Hardware / DIY Product of the Year. This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the hardware and construction industry. We are proud to have stood out among such tough competition.” For more information about the awardwinning BORA Centipede, its features, and availability, please contact Sean McQuade directly at sean.mcquade@oxtools.com or +353 83 091 4980

Experience first-hand why the BORA Centipede is setting a new standard for innovation in the hardware industry.

Garden Innovation Award Winner

DESIGN SERIES - DECORATIVE HARDWARE FOR GARDEN STRUCTURES

SIMPSON’S new Design Series is a range of decorative connectors designed with a Blacksmith style profile that adds a touch of vintage flair to your customer`s outdoor projects. The innovative washer-and-screw combo creates a decorative appearance of a bolt-like connection but installs with the ease of a screw.

With installation made easy, now trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike can bring enduring strength and timeless style to garden structures and furniture.

Your customer`s custom-built outdoor structures will be strong, safe and beautiful while the weather resistant black powder coat provides a distinguishing look.

Having won The Hardware Show Innovation Award for Best Garden Product, David Mooney, Country Manager Ireland said “ I was thrilled to have come out the right side

of the Dragons Den interrogation (alive!), it wasn’t at all intimidating, but a pleasure to have met the esteemed judges who understood that the innovation was not only in the individual products but also in the complete solution.” In Ireland, the majority of people are fortunate to have access to private gardens. A significant number use their gardens as spaces for hosting family and friends, while many others consider it their ultimate relaxation spot. The potential for enhancing these outdoor spaces is immense. “Design Series is easy to use” explains David, “All you need to add is creativity and inspiration, and you’ll effortlessly transform your outdoor space into something truly unique.” Simpsons know- how includes a comprehensive retail store merchandising solution, featuring colour carton labels and attractive blister packs displayed on a custom-designed gondola shelving system tailored for the Design Series. To enhance the display further, Simpson`s propose complementing this setup with an in-store mock pergola, deemed the most effective method for promoting the products.

To find out more: www.strongtie.co.uk/outdoor-living or contact dmooney@strongtie.com

Simpson know-how, for the garden.

Reinventing the Concept of a Garden Centre

In this issue our colleague and friend Thierry Coeman visited the Kremer Natur Talente Garden Centre concept in Lennestadt, Germany.

111 years after its founding by Franz Kremer, his great-grandson Alexander Kremer (4th generation) has set the foundation for a long-term strategy of facilitating organic growth whilst bringing people closer to nature and instilling a sense of care and respect for Mother Nature.

The serene landscape of Sauerland in Germany serves as a captivating introduction to the final destination: Lennestadt. Upon entering the parking area along the Lenne banks, a nature enthusiast is immediately enthralled by an indescribable sensation. Stepping into the enchanting entrance, it becomes clear that Kremer transcends the typical garden centre.

The bustling parking lot and pleasant activity within the store need no explanation. Let’s clarify from the outset: Kremer is a ‘Nature Sanctuary’ with the ambition to significantly enhance the lives of the local community. The warm welcome and initial encounter with Alexander Kremer, Managing Director, goes beyond mere cordiality.

The same enthusiasm experienced upon entering the greenplanted parking lot persists. This visit in my opinion is unlike any

other across Europe; before exploring the store, over two hours of discussion and clarification convince me of why Kremer needs to be regarded as a holy nature sanctuary.

From Disruption to Breakthrough Kremer’s comprehensive concept results from a profound process, starting in the heart and concluding with a soul. This aligns seamlessly with the desires of today’s consumers seeking meaning and fulfillment.

It all started with a fundamental willingness for disruption, sometime in 2014. The realisation of a fault line with the past occurred almost ten years ago when Alexander sadly concluded that the commercial success of his garden centres were eroding the soul of the family business. “We had transformed into a genuine supermarket of plants, losing employee recognition and facing employee departures. We were selling our soul in the battle against competition, engaging in arm wrestling with promotions and aggressive price communication. In short, we found ourselves sinking deeper into an immeasurable pit, miles away from nature. And suddenly, it was five to twelve: we had to and would reinvent ourselves,” Alexander Kremer states.

The inspiring story of ‘Natur Talente’ – the unique rebranding for the renewed store concept - is not merely pleasant storytelling; it is the translation of one of the very best thought processes in retail concept and design that I have encountered. It is the result of a fundamental turnaround, the strong belief in a well thought out, unique and personal business model, a resurrection after flipping the traditional retail pyramid, the courage to face disruption.

The greatest merit of this family company’s success story lies in having the bravery to turn a process of deep reflection into a breakthrough retail concept. “The process is the result of an indebted collaboration with Professor Philipp Teufel, University Düsseldorf, an expert in retail design, his students, and my family,” emphasises the managing director. One of these students, Marvin Huettermann, would ‘stick’ to the Kremer DNA and since then has become one of Alexander’s closest business partners, keeping the focus on the never ending process of change and adaptation.

From Tipping Point to Turnaround

Philipp Teufel attentively absorbed Alexander Kremer’s profound frustrations and crafted a masterplan. The ingenious retail conceptor dispatched an extensive team of students, unfamiliar with garden centres, to Lennestadt with a straightforward mission: apply the W-questioning technique. Through countless observations and interactions using the Who-What-Why-When questions, they delved into the motivations, beliefs, and needs of customers.

The process was named Master Plan 111 – to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the family company which took place during the reshaping - and had no defined constraints on time or resources; Alexander Kremer entrusted Professor Teufel’s sixth sense. A year later, a revelation occurred when Professor Teufel presented the result: a thick book brimming with photos, emotions, and heartwarming sketches; no figures, no time tables, no grids, or budgetary approaches.

The Inverted Pyramid

In 2016, the task shifted to translating the visual Master Plan 111 into an architectural framework, a process spanning four exhilarating years. The result is a stunning and expressive store concept centered around Mother Nature, returning to the roots and soul of founder Franz Kremer. Closer to nature becomes synonymous with being closer to society, closer to stakeholders, closer to the community, embodying the ethos of caring for each other in harmony with nature.

The language evolved, with employees now referred to as “Nature-Talents,” an idea proposed by Felix, Alexander’s son. The organisation became self-steering, offices transformed into green oases, and the competitive battle shifted to meaningfulness.

A View from Europe

Subsequent to Lennestadt, the other branches in Gummersbach, Remscheid and Lüdenscheid underwent similar transformations with their unique natural accents. The fifth store concept is planned for spring 2025 in Siegen - the birth place of the famous Flemish painter Peter-Paul Rubens - which invites to merge nature and art symbiotically.

Fulfilling a Social Role

The Natur Gartencenter concept, which the Kremer’s call their ‘Garden Museum Shop’, aligns with fundamental societal values: tolerance, togetherness, commitment, respect, involvement, support, exploration, discovery, inspiration, and reflection. From this broad perspective, Kremer’s Nature Sanctuaries serve, each one of them, as encounter platforms fostering happiness through hospitality, knowledge transfer, educational experiences, and playful gardening.

The journey through the store (+ 5.000 m²) includes discovering how to integrate nature in a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room, a balcony or how to conceive a garden pharmacy. These four pillars - hospitality, education, interaction and fun - fulfill a fundamental social role, including commitment to a sustainable environment and respect for all gifts of nature. The store exploration emphasises interaction with nature within themed universes. You just only need to walk the green path and get spoiled.

Another highlight is the garden museum (300 m²), offering a discovery through the history of gardening tools, ecological practices, interactive exhibits on birds, butterflies and insects, all combined with tailor made clinics for children. The store activities feature creative and seasonal workshops, educational programs, an Afghan embroidery exhibition and an ecological playground for children by the River Lenne, offering insights into local fauna and flora.

Seeds for the Next Generation

111 years after its founding by great-grandfather Franz Kremer, his great-grandson Alexander Kremer (4th generation) has set the foundation for a long-term strategy, facilitating organic growth whilst bringing people closer to nature and instilling a sense of care and respect for Mother Nature.

Do not even try to copy the Kremer Natur Talente concept, as this green sanctuary is driven by its soul rather than extensive product ranges, price tags and screaming promotional language. Obviously, Kremer is just ‘State of the Art in Gardening’.

Alexander Kremer is on pilgrimage to inspire colleagues in the Gardening and Home Improvement industry wherever in Europe or beyond, providing them the seeds to develop their own Master Plan 2030. Alexander Kremer’s journey plants a profound and noble legacy, seeds for the next generations.

The Reverse Industry has been built up around retailers handling returns of $billions of goods every year

In my previous column, I highlighted some of the ways my team of buyers prepares to head into tradeshow season. Purchasing new items or categories takes equal parts methodology and instinct coupled with research and chance – it’s a science combined with customer knowledge. I’m happy to report that tradeshow season is in full swing, and the team is actively looking for the next big thing to hit the shelves.

In March, I attended one of the largest hardlines (consumer durables) trade shows in the world, the National Hardware Show (NHS) in Las Vegas, Nevada and rather than focus on products, I concentrated on learning. The first annual Executive Summit at NHS was a series of five educational sessions led by experts in such fields as customer trends, merchandising and remodeling. Big names like E&Y, Houzz and Home Depot sent leaders to dissect research happening around the globe and make it accessible to the independent channel. It was a wealth of data and learnings that as a small business owner, I wouldn’t have otherwise had access to.

I also presented at the summit. I shared the stage with Dan Tratensek, COO and Publisher, North American Hardware and Paint Association and Jodi Karroum, Director of Business Development, Walmart – Hardlines. We provided insight into how retailers are adapting to industry changes around staffing trends, e-Commerce, and succession planning. A key take-away from this panel is that these concepts don’t just affect the big guys. The more we talk about and share best practices, the better we can get.

Speaking of which, the session that I found most thought provoking was the last one of the morning. It was led by Erik Caldwell, Vice President Supply Chain Operations, Home Depot and Tony Sciarrotta, Executive Director, The Reverse Logistics Association (RLA).

The RLA offers information, research, and solutions for manufacturers, retail companies, and third-party providers with a goal to provide education and inform reverse logistics professionals globally and be the voice of the reverse industry.

I have to be honest; I had never heard the phrase “reverse industry.” Simply put, it’s a very large industry that has been built up around returns - billions of dollars of goods that are returned to retailers every year. Everything impacting global giants like Home Depot, absolutely affects us smaller ones too so I paid close attention. The process is not new, consumers have been buying and returning goods for as long as businesses have operated, and returns started growing with the advent of catalog and phone orders. Fast forward many decades and e-Commerce has blown the numbers out of the water.

The Numbers

According to the National Retail Federation, the total value of merchandise returned by consumers in the United States in 2023 was a staggering $743 billion. The data is broken down to include in-store and online returns.

• Total Return Rate: As a percentage of sales, the overall return rate for 2023 stood at 14.5%.

https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-andappriss-retail

• Online Returns: Online sales experienced a higher return rate, with 17.6% of merchandise purchased online being r eturned. This amounted to a whopping $247 billion in online returns. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/ companies/americans-returned.

Gina Schaefer - Speaker. Author. Co-Founder, www.Recoveryhardware.com / www.Acehardwaredc.com

Gina Schaefer at The Hardware Show (NHS) in Las Vegas in March 2024

Local Retailing in the USA

I want to share some of the highlights that I gleaned from this session.

The Challenges

1. As e-Commerce grows, so does the need to figure out what to do with everything that is sent back. This challenge can be further broken down into several categories with the primary concerns being both operationally and environmentally focused.

a. Not everything is able to return to the shelves – items that are damaged or have an electrical component cannot be placed right back on their original shelf; requiring costly repairs, a downstream (i.e., discount) market and replaced packaging.

b. An incredible amount of packaging is required. Cardboard, packing material and all sorts of plastics are used to box up and ship items. Once compromised, much of that material cannot be used again. Customers return items in various states of “good packaging,” often using unusable material too. This costs retailers more and leaves a tremendous amount of waste to dispose of.

c. Landfills shouldn’t be the (only) answer. Many industries ship their excess inventory and returned goods to overseas landfills, making the trash problem, someone else’s problem. Not only is this extremely detrimental to the environment, but it’s also not sustainable as a long-term solution. There aren’t currently enough regulations that govern this type of practice.

2. Legislation in the U.S. could help guide the future of this growing challenge.

a. There are currently few Federal guidelines for dealing with returns so states have created their own regulation retailers must abide by. This is a disjointed process whereby even neighbouring states might have differing requirements – very strict or very lenient - leaving corporations to understand and follow too many unrelated laws.

b. Europe leads the way in regulatory advancements for reverse logistics and those guidelines could eventually make their way to the U. S. The RLA has a team monitoring what is being done globally to impact the reverse logistics landscape, knowing that the U.S. does not currently have the most rigorous or comprehensive laws.

What’s happening in Europe?

Efforts like the Circular Economy Action Plan, part of the European Green Deal and the EU’s Waste Framework Directive are intended to address the reverse logistics challenges. These are not unique to the U.S. Circular economy action plan - European Commission (europa.eu).

In the UK, similar initiatives are underway, with the government consulting on introducing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. This would hold producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products, including when they become waste. This approach aims to incentivise retailers to design products with longer life spans and to facilitate easier repair and recycling. https://www.swiftpak.co.uk/insights/what-is-extendedproducer-responsibility-uk-updated-2023

The American Retailer Response Home Depot was served up as a case study for what is being done well in the reverse logistics field while acknowledging that

there is still much more to do. Caldwell shared three major efforts underway.

1. Four national reverse logistics centres have been created and are run much like a distribution centre. These warehouses process millions of dollars of goods aggregated from Home Depot stores or items sent there by consumers. Products are evaluated for potential repairs, to be repackaged and returned to stores, to be recycled, etc. This is a massive and costly operation for Home Depot that is likely to get bigger as on-line sales in the hardlines channel grows.

2. Partner relationships have been built to provide reseller opportunities for items that won’t go back to Home Depot’s shelves. In some cases, these are discounters. Interesting to note is that when a proprietary brand item is returned, a secondary set of rules comes into play if Home Depot doesn’t want that brand sold at a discounter.

3. Recycling efforts have been stepped up with some cool programs. One takes returned plastics and turns them into 100% recycled shopping bags. Another melts down pallet straps to become bucket lids. Hundreds of thousands of tons of waste have been kept out of landfills because of these efforts.

Some things to ponder

1. The costs associated with doing reverse logistics well, meaning not just dumping items in landfills, adds a tremendous amount of overhead to retail operations which impacts business finances and prices for consumers.

2. Is it possible that some items just shouldn’t be allowed to be delivered? I found myself thinking about the mattress industry. In the USA 50,000 mattresses are disposed of each day. In this $30 billion market, 75% of all mattress material CAN be recycled, yet only 5% is. Leading me to wonder, who has responsibility for these efforts? If we couldn’t buy an item like mattresses online, would it dramatically cut down on landfill waste and return logistics?

3. Many retailers make the problem a customer one – telling them to “keep the damaged item” and we’ll just send you a replacement. This might sound like a good solution until you end up with an extra vanity or mattress at your house that you now need to figure out what to do with.

What does all of this mean as independent retailers? It’s not hard to marvel at the amount of work that goes into business challenges, and there aren’t many that rival the increased reverse logistics requirements in today’s retail environment. I might describe the largest retailers as our biggest competitors, but in this instance, I am glad they have the manpower, interest and money to tackle returns head on. We can watch from the sidelines as lobbyists argue for more or fewer regulations, we can cheer for recycling programs that will change how we dispose of waste, and we can learn from partnerships forged to move returned goods into the hands of new customers.

The bottom line is this, we need more to be done and we need to pay attention to those doing it. The RLA and their member retailers are watching legislative trends in Europe for guidance, being innovative in their planning and thinking about the future.

I hope the National Hardware Show hosts an Executive Summit next year and that I get the opportunity to attend. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet you there.

Good fencing makes good business

Especially EliteGarden SmartFence. Starting small, but thinking big, spotting opportunities and constantly innovating, yields stadium-scale success for family-run Irish manufacturer, EliteForm.

A garage, a welder and ingenuity. Everything Victor Whyte needed to make his name in sheet metal. Victor’s entrepreneurial story begins in the 70s, with the loss of his farm job when disease decimated the herd. In gratitude for years of dedication and as a wedding present, the farmer gifted Victor a site to build on. Asked about his plans, Victor replied, ‘repairs for the local agricultural community.’ Another gift from the farmer, Victor’s first welder, made it possible.

Victor began making car trailers in his garage near Castlebellingham, County Louth. In 1976, he built a workshop behind his house. Now he could hire one employee, build larger trailers for tractors and move into farm machinery repair. Everything changed one day in the 80`s with a visit to a hardware store to buy gutters for his shed. The selection was disappointingly poor.

Spotting a gap in the market, Victor spent the next decade perfecting machines and processes to manufacture gutters for farm buildings. His designs were revolutionary. Spouse Georgina was busy too, combining the school run with deliveries to shed erectors.

Fast forward to the late 80s and the way ahead was clear: expanding into industrial and commercial gutters, led by customer demand and growth in the sector. In 1990 their last trailer rolled off the workshop floor.

Ten years on, staff numbers reached 20. Victor and Georgina had retired, leaving daughter Sandra at the helm of a fast-growing enterprise.

EliteForm is born

New sheds and offices were constructed in 2002. The year after, the business rebranded to EliteForm Manufacturing Ltd and invested heavily in equipment and software.

By the decade’s end, EliteForm’s team of 95 was handling major projects such as the Aviva Stadium and the Google Building and getting into bespoke fabrication work, facilitated by further upgrades to skills and equipment.

Then the downturn hit, prompting another pivot. EliteForm had the machinery and skilled team to produce fencing, thus EliteFence, now EliteGarden, came into being. They’d got it right again.

Today’s line-up

The firm operates from a 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility near Castlebellingham. The EliteGarden Products showroom is in the village itself. Both sites feature eyecatching outdoor and indoor displays. With business expanding every year, the company plans to double its site.

EliteForm now manufactures multiple ranges of fencing and garden products, including SmartFence, for hardware stores nationwide. All made from quality, durable materials.

As Patrick Byrne, Facilities Manager, explains, “We also make and export sheet metal components for datacentres, recycling facilities and cruise ships. Our biggest milestones are the Aviva Roof Panels and interior panels for the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium.”

Masters of precision metalwork

The facility is equipped with an impressive range of cutting-edge machinery. “This ensures we have the perfect tools for any job,” says Patrick. “We can confidently take on any sheet metal project with ease.”

EliteForm produces custom sheet metal work for major international and Irish clients, including Audi, Turmec and Ardmac, who require components in different sizes.

“What matters is the standard of our products as they leave our premises. Our reputation is founded on quality. Customer relationships are vital too; the names we work for are testament to our capabilities. We want to exemplify the best in Irish manufacturing and support Irish jobs.”

Garden transformation

EliteGarden serves a very different market: homeowners. Created in early 2010, this division caters for existing and new builds with a wide choice of fencing and accessories produced at the EliteForm plant.

“These days, homeowners seek maintenance-free solutions. Products are expected to look the same as the day they were installed. With the recent storms people want to replace wooden fencing with a more permanent, wind-resistant solution that doesn’t require regular painting,” says Patrick.

“Originally our fencing was bespoke, reworked from scratch for every customer. In 2019 we launched the SmartFence range to cater for properties with standard concrete H posts in place. This makes the process more affordable and installation easy.”

SmartFence was a hit, demonstrating the value of market and product research to stay ahead and compete.

Some innovations are the result of consumer feedback and requests, like more colours, trellis designs and even mounting systems.

“If a customer comes with an issue, we always find a solution. We’ve created systems for mounting fencing to walls, for dealing with diverse ground conditions, and even a non-invasive facing

bracket system that allows two neighbours to have different fences back-to-back using the same posts.”

Survival strategy

Resilience comes from innovation, especially given the unpredictability and challenges resulting from worldwide events. Rising materials costs, particularly steel, due to supply and demand issues are among other contributing factors. EliteForm continues to thrive. Patrick puts this down to good customer communications and the push to innovate, redesign, grow stronger and adapt.

But above all, we uphold “Our commitment to quality assurance and positive customer relationships.”

Looking ahead, EliteForm will continue to benefit from sourcing material in the UK and manufacturing in Ireland. “This gives us the best chance to stay ahead of the curve and weather any future supply crises brought on by global events.”

Smart and sustainable

Asked the secret of staying relevant and agile, Patrick cites continual market research and monitoring opportunities in the many sectors the company serves. “We visit trade exhibitions for inspiration and we’re always discussing fresh ideas.”

The most exciting recent innovation is a bracket for fixing SmartFence designs to a flat surface, transforming possibilities for customers to clad unsightly walls.

“It’s ideal for situations of a retrofit fence between neighbours. Attach the fence to your side of the original shared fence and enhance your garden while leaving the original fence in place. This has been an incredibly popular product.”

Technology being “the fulcrum of today’s economy,” is a major focus.

“We are always working to stay ahead of the curve and improve efficiency and the manufacturing processes. As the demand for SmartFence panels grew, we brought in new fabrication technology to produce faster. This made a huge difference to packing and product delivery. “Eliteform constantly investigate new cost-effective materials, but never compromise on quality. Sustainability is also driving change. EliteForm’s strategy includes investing heavily in the renewables and recycling sector and bringing customers sustainable solutions. Including post cover options in the same eco-friendly recycling steel as the fencing. All packaging is made of cardboard and using QR codes reduces paper waste on instruction leaflets.

One big family

Patrick credits the 70-strong team for this forward-thinking attitude and adaptability. Especially the key players in this family firm, who have built a solid reputation and company culture.

Managing Director Sandra Byrne oversees the business, while Martin O’Hare, Operations Manager, runs the workshop floor. Facilities Manager Patrick Byrne looks after efficient workflow. As Head of Sales, Paul Fagan liaises with stockists and buyer groups. Eduard Bartkevics heads up Purchasing, and Brendan Hughes manages fabrication and production for big projects. The firm has a policy of recruiting, developing and ensuring the highest level of skill and commitment.

“When hiring, we look internally and wherever possible, upskill and encourage staff to progress within the business. We regularly check in on our people and ask if they wish to change department or try something new. We source courses and run training days to help them upskill. We reward initiative and reliability.”

It’s vital to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable working at the peak of their abilities.” In return, EliteForm staff are dedicated to excellence and teamwork.

“The family ethos is central. We encourage staff to bring family on board. This instils trust and dependability. Many of our people have been with us since the 90s.”

Fence posting

EliteForm is a busy presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to engage different markets. Facebook reaches homeowners; TikTok, the DIYers. Some SmartFence videos have gone viral, attracting over half a million views.

LinkedIn is followed by landscapers, architectural and construction professionals, it is most effective for securing building projects and housing developments and for showing retrofit ranges for housing estates.

Networks net results

EliteForm works closely with Guaranteed Irish, Hardware Association Ireland, and the Irish Association of Steel Fabricators, essential relationships for potential collaboration.

“Guaranteed Irish recognition means everything. We’re proud to manufacture our products here and it enhances our profile and builds confidence that customers are receiving outstanding products.”

Winning The Hardware Show Innovation Award 2019, “catapulted SmartFence into the limelight for stockists and gave us a fantastic launchpad for product promotion.”

Unique Selling Point

All fencing is manufactured at parent company, EliteForm, with each element made by hand and every batch consistently quality checked to ensure no errors. These attractive, hardwearing Guaranteed Irish products offer one of the longest guarantees on the market.

HAI CERTIFICATE IN HARDWARE RETAIL AND MERCHANTING LATEST

Sponsored by building products manufacturers group Octabuild, the nine-month long mentorbased programme is designed to equip those new to the hardware retail/builders merchanting sector, also those in need of more structured training, with a knowledge and skills base that will enable them to contribute to the business of their employer. It will also help employees build a career in the sector.

Since the last update, students have completed their Instore Finances, Operations and Instore Promotion training, by completing the Credit Control, Stock Control, Merchandising and Digital Marketing & Social Media modules.

Each session was followed by highly comprehensive Product Knowledge sessions delivered by Octabuild members:

• Roofing Products: presented by Etex Ireland

• Timber Products: presented by Glennon Brothers

• Cement Products: presented jointly by Irish Cement and Saint Gobain/Gyproc

• Insulation Products: presented by Kingspan Insulation

Our students have just one remaining module before their graduation ceremony upon completion of their final assignments. In April they will complete their final module

- Team Building and Team Leading – which will round off their learning and give them the opportunity to grow their managerial skills and career opportunities within their organisation.

The final Product Knowledge module will be presented by Dulux Paints, covering Paint Products

The HAI Certificate at The Hardware Show 2024!

The HAI Certificate was proudly on display at The Hardware Association Ireland stand at The Hardware Show 2024, with the HAI team on hand to talk to visitors about the programme and enrolment.

With thanks, as always, to Octabuild

HAI is delighted to be working with Octabuild and its members (Dulux Paints, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation, and Wavin Ireland) to deliver a series of Product Knowledge modules, giving students a fully-rounded perspective of the industry.

Octabuild Chairperson, Declan Conlon, Wavin Ireland, comments on the group’s involvement this year: “Octabuild is delighted to partner with Hardware Association Ireland to sponsor the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting for the third year. We very much appreciate the importance of growing talent in the hardware retail and builders merchant trade and value the knowledge that this programme offers to participants. Octabuild members enjoy sharing their expertise in industry-specific product knowledge modules for participants and working with them as they progress through the programme.”

ENROLMENT FOR 2024/2025

Interested in enrolling in the 2024/2025 programme of the HAI Certificate? Email aoife@hardwareassociation.ie today.

For more information about the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting contact Aoife at aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969.

HAI SPRING TRAINING ROUND-UP

Thank you to all who attended our Spring training sessions.

Profit Maximisation

HAI’s Spring training began with an impactful Profit Maximisation workshop led by Declan Flood. Launched as part of the Association’s focus on business costs, it aims to assist organizations in maximising profits and optimising efficiencies. This program focused on the intricacies of the hardware/DIY industry, addressing specific challenges faced by hardware retailers and builders merchants, looking at the key factors that can impact an organisation’s profit margin and providing actionable solutions to the attendees.

Supplier Selling Skills Refresher

In February, our supplier sales training returned, tailored for reps serving hardware retailers and builders merchants nationwide. Terry Harmer’s engaging half-day session offered valuable insights on enhancing selling strategies.

Attendees gained practical tips for making a strong first impression, building rapport, maintaining a structured selling approach, emphasising product FABs (Feature Added Benefits), addressing objections, and closing sales.

Attendee testimonial: “Very informative and well presented”

Digital Marketing Workshops

Digital Marketing Checklist 2024

HAI’s marketing training kicked off with a comprehensive half-day workshop, designed to provide marketers in the sector with an actionable Digital Marketing Checklist to optimise their marketing plan for the year.

This highly interactive session equipped industry professionals with the latest insights and strategies in customer and audience research, SEO, email marketing, content marketing, Google Analytics and Ads, and artificial intelligence.

Using AI/Chat GPT

Delving further into the rapidly growing area of AI, Denis Jastrzebski gave a helpful demonstration to attendees in how to make use of AI tools like Chat GPT, Canva and others to optimise content, whether text or graphics. It was an eye-opener for attendees, with multiple applications and uses available including keyword research, email marketing, image generation, and even webpage and presentation generation!

He also provided a very helpful prompt formula for anyone using Chat GPT, to help them get the most suitable response from the tool for its purpose.

Video Marketing

Another highly comprehensive mini-marketing workshop: Debbie Ringwood presented this 90-minute session for those interested in delving deeper into video marketing and how to incorporate it into their marketing strategy. Focusing keenly on Canva, Debbie demonstrated the AI powered tools available to marketers to help them develop engaging and eye-catching video content to promote their products and services.

Watch this space for news of HAI’s Autumn 2024 training schedule.

A highly demanded area of training among membership, HAI’s Spring schedule comprised a number of targeted and tailored digital marketing workshops, all delivered by key marketing industry experts from Content Plan.

For more information about all our courses scan the QR code below.

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

Agriflow Plastic Compression Fittings aims to provide you with knowledge of the Agriflow products and equip learners with selling techniques to assist customers and maximise retails sales

CHADWICKS JOINS THE HAI EDUCATION JOURNEY

As part of the HAI Education journey, earlier this month, QedON and Chadwicks Group partnered together to complete the transfer of the current Product Knowledge eCourses. These eCourses are now accessible to over 1500 colleagues and can be completed anytime, anywhere and at the learner's own pace!

This successful partnership brings us one step closer to bringing education to the hardware sector. ALL

If you would like to be next to take part in bringing learning to the Hardware Sector, please use contact details below:

jim@hardwareassociation.ie

fong.hayes@qedon.com

Deborah Couedelo, Director of Technologies, QedON and Sean Henderson, Learning and Development Manager, Chadwicks Group.

EMBRACING POTENTIAL OVER EXPERIENCE

At The Hardware Show in February, we had conversations with numerous employers who shared a common challenge - they are not receiving applications from candidates with the expected qualifications for their job postings. They mentioned the growing difficulty in finding candidates with the necessary professional and industry experience to fill their job openings.

In Ireland, at the moment, we have a dynamic job market and the traditional approach to hiring is undergoing a transformation. Traditional wisdom might suggest that experience is the ultimate benchmark of suitability for a role. However, skills shortages leave many employers struggling to find candidates with the precise qualifications and experience required for specialised roles. In response to this challenge, some businesses are now turning towards a forward-thinking strategy: hiring candidates based on their potential rather than solely on their past experience.

Embracing a potential-based hiring approach involves shifting the emphasis from past achievements to future capabilities. Instead of rigidly adhering to a checklist of qualifications, hiring managers evaluate candidates based on their aptitude, adaptability, and willingness to learn. This strategy opens doors for individuals from diverse backgrounds and career trajectories who may not fit the traditional mould but exhibit a strong potential to excel in the role.

Moreover, hiring for potential cultivates a growth mindset within the company. Candidates who exhibit potential are often eager to learn, adapt, and grow within their roles. They bring a hunger for knowledge and a willingness to tackle challenges head-on. In contrast, experienced candidates may be set in their ways, resistant to change, or lacking the drive to continuously improve.

During The Hardware Show, we were struck by how important innovation is to the industry. Businesses are now striving to introduce new ideas, refresh their product range, impress with marketing strategies, and highlight their sustainability initiatives. Embracing innovation is the key to these goals. By prioritising potential, businesses can build a team that is tech-savvy and eager for the latest trends. Recognising innovative thinking and a hunger for knowledge prepares teams for whatever challenges the future may bring, allowing them to adapt swiftly to industry changes.

Despite its many benefits, hiring for potential does come with its own set of challenges. Evaluating intangible qualities such as motivation, adaptability, and resilience can be inherently subjective. Additionally, there is always a degree of uncertainty

involved in hiring candidates based on their potential, as not all individuals may live up to expectations or adapt as quickly as anticipated. However, with well-planned recruitment processes and using techniques like competency-based questioning, psychometric assessments, and scenario-based evaluations, you can create an interview process suited to evaluating potential.

Hiring for potential impacts how you onboard a candidate. It may require a longer commitment to ongoing training and development. While high-potential individuals may possess innate talent and enthusiasm, they may lack the practical skills or industry-specific knowledge required to ‘hit the ground running’ in their roles. Providing structured training programs, mentorship opportunities, and access to resources can help bridge this gap, empowering employees to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.

Recruiting based on potential might require you to start the hiring process earlier than anticipated. For instance, if you are aware that an employee will be leaving in a year and their role could be filled by a candidate with potential, consider hiring in advance to allow for a more extended transition period.

Many companies offer Graduate Programs to bring in promising candidates. By focusing on candidates with the right attitude and potential for these programs, companies understand that investing in them early in their careers can yield significant benefits once the program concludes. These individuals will then be well-prepared to take on crucial roles within the company.

At Tactical Talent, we provide guidance on the market for specific roles, the possibility of prioritising potential over experience, and we conduct thorough interviews with all candidates before introducing them to you. This enables us to offer you a summary of each candidate’s profile, potential, and experience before you meet them in person. Frequently, the candidates we match with our clients based on their potential often turn out to be the most successful hires. This is a significant factor that keeps our clients coming back to us regularly. Identifying high potential individuals is a crucial aspect of our work, especially in today’s competitive job market where talent is in high demand.

Contact either Vinny Kelly or Iseult McLaughlin for a discussion around your hiring needs or visit our website www.tacticaltalent.ie for more information.

Vinny: vkelly@tacticaltalent.ie

Iseult: imclaughlin@tacticaltalent.ie | Phone: 01 907 9192

DENISE MCCARTHY Business Development Manager, Securitas Technology Ireland

SAFEGUARDING YOUR BUSINESS: THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY

Safeguarding your business and safety in general in Dublin and in cities and towns around the country continues to be an ongoing concern. This comes after a series of incidents and media representations in the past year, which have challenged Ireland’s reputation as a safe country. While tourism and investment remain strong, the question remains: can Ireland hold onto its attractiveness if safety concerns persist?

The Data Tells a Story

Data from The Dublin Chamber of Commerce reveals a concerning image. Their 2023 report demonstrates a significant rise in safety concerns among businesses. In just one year, the percentage of businesses identifying safety as a top-three challenge for Dublin surged from 7% to 31%.

Another Dublin Chamber survey revealed overwhelming support for a stronger An Garda Síochána presence. A resounding 95% of member businesses called for increased Garda visibility in the city centre. This clear message sends a strong signal: businesses crave a more secure environment with a more prominent An Garda Síochána force.

Prevention over reaction: a proactive approach to safety While increased An Garda Síochána visibility undoubtedly plays a crucial role in enhancing safety within urban environments, adopting a holistic approach to security is paramount. It’s not merely about the presence of uniformed officers but also about leveraging modern technological solutions to fortify the safety net around businesses and communities.

Speaking on security solutions, Denise McCarthy, Business Development Manager, Securitas Technology Ireland says: “Businesses can create a robust security net by integrating multiple solutions. Strategically placed CCTV cameras deter crime and provide evidence, while access control systems restrict entry to authorised personnel only. Additionally, intruder alarm systems offer immediate alerts and deter unwanted activity. This combination of physical security measures and advanced technology safeguards assets, employees, and customers, fostering a secure environment for businesses to flourish.”

Building a truly secure environment requires a comprehensive strategy. Here, are a range of security solutions that work together to create a robust defence for your business

CCTV Video Surveillance: Video surveillance systems are a critical component of your comprehensive security strategy. From traditional local video surveillance to IP systems and cloudbased storage options, Securitas experts can help your business

with design, installation, service and monitoring of your current video surveillance system.

Access Control Systems: Access control systems provide a powerful solution for securing sensitive areas and simplifying visitor management. These systems regulate individual access to specific locations within your business premises. You can control who enters specific rooms or areas, and even set time restrictions for access. This granular control allows you to safeguard your assets and streamline the flow of authorised personnel and visitors throughout your facilities.

Intruder Alarm Systems: Intruder alarm systems offer a multi-layered approach to securing your property. They act as a deterrent to potential burglars, with visible sensors and signage discouraging break-in attempts. But if a breach occurs, the system triggers a loud internal and external alarm, alerting everyone on-site. Additionally, with 24/7 monitoring options, our security centres inform quickly, minimising damage and loss.

Monitored Security: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your property is protected around the clock. The Securitas team of highly trained security professionals will monitor your security system 24/7, verifying alarms and dispatching emergency services when necessary. This allows for a faster response time and can help deter potential criminals.

The importance of integration

It’s important to not think of these systems as standalone security islands. Although they can provide admirable protection on their own, they work best when coupled with the rest of your security resources. A centralised and cohesive system, integrating security guards, access control, CCTV, and other resources, allows for a swift and coordinated response to security incidents. This proactive approach maximises the effectiveness of each security measure to security incidents.

In conclusion

By leveraging advanced security technology and fostering collaboration between stakeholders, Securitas can offer a model for urban and rural safety. Securitas Technology Ireland stands ready to be a partner in this endeavour, providing the expertise and solutions needed to create a safer and more secure country for everyone.

For more information please contact, Denise McCarthy, Business Development Manager denise.mccarthy@securitas.com, Mobile: +353 86 1916327 ,Securitas Technology Ireland, A1-A3 Calmount Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12, Ireland, D12 XT78, Tel +353 1456 4544, www.securitastechnology.com/ie

CONSUMER PREFERENCES AND LIFESTYLES ARE REFLECTING CHANGES IN BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS

The Bathroom and Shower market in Ireland and the UK is experiencing a variety of trends in 2024, reflecting changes in consumer preferences and lifestyles.

Colour and Nature Integration: There is a growing preference for darker, more natural tones in bathroom designs. Dark greens and blues are becoming popular for their calming and natural effects, moving away from the traditional all-white bathrooms. These colours are being complemented by the addition of bathroom plants, which improve air quality and add natural textures

Home Spa and Wellness: The demand for home spa features is on the rise, with more homeowners looking to turn their bathrooms into a sanctuary for relaxation. This includes installing larger showers, whirlpool baths, and other luxury fixtures that allow for a spa-like experience at home

Smart Technology: The integration of smart technology into bathroom designs is becoming more prevalent. Smart showers that allow for temperature and flow control via smartphones are gaining popularity, not just for their convenience but also for their potential to save water and energy

Design Aesthetics and Features: There’s a shift towards more diverse and expressive design elements in bathrooms. This includes using statement tiles, fluted features, and elegant

freestanding baths to create a unique and personalised space. The use of mixed metals for fixtures and a movement towards built-in showers rather than traditional enclosures are also part of this trend

Minimalism and Functionality: Despite the emergence of bold designs, minimalism remains a strong trend, focusing on simplicity and sleek lines. However, this doesn’t equate to plain designs; minimalism in 2024 is about combining functionality with a touch of luxury, using materials like brushed brass or gold

These trends reflect a broader move towards creating more personalised, comfortable, and sustainable living spaces, with bathrooms becoming a central focus for relaxation and wellness in the home. As these trends continue to evolve, they offer a wealth of opportunities for businesses and designers in the Bathroom and Shower market to innovate and cater to changing consumer demands.

https://www.plumbworld.co.uk/blog/2024-bathroom-trends

https://www.bigbathroomshop.co.uk/info/blog/the-5biggest-bathroom-trends-for-2024/

Image supplied by Niko Bathooms

SONAS PREDICTS THE FOLLOWING TRENDS FOR 2024

Sonas Bathrooms are excited to reveal the five most anticipated bathroom trends for 2024. With a focus on functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics, these trends are set to redefine the way customers perceive and experience bathrooms, which are increasingly heralded as their private sanctuaries.

Push on Pastels

Pastel pink is a colour that brings a touch of warmth and glamour to a room. Pale blues are also popular, bringing light and airiness, particularly well-suited for smaller spaces. With calm blue seen as a real colour for wellness, check out the Sonas furniture range in Morning Sky Blue.

Matchy-Matchy

Sonas is one of the first companies in Ireland to introduce new coloured wetroom panels to complement their furniture collection. The Aspect Scandinavian Wetroom Panels work beautifully with the Scandinavian-inspired bathroom vanity units and the Skål Countertop Basins. These can be complemented by a custom colour freestanding bath of your choice or with coloured bath panels.

With colour-matching wall profiles, this gives consumers and designers the opportunity to create a more harmonious and cohesive colour palette in their bathrooms. Available in nine colours from the Scandinavian Collection.

Quiet Luxury

Quiet luxury continues to be a huge trend and this timeless aesthetic will be very relevant for 2024. When applying quiet luxury aesthetic to their bathroom space, your customer could think about understated simplicity and adding texture in their choice of products. The new range of Mirage Wetroom Panels from Sonas features new glass options, including fluted glass for a delicate and textured sensation, and a sophisticated smoked glass bringing a little everyday luxury to their showering experience.

Sustainable Solutions

Environmental consciousness is a key driver in 2024 bathroom trends. This is where Sonas shines, with a wide range of water-saving products which are independently certified as the top-rated Green Band by the Unified Water Label, an industry standard that helps customers identify water efficient products.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design continues to be a strong influence in bathrooms. This approach is about designing spaces with our intrinsic love of nature in mind. In the context of bathrooms, the calming presence of plants, the warmth of natural light, and the use of earthy materials and colours, are all examples of biophilic design brought to life. For more information visit www.sonasbathrooms.com

A SYMPHONY OF STYLES: DISCOVER DAVENPORT, SOHO, CLARITY, AND KOLOUR COLLECTION FROM THE NEW NIKO BATHROOMS COLLECTION

Niko Bathrooms proudly presents its much-anticipated 2024 Collection, an ensemble of bathroom furniture that redefines luxury and functionality. Step into a realm where traditional charm meets contemporary allure, where meticulous craftsmanship meets modern innovation. The spotlight of this new collection is undeniably on the unique and exquisite furniture ranges, each boasting distinctive features that set them apart within the realm of bathroom design.

Davenport: Where Tradition

Meets Contemporary

Davenport boasts double oak-lined storage compartments concealed behind intricately carved doors featuring soft-close hinges for modern convenience. With a generous width of 800mm, the Davenport offers ample space to stow away all your bathroom essentials. Choose between polished nickel or brushed brass handles. Opt for a Marmo Romeo marble effect or plain Glacier White worktop to customise the look. The waterproof Goblin Green or timeless Cream finishes add a dash of personality to bathrooms of all sizes, making the Davenport a true showstopper.

Soho: A Fusion of Nature and Modernity

Introducing Soho – a collection that cleverly utilises textured, deeply fluted door fronts to create a captivating focal point in your bathroom. Available in Natural Oak and Natural Beige, the handleless design in fluted wood grain adds a wow factor. With Blum Technology boxes, soft-close doors and drawers, and a sculpted ceramic basin, Soho epitomises cabinet quality and durability.

Niko Bathrooms, Get Inspired.

T:

+353 (0)1 4000 000

E: sales@nikobathrooms.ie

www.nikobathrooms.ie

Clarity: Timeless Shaker

Styling with a Modern Twist

For those appreciating true shaker styling, Clarity is the epitome of perfection. With perfectly proportioned door fronts, tongue-and-groove side panels, and three classic super matt colours, Clarity brings a touch of tradition with a hint of modernity.

Create a relaxing oasis with the on-trend Super Matt Boston Green furniture, adding a modern touch while maintaining softness in your interiors. The deep, calming Henley Blue is a timeless classic with a strikingly contemporary twist, providing versatility in toning or contrasting handles. For a timeless choice, the shaker-style cabinets in Satin White seamlessly work in modern and traditional bathrooms, allowing you to express your unique style.

Kolour: Let Vibrant Colours Speak Volumes

In the Kolour collection, Niko Bathrooms lets colour take the lead. Create a contemporary haven with Soft Black a deep, non-reflective matte finish pairing effortlessly with matching handles and accessories. Transport your bathroom to warmer climes with the distinctive Tuscan Red, adding a touch of warmth that complements natural accessories and elevates the overall aesthetic.

Whether your customers find inspiration in Davenport’s traditional charm, Soho’s modern wow factor, the timeless appeal of Clarity, or the bold statements of Kolour, the new collections are more than furniture – these new collections are just a conversation away. Contact your Area Sales Manager today and Get Inspired!

TRUSTED BATHROOM DISTRIBUTOR R.T. LARGE ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP IN

IRELAND WITH TAVISTOCK BATHROOMS

About R.T. Large

R.T. Large is a leading and trusted wholesale and distribution company for the plumbing and bathroom sector in Ireland. Its key branches in Dublin and Dungannon ensure efficient distribution and access to products. With over 50 years’ experience and a trusted reputation, the R.T. Large team carefully source and provide a robust portfolio of high-quality products in line with the latest bathroom design trends. R.T. Large is a trusted partner with a house of well-known brands including Tavistock Bathrooms, having recently announced an exclusive distribution partnership in Ireland with the bathroom specialist.

R.T. Large Announces Exclusive Distribution Partnership in Ireland with Tavistock Bathrooms

This agreement identifies R.T. Large as the exclusive supplier of Tavistock products in Ireland, offering Irish retailers and consumers improved service and choice.

This partnership marks a significant expansion for bathroom specialist Tavistock into the Irish market. With a well-rounded product provision, that includes bathroom furniture, fitted bathrooms, sanitaryware, brassware cabinets and mirrors, Tavistock is positioned to make a substantial impact on the Irish bathroom retail landscape. With over five decades of experience and a deep understanding of the Irish market, R.T. Large is the ideal partner for the bathroom brand.

Further info is available at www.rtlarge.ie

WAVIN PUSH-FIT HEP2O IN METRIC AND IMPERIAL BRINGS SECURITY AND FLEXIBILITY

The only push fit system with Wavin In4sure joint recognition, secure demounting and a 50 year guaratee.

The Wavin Hep2O Push Fit system is suitable for most domestic and commercial plumbing and heating applications. It is packed with unique features that make push-fit plumbing easier quicker and more secure for installers. It is the only push-fit system with In4Sure joint recognition, secure demounting and a 50-year guarantee.

The system is available in metric (15, 22 & 28mm) and imperial (1/2”, ¾” & 1”) sizes and is designed to provide the highest possible flow rates. The metric and imperial systems are colour coded for ease of identification. The fittings are also distinguishable by their internal sleeve collar colours, metric in white and imperial in grey. Both the metric and imperial systems have the same ‘lay flat’ pipe technology. The pipe is supplied in straight lengths and coils.

Flexible, Compatible and Secure

For installers, the extreme flexibility of the Wavin Hep2O pipe means it is the ideal solution for cabling through joists, underneath floors in new construction, renovation, system extensions and situations where space is restricted. The compatibility of Hep2O fittings with copper ensures a simple, fast and reliable method of jointing to traditional materials on site. It provides a secure fitting every time with the Wavin’s In4Sure security feature, which tells the installer when the pipe is in – feel the rumble. One of the unique advantages of Hep2O is that it can be easily demounted and adjusted by the installer with the HepKey, but once fitted the joint is safe and secure and cannot be tampered with or accidentally demounted.

A unique characteristic of Wavin Push-fit Hep2O pipe coil is its remarkable ability to remain straight once uncoiled. This unique characteristic is a result of the material used which is Polybutylene (PB). PB has very different properties to some material used in other products on the market which can retain a tendency to spring back into a coil. Due to its inherent tendencies, Wavin Push-fit Hep2O pipe is therefore much easier to work with, particularly on long runs and when cabling through joists or floors. With its superior flexibility and long length coils, less fittings are required, which can make for quicker installations.

At forefront of push-fit technology.

For the last 40 years Wavin Push-fit Hep2O has been at the forefront of push-fit plumbing technology. The industry-leading products are engineered with unique performance and installation innovations.

Wavin Push-fit Hep2O meets the requirements of Class S of BS 7291, parts 1 and 2 and is manufactured within a Quality Management System which satisfies EN ISO 9002. It is also approved by WRAS – deemed safe for use in the supply of drinking water.

The range is also supported by a BIM revit package for accurate system design - available to download from the Wavin website. For more details speak to your Wavin representative or visit the website. Hep2O is available to order via the merchant shop wavin.ie/shop

MEET THE NEWEST MEMBER TO THE PIPELIFE FAMILY! INTRODUCING THE NEW QUAL-PRESS ML PRO ALUMINIUM PIPE & FITTING SYSTEM.

Pipelife own their manufacturing process from start to finish, so every coil of their new Qual-Press Pro ML pipe that they produce is guaranteed from concept to delivery. All of their pipe is manufactured under the ISO9001;2015 Quality Management System and their quality assurance team stringently test all their pipe at every stage of production.

Pipelife are delighted to announce the newest member to the Pipelife Family with the addition of their Qual-Press ML Pro Pipe in sizes ranging from 16mm x 2mm, 20mm x 2mm, 26mm x 3mm and 32mm x 3mm. Available in plain white & red and blue insulated coils in 25M, 50M, 100M & 500M coils. Pipelife are always proud to stand over all the products that they manufacture and that is why they are happy to offer a market leading 50 Year Guarantee on their new Qual-Press ML Pipe. With full BS7291-Class S and is certified by DVGW (German National Certification Body) to EN ISO 21003 and has WRAS and KIWA approvals for potable water applications ensuring that specifiers & installers can have full confidence in the quality and reliability of this range.

Pipelife`s Qual-Press Pro ML Pipes are ideally suited for underfloor heating systems. They are made of a layer of aluminium sandwiched between two layers of Pert. The metal layer serves as an oxygen barrier, stopping the oxygen diffusion through the polymer matrix, so it cannot dissolve into the water in the tube and corrode the metal components of the system. It also bends better because the shape memory of the Pert is offset by the aluminium.

The Qual-Press ML Pro Pipe is a universal pipe that can be used with any suitably approved/certified* Press fitting.

The advantages of Qual-Press ML Pro pipe compared to metallic pipes are as follows:

• Frost resistance. In case of frost, multilayer pipes, thanks to their flexibility, will simply expand. This advantage avoids the break risk of metallic pipes.

• Low thermal conductivity. The low thermal conductivity of multilayer pipes produces energy savings as heat losses are reduced.

• Lightness. Multilayer pipes are lighter than metallic pipes. So, handling and transport are much easier.

• Flexibility. The flexibility of multilayer pipes saves time in the installation process.

• Noise reduction. Metallic pipes can be noisy at water speeds exceeding 1m/second. To the contrary, multilayer pipes do not make noise at lower speeds than 2.5m/second.

• Corrosion resistance. Multilayer pipes bear a great number of chemical agents (acids, bases, etc.) and are resistant to any type of corrosion.

• Long lifetime. Multilayer pipes lifetime is longer than the lifetime of metallic pipes. The lifetime of multilayer pipes can reach 50 years, even at high temperature and pressure conditions.

• Suitable for drinking water. Multilayer pipes keep organoleptic properties of the water and its use is allowed by European Union authorities.

Your one stop shop

At Pipelife they believe in providing their customers with a one-stop-shop for complete package solutions; from marketleading products, free initial advice, through to bespoke design, installation, final commissioning and technical support, allowing your customer to purchase with confidence.

Pipelife strive to bring new and interesting developments to the market, and are always open to new ideas, innovations or suggestions, in an effort to keep Ireland supplied with top quality products.

For more information and to talk to their team call them on 021 488 4700 or e-mail them at ireland@pipelife.com

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC SHOWERING: TRITON UNVEILS FIRST DESIGN OF ITS KIND

Triton Showers Ireland, leaders in sustainability and energyefficient electric showering, has announced the launch of the ENVi® electric shower.

A stylish, streamlined showering solution, the ENVi® electric shower not only looks great but encourages users to think about their water and energy usage and habits. The first shower of its kind, this sleek electric unit offers personalised profiles and provides settings to encourage sustainable showering habits. Users can adjust their own specific water and energy unit costs, empowering them to track cost-per-shower and make habitual changes to reduce usage.

Features include a shower timer function as well as a cost display which provides an estimation of how much each shower has cost and how much water was used. The control panel also includes an eco-mode, enabling users to reduce shower time by a minute at the touch of a button.

Triton is also taking responsibility for its carbon emissions and has calculated the carbon-footprint of the full lifecycle of the ENVi® shower and, with the help of an independent partner*, is investing in climate projects to fully compensate for these emissions.

The ENVi® accommodates up to six unique user profiles meaning everyone in your customer`s household can set up their preferred shower experience. In addition, thermostatic functionality guarantees superior temperature stability, especially important for those living in a multi-generational home.

Perfect for smaller bathrooms or simply for a more streamlined look, the electric shower unit can be located up to 3m away from the control panel, meaning it can be installed in

surrounding attic space or an airing cupboard, depending on preference and household layout. This creates a minimalist finish within the showering space, making for a clutter-free and aesthetically pleasing bathroom.

Choose from three on-trend finishes – black, copper and silver – complemented by a sleek control panel. Featuring an easy-to-read, full colour digital display, users can easily remotely adjust water temperature, set a timer and monitor water and energy usage.

The ENVi® also offers four showerhead configurations including: DuElec which lets your customer seamlessly switch between handheld and rainfall; ceiling fed, perfect if the Tri-Hub is located in the attic; fixed head ceiling fed which allows for an adjustable angle rainfall head in your customer`s favourite finish; and inline wall fed, a detachable handheld which is ideal for when the TriHub is installed in the hot press.

Find out more about the new Triton ENVi® electric shower innovation, at www.tritonshowers.ie/envi

* Triton has calculated the carbon footprint of the full lifecycle of the ENVi® shower from manufacture, upstream and downstream transport and distribution, consumer use over a five-year period, and disposal. This work has been verified and accredited by ClimatePartner, an independent partner.

QUICK STEP ALPHA VINYL – THE IDEAL FLOORING CHOICE FOR BATHROOMS

Quick Step Alpha Vinyl is the ideal choice of flooring for bathrooms, as well as kitchens and hallways. With all components 100% waterproof, there is no need to worry about raised edges or swollen planks – making dream visions a reality.

The water-repellent technology combined with advanced watertight click system ensures a fully waterproof floor. This is why Alpha Vinyl is easy to clean and also entirely suited to areas exposed to moisture.Thanks to the waterproof Hydroseal technology and the advanced click system, Alpha Vinyl floors will maintain their great look for many years to come.

In summer 2023, Quick-Step further enhanced the Alpha Vinyl range of premium floors by adding innovations and new collections, bringing more realism, easier installation and even better soundproofing and comfort. Alpha Vinyl proves that in the world of Quick-Step, beauty and practicality go hand in hand.

‘Ciro’ is the Alpha Vinyl answer to herringbone flooring. The collection features a brand-new way to install vinyl herringbone floors with the innovative Unizip click profile. Unlike some systems that require two different planks, Unizip means that Ciro needs just one, allowing for a much simpler and faster installation. This revolutionary system also minimises installation waste, as it’s much easier to know how many planks are required. And of course, it means ordering an Alpha Vinyl Ciro herringbone floor is just as simple as any regular plank or tile.

The Alpha Vinyl ‘Bloom’ collection features an innovative surface structure that redefines authentic vinyl flooring. Whereas most vinyl floors have three or four depths of texture, selected designs in Alpha Vinyl Bloom now feature up to 75 depths. This means a floor that tracks the depth of every detail – the knots of the floor are particularly impressive – and a design that’s more realistic.

All Alpha Vinyl collections share Quick-Step’s integrated underlay that makes the floor even easier to install, more comfortable and much quieter. The underlay is precision made to fit seamlessly, so that there’s no concerns about gaps underneath and uses high-quality materials that ensure durability and stability. Combined with Quick-Step’s innovative waterproof technology, it’s easy to see why Alpha Vinyl leads the way in innovation in vinyl flooring.

Available in straight lay planks, herringbone and tile designs the Alpha Vinyl range offers a captivating blend of Belgium made floors that elevate homes with Quick-Step design excellence and product quality.

For further information, contact Quick-Step at www.quick-step.co.uk

KEY TRENDS IN THE ADHESIVES AND SEALANTS MARKET

The Adhesives and Sealants market in Ireland and the UK is currently experiencing significant growth and transformation in 2024 and several key trends have emerged, shaping the future of this industry.

The Adhesives and Sealants market is on an upward trajectory. The market is experiencing a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, with companies increasingly focusing on products free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals

The building & construction sector offers substantial growth opportunities, with advancements in technology and architecture demanding innovative adhesive solutions. Additionally, there is a notable increase in the use of adhesives and sealants in the automotive industry, primarily to enhance soundproofing and reduce vibrations

Worldwide the Asia Pacific region currently dominates the market, but the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region is also

showing robust growth. In particular, the European market is seeing increased demand for adhesives and sealants, driven by the construction and automotive sectors. Key players like Henkel AG & Co., Sika AG, and Arkema Inc. are playing a significant role in the market’s development, with recent expansions and acquisitions aiming to cater to growing demands

Challenges and Opportunities

While the market is growing, it faces challenges such as stringent environmental regulations regarding VOC emissions. However, this also presents an opportunity for innovation in the development of eco-friendly products. The industry is also capitalising on the expanding building and construction sector and increasing demand from the packaging industry

In conclusion, the Adhesives and Sealants market in Ireland and the UK is poised for substantial growth, driven by innovations in product development, applications across diverse sectors, and an increasing emphasis on sustainability. As the industry continues to evolve, companies that adapt to these trends and focus on environmentally friendly solutions are likely to lead the market.

SEALANTS AND FOAMS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

APPLICATIONS

n All-purpose including sanitary

n Glazing sealing

n Roof repair

n General construction

n Wet rooms

n Masonry (external and internal)

That time of the year again! Bostik All Weather Wide Jointing Compound is quick and easy to apply, in all weather – even in the rain. It requires no mixing so it is ready to use, it will not shrink or crack, it resists weed growth, dries to a tough and durable finish and cuts down on waste. It is water permeable, allowing the paving to drain.

Bostik All Weather Wide Jointing compound is simple and easy to apply with water and a squeegee. It is suitable for most types of domestic paving and can be used on paths and patios of natural stone, concrete, slate, granite slabs, terracotta and clay. It is suitable for joints from 5mm – 30mm and minimum depth of 25mm.

It is the perfect product for patio pointing – no matter what the weather has in store. It leaves an attractive finish in next to no time!

BOND IT - YOUR PREMIER DESTINATION FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDING CHEMICAL

In the dynamic world of construction, where precision and reliability reign supreme, the BOND IT brand stands out for its commitment to excellence. Renowned for its innovative range of building chemicals, BOND IT has become synonymous with quality, durability, and efficiency in the construction industry. From adhesives to sealants, grouts to fillers & powders, BOND IT offers a comprehensive suite of products designed to meet the diverse needs of builders, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts alike.

The all-encompassing BOND IT range features some top-quality products such as Gripbond Pro Hybrid Sealants and Adhesives & B3 Fill and Fix Expanding PU Foam, as well as the Builders Complete, Levelmaster, & Professional Tiling ranges.

As part of a belief in offering customers nothing short of the ‘complete’ package, Laydex combine this impressive product

choice with a firm commitment to the highest levels of service, which includes excellent ex-stock product availability, expert technical advice, access to field-based sales professionals and the benefit of extensive stockist support including point-of-sale solutions.

In order to address the ever-evolving needs of their customers and keep the BOND IT range of building chemicals at the very forefront of technical innovation, Laydex continue to focus on the on-going enhancement and refinement of their offering.

To compliment the BOND IT range, Laydex offer a range of freestanding display options as well as other solutions to facilitate new shelving displays or the upgrade of existing. Their Area Sales Managers will be delighted to discuss the range and the opportunities for you and your store. Contact them at sales@laydex.ie or on 01-642 6600, www.laydex.com

LAYDEX BUILDING SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCE SHELBOURNE FC PARTNERSHIP

Laydex Building Solutions is proud to announce an exciting new primary partnership with Shelbourne FC, which will see their product ONE COAT ROOF SEAL, become the front-of-shirt sponsor on the newly launched away jersey.

The award-winning ONE COAT ROOF SEAL, is based on hybrid technology, making it an ideal roofing solution for Irish weather conditions. Its longevity and ease of use make it perfect for new roofs as well as old roof refurbishments. ROOF SEAL is a solvent-free, non-flammable formulation designed for professional and DIY roofing applications, and it’s readily available in Builders Merchants and DIY stores nationwide.

This partnership represents the club and the company’s shared commitment to innovation and community engagement. As Shelbourne FC continues to grow and thrive, Laydex are thrilled to be on board in support of this exciting journey. Peter Woods, Managing Director said: “Laydex is delighted to have an agreement in place with Shelbourne Football Club to become an official Club sponsor for the upcoming season. We are proud to have our award-winning product, Roof Seal, featured on club jerseys this season and hope to contribute in some small way to what we hope will be another successful season for the club in what will be Tolka Park’s centenary year.”

www.laydex.com

EXPLORE BOND IT RANGE

MS POLYMERS, A SEALANT FOR EVERY APPLICATION

Since they were first launched twenty years ago, MS Polymer sealants and adhesives have continued to grow in popularity due to their versatility. Here, Andy Cummins, Senior Product Manager at Geocel discusses the differences between silicones and acrylic sealants, while also highlighting the performance benefits of MS Polymers and their unique characteristics.

Fundamentally and back to basics, construction sealants are used to prevent fluids, air, heat, sound and fire from passing through material surfaces, joints, or openings. Sealants are also typically used to fill openings that are too small for other materials to be used. They have a crucial role in a wide range of applications, from large scale projects to smaller, everyday tasks for trade professionals.

The reliability of a product is key when choosing a sealant, with callbacks not just a hassle but a waste of precious and valuable time. As a result, it is crucial for tradespeople to use only highquality sealants and adhesives that are guaranteed to perform for the intended job.

While silicones and acrylics are many tradespeople’s go-to, the emergence of MS Polymers has meant that there are now a wide variety of products to choose from. This makes selecting what to buy and use on the job a more complex task, so it is useful to understand the key differences between each type of sealant and the multi-use applications that each has to offer.

Silicones

A popular choice due to their versatility, silicone sealants adhere well to a wide range of construction substrates while providing durability. Silicones are available in a variety of colours and offer excellent UV and colour stability in addition to extreme temperature resistance.

Silicones are also renowned for their elastic and water-resistant properties. As such, they are ideal for use on expansion and connection joints in sanitary areas, floors, walls and glazing applications. Furthermore, silicones have an established heritage due to years of usage across all areas of construction. This means users can be assured that the product will reliably perform as intended from projects ranging from the most complex to the day to day.

Acrylics

Acrylic sealants are best used for applications where there is low movement, and little or no contact with water. While acrylics do not offer the same flexibility or weather resistance as silicones, the products are ideal for jointing, caulking and filling gaps on materials like plastered walls, masonry and wood. With no sanding required, acrylics can provide the ideal solution for simple, construction jobs.

MS Polymers

Over the past decade, MS Polymers have continued to grow in popularity.

First introduced to the trade market 20 years ago by Geocel, MS Polymers feature many of the attributes found in traditional sealants – the flexibility and UV stability of silicones, the paintability of acrylics and the durability and toughness of polysulphides.

However, MS Polymers also offer some unique advantages of their own. Their non-staining properties on natural stone make the sealant ideal not only just for facades but also for projects such as sealing marble or granite kitchen work tops. The excellent adhesion properties - superior to ‘grab’ adhesives - can also enable direct use on wet or dry surfaces, including most plastics, tiles, wood, stone, metal, brick, glass, concrete or plasterboard and can even bond and cure underwater. Finally, once applied they won’t attack synthetic materials, unlike solvent grab adhesives.

Simply put - MS Polymers are ideal multi-use products, perfect for ‘odd job’ type projects, which may otherwise prove tricky to find a suitable solution. By using these products, trade professionals can seal, fill and bond almost any surface, wet or dry, inside or out - a really good and effective all-rounder to keep in the back of the van.

Geocel - pioneer of the initial MS Polymer products - has THE WORKS PRO range. A construction sealant and adhesive with the brand’s most advanced formulation yet, THE WORKS PRO provides an extremely secure bond and flexible seal. Also available as a high grab construction adhesive and cleaner spray, the range is designed for tradespeople that require a premium product for versatile use.

When it comes to selecting high quality sealants and adhesives, using products that provide lasting performance, workability, fast curing times and a long-lasting finish is crucial. For tradespeople looking for versatile products that can provide a solution to a wide range of applications, then it is worthwhile considering MS Polymers such as THE WORKS PRO range.

For more information on THE WORKS PRO range, please visit www.geocel.co.uk

SWITCH TO THE GOLD STANDARD

For those in the trade who demand a superior product, THE WORKS PRO range won’t let you down.

THE WORKS PRO is a multi-use sealant and adhesive that can be over-painted and used to seal, fill and bond virtually any surface, wet or dry – inside or out.

THE WORKS PRO X is a fast curing, high grab adhesive that can be used on virtually any wet or dry surface for both interior and exterior applications.

Now available at your local merchants www.geocel.co.uk

REASONS MAGAZINE ADVERTISING WORKS

At The Hardware 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.

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 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.

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.

What is the Hardware Education Hub?

Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) aims to raise overall standards within the sector by providing cost-competitive and time-effective access to relevant, accredited, high-quality training courses. The range of courses available offer continuous professional development for all those employed within the sector

Hardware Association Ireland aims to raise the overall standards within the sector. Offering exceptional value in advertising 100mm (h) x 55mm (w) €1,650 for six editions

All courses available 24/7/365

Call the Pipelife sales office on 021 4884700 Meet the Newest Member to

Pipelife is delighted to announce the newest addition to our renewable heating solutions family: the Qual- Press ML PRO Pipe & Fittings.

The innovative Qual-Press ML PRO Pipe is ideally suited for all domestic heating systems including underfloor heating and can be used with any suitably approved or certified Press fitting. Also comes with our market leading 50 Year Guarantee. 50 YEAR GUARANTEE

For more information please visit our website at www.pipelife.ie or Email Ireland@pipelife.com