The Hardware Journal September/October 2026 by The Hardware Journal

September/October 2026

The Official Magazine of Hardware Association Ireland

2026 OCTABUILD BUILDERS MERCHANTS EXELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS

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Dulux Heritage Stone Green conjures feelings of magical afternoons enlivened with long awaited visitors. A feeling as welcome as family and friends.

Message from the CEO

Over the last few weeks, I visited many members around the country and will continue to do so, as it is a good habit to form. Conversations with members focused on the difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff, increasing costs, and increasing regulations. In many parts of the country there is an acute shortage of trades professionals. While this isn’t new it seems to have become more acute and it threatens the potential to increase our housing stock - whether in the new build or the rejuvenation of empty homes and above the shops parts of the market. AI also featured prominently in conversations. By the time we go to press the budget will have been announced. In our pre-budget submission HAI have presented 39 recommendations to increase the potential of our marketplace and to mitigate the costs of doing business. Our response to Budget 2027 can be found on www.hardwareassociation.ie. This year's Budget announced an increase in the national minimum wage. According to our Wage Rate Survey, wages in the sector have risen by 4% in 2026 and 33% cumulatively since 2021. This alone is a huge burden on businesses. Coupled with difficulties in attracting talent, 50% of merchants surveyed have staff shortages and 59% of merchants have reported new entrants leaving during their probationary period. This presents considerable challenges. We are in a full employment economy. Speaking with other sectors, we are not alone in this, but that is little comfort. On October 15th we are holding a Recruitment and Retention Masterclass in the Osprey Hotel in Naas. The full results of the Wage Rate Survey will be revealed, and we will have advice and tips from thought leaders in the fields of recruitment and retention - Vinny Kelly of Tactical Talent, Tommy Smyth of TSA Consultants and Denis Jastrzebski of Content Plan will elaborate on the policy role of AI in recruiting. To book your place email aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or visit www.hardwareassociation.ie. From the UFEMAT Conference in Paris last week, it was made clear that there are more EU Regulations on the way. As well as regulations on steel, forestry, packaging, money laundering, and environmental claims, the right to repair rules will also come into effect. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are beginning the process of regulating the ingredients that could be used in explosive devices. HAI will keep members informed of new developments and provide details of experts who can advise members on what to do to meet these challenges. Each regulation will involve more costs to business either directly or in the time involved in dealing with them. It is difficult to see how they will confer value or competitive advantage.

September/October 2026

On the shortage of trades professionals, HAI are forming a group of merchants, practitioners and experts from other like-minded organisations. The purpose of the group will be to form a set of practical recommendations to put to Government. More on that in the coming weeks. On AI, HAI have a number of courses to help navigate the changes and hopefully the improvements that it will bring - see page 36. Already oversubscribed we will be running an extra course soon - details to follow. In this edition we present how Octabuild celebrate success and dedication in the sector in their recent Octabuild Awards for Excellence 2026. Two of the leading merchant groups Homevalue and Topline outline their current thinking and strategy for the market. Chadwicks share insights from research that they conducted amongst young adults and tradespeople - a very relevant area at present. See page 35. At the Future Foundations event by Saint-Gobain, they showcased sustainability and productivity. Having spent a couple of summers as a plasterer’s labourer, I can say that the advantages of the new mechanised plastering machine will be very welcome. Last month the HAI board and local members had a tour of Unilin’s Discovery Hub. The team at Unilin outlined the company's ambition and business aspirations to "be an Insulation Partner for the Construction Industry". It is well worth a visit. Steve Collinge calls for active engagement and outlines why doing nothing is the riskiest strategy of all. In his article on residential construction Stateside Mike McDole examines the factors in reshaping construction due to the shortage of skilled labour, a challenge all too familiar to us. Art Freedman also introduces Part One of his Business Readiness scoring system. As we move into the Autumn and Winter seasons, wishing all a prosperous fourth quarter.

Martin Markey Chief Executive Officer - HAI

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FRONT COVER: 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchants Excellence Award Winners.

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Published by: Hardware Association Ireland Editor: Jim Copeland, editor@hardwareassociation.ie Editorial/Feature Contributor: Aoife Kinsella O’Reilly, Aoife@hardwareassociation.ie Advertising Manager: Jim Copeland, jim@hardwareassociation.ie Design and Production: Marty Maguire, minus 6, minus_6@icloud.com Printers: GPS Colour Graphics Ltd, Belfast. Distribution: MMS Mailing Services, Dublin.

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: To advertise in The Hardware Journal and reach the key decision makers in the industry please contact Jim Copeland at 01-298 0969; email jim@hardwareassociation.ie © 2026 All editorial contents and all advertisments prepared by the publishers and Hardware Association Ireland. HAI can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributors’ articles or statements appearing in this publication and any view or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of HAI, save where indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by HAI, authors, contributors, editor or publishers. The publication of advertisements does not constitute any endorsement by HAI, authors, contributors, editor or publishers of the products advertised. Readers should take specific advice when dealing with specific situations.

66 news 6 Celebrate colour in your home with Dulux Heritage. 7 United Hardware acquires Kehoe’s Homevalue, New Ross. 8 Topline: Championing independent business. 11 Heavins.ie wins three national titles at the Irish eCommerce Awards 2026 12 Octabuild Awards for Excellence 2026 - The Winners. 15 Chadwicks Kells marks new chapter for longstanding local business. 16 Homevalue Annual Golf Classic raises over €50,000 for Barretstown. 18 Stakelums celebrates historic awards treble. 19 IITC launches three new Garden Tool brands: Glenford, RAVN and Digby. 20 Einhell COMPACT SERIES: The next generation of professional cordless tools. 21 Your best people know how your business works - your ERP should too. 22 Grant’s merchant network at the heart of integrated heating supply. 24 IITC brings AMES Tools cutting & pruning range to retailers. 25 Lenehans give an update on their AI-powered shop assistant. 26 Mammotion robotic mowers are now available to Irish retailers through Lyster Lawnmowers DAC.

28 Ciret Ltd are manufacturers and suppliers of quality painting and decorating products.

29 CPM Ireland celebrates forty years of innovation, growth and partnership 30 Glennon Brothers win ‘Softwood Trader: Sawmiller of the Year’. 32 Read for the rush? Why connected commerce matters when peak trading begins.

33 New EU-Wide product repair rules come into force. September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies 44 Dulux Trade reveals Colour of the Year 2027: Soulful Sage™. 46 OB1: Tradespeople keep reaching for hybrid adhesives & sealants. 48 Saint-Gobain showcases innovation & integrated solutions at Future Foundations event. 51 Ecological Building Systems: Making windows and doors airtight in retrofit. 52 Unilin Insulation Discovery Hub - supporting professionals, teachers and students alike. 56 Knauf Insulation: The value of robust supply chains. 58 Combilift: Safer and more efficient material handling. 59 KORE expands sustainable building range with Multi-therm 140 wood fiber insulation. 60 In Conversation: Wavin's Commitment to Ireland. 62 fibo marks Northern Ireland's first fibo Collect at JP Corry Builders Merchants. 63 Velux launches their Standard Glass Rooflight for mainstream flat roof projects. 64 Keystone: Pushing the boundaries with special lintels.

Building Materials & Supplies

BUILDING TOMORROW

regulars

business support

73 PINERGY Head of Sustainability Partnerships, Michelle

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

40 CORPORATE PARTNERS A look at HAI’s corporate partners and the services they offer.

McKenna, advises hardware business owners on what they should examine first ahead of rising energy costs.

74 LEANBPI John O’Shanahan returns with another helpful

look at how the advent of AI has propelled ERP tools and systems continue to change and grow to help SMEs manage efficiencies and operations.

features 31 HAI GOLF SOCIETY: The results of HAIGS's latest outing. 38 INNOVATIVE STORE DESIGN: Peter Rigney, Founder and

Creative Director of Rigney Forge, shares how a better layout can make your store easier to shop and operate.

classified ads 88 A SELECTION OF CLASSIFIED ADS

66 STEVE COLLINGE: UK home improvement retail expert

Steve Collinge reveals why doing nothing is now the riskiest strategy for retailers.

68 USA LUMBER FEATURE: Mike McDole brings his 40 years

in the US lumber & building materials industry to share how trusses, wall panels and pre-fabricated systems are changing how homes are built, and what it means for the trade.

70 ART FREEDMAN: Art shares his insights and experience from Ace Hardware, outlining his Business Readiness process which propels excellence in retail.

training & education 36 HAI TRAINING: Places are filling up fast on the remainder of

COMMERCIAL FEATURES 75 FLOORING Some of the top suppliers and manufacturers in the sector share how they can help retailers & builders merchants improve their displays and provide more innovative, sustainable options.

81 WORKWEAR The latest releases and developments from workwear & safetywear, with leading brands celebrating long legacies, building on generations to continue innovation to meet the demands of today’s working professionals.

HAI's Autumn training schedule, featuring highly collaborative onsite workshops, and a refreshed virtual Marketing Series.

September/October 2026

News & Products

CELEBRATE COLOUR IN YOUR HOME WITH DULUX HERITAGE Discover the colour trends shaping 2026 Dulux Heritage offers your customers interior design looks inspired by the colour and design trends taking hold across Irish homes this year: Saturated Spaces, Coastal Calm, Soft Neutrals, Layered Luxury, Grounding Greens and Heritage Whites. Each one offers a different way to create a home that feels calm and considered. Saturated Spaces Techniques like colour drenching, colour cocooning and colour capping are all growing in popularity. Create a fully enveloping scheme in a bedroom or study, or a more restrained "capped" ceiling or upper wall.

Sage Green.

Muted blues, chalky whites, soft greys and gentle sea greens. Discover colour schemes that draw on the quiet, weathered tones of the Irish and British coastline. Soft Neutrals Warm is winning over cool this year. Discover how we’re moving away from stark, cool greys towards warmer, more nuanced tones such as stone, oat, clay, mushroom and warm chalk.

Soulful Sage.

Coastal Calm

Layered Luxury Think rich but softened colours, deep blues, heritage greens, muted plums and warm neutrals, layered across walls and trim, to build atmosphere without overt opulence. Grounding greens Calming, nature-inspired greens work as an easy, adaptable neutral for Irish homes. Shades like Sage Green, Waxed Khaki, Stone Green, Mallard Green and Olive Green are proving especially popular. Heritage whites Colours like Chiltern White offer the perfect neutral backdrop, but in 2026, the trend is layering: using several whites across walls, woodwork, and ceilings to add dimension and depth to your space. There's room for grounding in any home The Dulux Heritage paint range combines contemporary trends with traditional craftsmanship in a timeless colour palette that stands up to the demands of busy, modern home life.

Waxed Khaki and Midnight Teal.

Discover more about Dulux Heritage at www.duluxheritage.ie.

September/October 2026

News & Products

UNITED HARDWARE ACQUIRES KEHOE'S HOMEVALUE, NEW ROSS United Hardware has recently announced the acquisition of Kehoe's Homevalue, New Ross, Co. Wexford. The acquisition represents the next chapter in the story of a business built over more than 26 years by Dermot and Oonagh Kehoe, who developed Kehoe's Homevalue from a local operation into one of the South East's leading builders' merchants and hardware DIY retailers. Since establishing the business in 1999, the Kehoes have overseen significant growth, building a strong customer base across Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow. Known for its commitment to customer service, knowledgeable staff and strong local relationships, the business has become a trusted supplier to both trade and retail customers throughout the region. Today, Kehoe's Homevalue employs more than 50 people in New Ross and remains firmly rooted in family values. Family members continue to play key roles within the business alongside a highly experienced team whose contribution has been central to the company's success over the past two decades. Having been a long-standing member of the Homevalue network, Kehoe's has become widely recognised as one of the group's strongest independent operators, making it a natural fit for further investment and development by United Hardware.

the support of our customers, the dedication of our staff and the commitment of our family, all of whom have played a major role in the journey. "Oonagh and I have been fortunate to work alongside a fantastic team and family members who have helped grow the business into what it is today, and we are extremely grateful for their contribution. "This next chapter with United Hardware provides a strong platform for the future of the business. It allows us to preserve everything that customers value about Kehoe's Homevalue while creating exciting opportunities for further investment and development in the years ahead." The acquisition comes during a period of continued growth and investment for United Hardware, including the rollout of its new Homevalue concept store format and the recent acquisition of Expert Hardware. The Group said that maintaining the local identity, customer focus and community connection of successful businesses such as Kehoe's Homevalue remains central to its long-term strategy.

The acquisition ensures the business will continue to operate as Kehoe's Homevalue, while benefiting from additional investment to support future growth. United Hardware plans to build on the strong foundations established by Dermot, Oonagh and the wider team through continued investment in the retail environment, customer offering and overall store experience. Commenting on the acquisition, Paul Candon, Chief Executive Officer of United Hardware, said: "First and foremost, this acquisition is a recognition of the outstanding business that Dermot, Oonagh and the wider Kehoe family have built over the past 26 years." Dermot Kehoe with his daughter Rachel and his grandson.

"Kehoe's Homevalue has earned a fantastic reputation across the Southeast through a commitment to customer service, strong community relationships and an unwavering focus on quality. Just as importantly, it is a business supported by an excellent team whose contribution has been central to its success." "As a long-standing member of the Homevalue network, Kehoe's represents everything that is great about independent Irish retail. We see enormous potential in the business and look forward to building on what has already been achieved while supporting its continued growth for many years to come." Dermot Kehoe, owner of Kehoe's Homevalue, said: "We are incredibly proud of what has been built here in New Ross over the past 26 years. None of it would have been possible without September/October 2026

Dermot and Oonagh Kehoe with their two daughters, Rachel and Sophie.

News & Products

TOPLINE: CHAMPIONING INDEPENDENT BUSINESS The Hardware Journal sat down with Hugh O’Donnell, Chief Executive, Topline, who outlined how they are championing Independent Business. One of the great strengths of the Irish economy is the number of successful businesses that remain independent and locally owned. Small and medium-sized independent businesses account for more than 95% of Ireland's business population, with almost two-thirds being family-led. Today, many of these businesses face an important challenge: how can they access the scale needed to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace without sacrificing the ownership, identity and local decision-making that made them successful in the first place? At Topline, that question has guided us throughout our history. As a Hardware & Building Materials buying group supporting almost 100 independently owned merchants (members) operating from more than 175 locations across Ireland, our purpose is simple: to help our members profitably compete and generationally prosper. Those words matter. We do not measure success by the size of our organisation. We measure it by the strength, profitability and longevity of the independent businesses that make up our membership. Those businesses are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Their customers are their neighbours, their employees are often lifelong friends and family members, and their decisions are made locally by people who understand local needs. When our members prosper, investment, jobs, decisionmaking and entrepreneurship remain local.

These and many other Topline member businesses have survived wars, recessions, financial crises and pandemics, not because they were the biggest, but because they adapted while remaining true to what made them successful. They have stayed close to their customers, invested for the long term and built trusted relationships that often span generations. Supporting businesses over the long term requires disciplined stewardship. Since our Group's inception in 1972, Topline has benefited from a commercially astute, financially prudent and community-minded Board of Directors. With strong member representation at Board level, our direction has always been shaped by the long-term interests of the independent businesses we exist to serve. In Topline, we believe the future will belong to businesses that can combine the enduring strengths of independence with the capabilities required to compete in a rapidly changing world. Technology (increasingly driven by AI), supply chains and customer expectations are all evolving at speed. The promise of AI is not to centralise power, but to distribute capability. It gives family-owned and independent businesses access to insights, best practices, and advanced tools that were once the preserve of the largest companies and organisations. Yet the greatest opportunity emerges when businesses connect, collaborate, and grow stronger together. As a priority, Topline is investing in AI capabilities and exploring how AI can benefit our members across every aspect of their businesses, from purchasing and stock management to marketing, customer service and operational efficiency. (Continues on page 10)

Our partnership with Guaranteed Irish, for example, reflects a shared conviction that vibrant local economies are built by businesses that invest in their communities, create sustainable employment and take a long-term view of success. Many of our members are third, fourth, fifth and even sixthgeneration businesses, stretching as far back as 1816 when Topline Bolands, Arklow, Co Wicklow, was founded. In 1876, the business passed into the ownership of the Fogarty family of Aughrim, Co. Wicklow and today, 4th, 5th and 6th generations of the Fogarty family are actively involved in the business. And Topline Bolands was closely followed by Topline Flynns, located in the small, rural village of Lackagh, located roughly midway between Tuam and Galway City. This family-owned business was founded in 1846 and is currently owned and run by 5th and 6th generations of the Flynn family.

L to R: Hugh O’Donnell, Topline CEO; Julien & Jonathan Flynn, Topline Flynns, Lackagh, Co Galway; Michael P Doyle, Topline Doyles, Carlow & Tullow, Co Carlow (Founding Member & Chairman of Topline), Evan, Anthony, John and John Fogarty Jnr, Topline Bolands, Arklow, Co Wicklow.

September/October 2026

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We’re behind your project

175 independent builders merchants nationwide

News & Products

Equally important, however, we measure the value of our support to our members not by what it does for them alone, but by what it enables them to do for their customers. Through training, technology, marketing and operational support, our objective is to help members deliver the expertise, service and local knowledge that sets them apart in their local markets. Scale matters. But scale and ownership are not the same thing. In fact, the purpose of scale should be to strengthen independence, not replace it. The financial strength we have built over many years allows us to continue investing on behalf of our members, enabling them to access capabilities that help them compete with much larger organisations, while continuing to make decisions locally. Independent merchants should not have to choose between remaining independent and remaining competitive. They should be able to achieve both. While the range of services we provide has expanded significantly over the years, the foundation of Topline remains unchanged: harnessing the collective purchasing power of our members to secure the competitive buying terms they need to compete profitably and deliver exceptional value to their customers. That commitment to member competitiveness has guided us since day one and is underpinned by strong supplier relationships, many of which have evolved into long-standing commercial partnerships built on shared success rather than simple transactions. The result is a business model that goes beyond competitive buying. It gives our members access to resources and capabilities that would otherwise be difficult or uneconomic for them to develop or source independently, from a state-of-the-art distribution facility in Naas, to innovative technology solutions, to store development expertise, to a program focused on reducing operating costs. In summary, giving our members access to the advantages of scale without surrendering the independence that defines them. Our willingness to invest on their behalf is also reflected in our new national advertising campaign, Topline - We're Behind Your Project, currently running across television, radio, print and social media. Developed with member input, the campaign aims to strengthen awareness of the Topline brand while celebrating our members’ long history of supporting new build, home improvement and DIY projects throughout Ireland. By keeping Topline front of mind, we help ensure that our members across the country are front of mind when customers begin planning their next projects. We believe Ireland benefits when entrepreneurial ownership remains broad, diverse and local. Competition is strengthened not through greater concentration of ownership, but by ensuring independent businesses have the tools, resources and support needed to compete effectively.

Extensive Warehousing at the Topline HQ in Naas.

Healthy local businesses support local schools, charities, sports clubs and community initiatives. They create opportunities for future generations and contribute to the vitality of towns and villages throughout Ireland. They also share knowledge and expertise. This is evident in a number of recent Topline initiatives, such as Learn-2-DIY, which helps people approach everyday home improvement projects with greater confidence through practical workshops delivered in our members’ stores nationwide. As Ireland continues to evolve, independent businesses must continue to evolve with it. They must embrace new technologies, modernise their operations and continue investing in people and innovation. But none of that should require them to abandon their independence. At Topline, we believe the future belongs to those independent businesses who become stronger through collaboration, stronger through shared expertise and stronger through collective scale, while preserving the local ownership that has served both themselves and their communities so well for generations. Because the goal should never be growth at the expense of independence. It should be ensuring that independent businesses have every opportunity to continue prospering into the future. Topline’s business model, which imposes no fixed or recurring fees on our members, reflects our belief that success should be created and shared by the independent businesses that make up our network. Ultimately, we believe the true measure of any group is not what it says about itself, but the value its members believe they receive from being part of it. If you are an independent merchant or product category specialist and interested in a confidential discussion regarding Membership, please email membership@topline.ie.

September/October 2026

News & Products

HEAVINS.IE WINS THREE NATIONAL TITLES AT THE IRISH ECOMMERCE AWARDS 2026 Heavins.ie, the online arm of Athlone family business Topline Heavins & Euronics, has won three national titles at the Irish eCommerce Awards 2026, powered by Fiserv, at a gala ceremony recently held in The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin. Shortlisted in eight categories going into the night, the strongest showings of any business on this year’s list, the Westmeath retailer came away with three wins. Award Customer Service Award

Winner Heavins.ie

Business Growth Award (sponsored by IRP Commerce)

Heavins.ie

eCommerce Rising Star Award (Under 30)

Ben Hade, Heavins.ie

The results put a family business from Athlone in the same winners’ list as some of the best-known names in Irish online retail, across awards judged on customer experience, commercial growth and individual achievement. It is a long way from where the business started. Willie and Maureen Heavin opened a small hardware shop at the McCormack Centre in Athlone in January 1984, and the business has stayed in the family ever since, run today by Managing Directors Derek & Paul Heavin from a 17,000 sq ft superstore at Shannon Retail Park. Heavins.ie launched in 2019 and now accounts for more than half of the company’s revenue, shipping hardware, electrical appliances, homeware, garden, toys, jewellery and gifts to customers in every county in Ireland and supporting a team of more than 40 people in Athlone.

Paul Heavin, Managing Director, Hiran Ravilla, Business Analyst & Ben Hade, Digital Marketing Assistant Manager.

September/October 2026

Paul Heavin, Managing Director of Topline Heavins & Euronics and Heavins.ie, said: “Winning the Customer Service Award is the one that means the most to me, because it is not about technology or budgets. It is about how the team in Athlone looks after people on the phone, at the counter and online. Put that beside the Business Growth Award and you have the whole story of the last few years in two trophies. My uncle Willie opened this shop in 1984 to serve people in Athlone. Forty-two years on we are serving customers in every county in the country, and we are still doing it from Shannon Retail Park.” Also shortlisted on the night Alongside its three wins, Heavins.ie was a finalist in five further categories: – – – – –

B2C eCommerce Website of the Year DIY, Home, Furniture & Interior Design eCommerce Website of the Year eCommerce In-House Team of the Year eCommerce Search Campaign of the Year, with performance marketing agency Adhere Digital eCommerce Entrepreneur of the Year, for Managing Director Paul Heavin

More to come at the Retail Excellence Awards The awards season is not over for the Athlone team. Heavins.ie has been nominated for eCommerce Team of the Year at the Retail Excellence Awards 2026, and Ben Hade is nominated for the Rising Star of the Year Award, one of the most closely watched individual honours in Irish retail.

Ben Hade, Digital Marketing Assistant Manager, (sponsors representative) IRP Ecommerce, Hiran Ravilla, Business Analyst & Paul Heavin, Managing Director.

News & Products

CORK BUILDERS PROVIDERS TAKES TOP HONOUR AT 2026 OCTABUILD AWARDS Record entries and expanded Awards programme recognise excellence across the builders merchant sector Cork Builders Providers, Togher has been named the overall winner of the Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026 at the all-island Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards. The business also won the Munster Regional Award. More than 350 guests from across the builders’ merchant and construction sectors gathered in the Round Room at Dublin’s Mansion House for the Awards, hosted by broadcaster and sports presenter Jacqui Hurley. The event brought together merchants from across the island with Octabuild’s eight member companies - Bostik, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Keystone and Kingspan Insulation - to recognise the businesses and people making an impact across the industry. Guest of honour Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, congratulated the winners and all those recognised at the Awards. He said: “Builders merchants play an important role in Ireland’s construction sector, supporting economic activity, employment and communities across the country. These Awards are an opportunity to recognise the businesses and people who contribute to the strength of the sector and its continued development”. “Octabuild’s member companies each have a strong manufacturing base in Ireland, supporting jobs and helping to strengthen the Irish supply chain serving our construction industry. I commend Octabuild for its continued commitment to recognising excellence across the sector and congratulate all of this year’s winners, finalists and everyone who took part”. The 2026 Awards marked a significant expansion of the programme, reflecting how the builders merchant sector continues to evolve. Alongside the four Regional Awards, greater emphasis was placed on sustainability, digital capability and people, while customer experience and operational excellence remained central to the judging process. New for 2026 were the Sustainable Business Excellence Award, Digital Excellence Awards, Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish, and Unsung Hero Award, while the Rising Star Award continued to recognise emerging talent within the industry. The 2026 Awards attracted a strong response from merchants, with the highest number of entries in the history of the Octabuild Awards. Cork Builders Providers takes overall title Cork Builders Providers was one of four Regional Award winners, alongside Ganly’s Athlone, Chadwicks Sallynoggin and JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast. The Togher business was subsequently selected

from the four regional winners as the overall Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026 winner. Judges Phil Derby and Steve Collinge described Cork Builders Providers as an outstanding operation, highlighting its strong leadership, exceptional customer service and product availability, and the quality of its people. They were particularly impressed by its culture of developing and promoting people from within, alongside its continued investment in innovation, digital services and sustainability. There was further recognition for Cork Builders Providers when Managing Director Dan Twomey received the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising a career in the builders’ merchant and construction supply industry spanning almost five decades. One of the original founders and shareholders of Cork Builders Providers in 1990, Dan has played a central role in building and developing the business for more than three decades, while remaining a strong advocate for Irish suppliers and manufacturers. Recognising how the sector is evolving The new categories produced some notable successes. Stakelums Home & Hardware, Thurles secured two awards, winning both the Sustainable Business Excellence Award and Digital Excellence Award for businesses with 1-5 branches. Chadwicks Robinhood Road also celebrated a double win, taking the Digital Excellence Award for businesses with 6+ branches and the Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish. People were also firmly at the heart of this year’s programme. Sarah Topley of Haldane Fisher Lisburn received the Rising Star Award, while Billy McIvor of Murdock Builders Merchants became the first recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, introduced for 2026 to recognise those whose contribution behind the scenes makes a real difference to their business and colleagues. The 2026 Awards were assessed by a new independent judging panel comprising Phil Derby, Steve Collinge, Brian McIntyre and Lorraine Higgins. Octabuild Chairperson Mike Glennon said: “On behalf of Octabuild, I congratulate all of our 2026 winners and everyone recognised at this year’s Awards. I also want to acknowledge every merchant and individual who took part and the considerable effort they put into the Awards”. “We expanded the Awards this year to recognise excellence right across the sector - from how businesses are evolving to the contribution of the people behind them. This year attracted the highest number of entries in Octabuild Awards history, reflecting strong engagement from builders merchants across the island of Ireland”. For more information on the 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards, visit www.octabuild.ie/awards

September/October 2026

News & Products

Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with Octabuild board members (l-r): Kieran Duggan, Etex, Kris Willis, Keystone, Mike Glennon, Glennon Brothers (Chairperson Octabuild), Niall Fay, Grant (Treasurer Octabuild), Michael Minchin, Kingspan Insulation, Ray Molyneaux, Irish Cement, Peter Morrissey, Bostik and Mark O’Reilly, Gyproc.

Host Jacqui Hurley on stage at the 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards.

Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026: Mike Glennon, Octabuild Chairperson and event host Jacqui Hurley celebrate with Dan Twomey and his team at Cork Builders Providers, Togher, winners of the Octabuild Award for Excellence 2026 and the Munster Regional Award.

Munster Regional Award winner: Cork Builders Providers, Togher: Mike Glennon, Octabuild Chairperson celebrates with Dan Twomey and his team at Cork Builders Providers, Togher, winners of the Munster Regional Award.

Connacht/Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan Regional Award winner: Michael Ganly, Brian Ganly and Michelle Ganly-Keyes from Ganly’s Athlone with Mike Glennon.

Leinster Regional Award winner: Alan Murphy, John Bolton, Blain Kavanagh and Gerard Kelly, Chadwicks Sallynoggin with Mike Glennon.

September/October 2026

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Northern Ireland Regional Award winner: Scott McDonald, Glen Young and Brian Jordan, JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast with Mike Glennon.

Sustainable Business Excellence Award winner: Jay Connors and Paddy Stakelum, Stakelums Home & Hardware Thurles with Mike Glennon.

Digital Excellence Award 1-5 branches winner: Niamh Irwin and Joe Connolly, Stakelums Home & Hardware Thurles with Mike Glennon.

Digital Excellence Award 6+ branches winner: The Team at Chadwick’s Robinhood Road with Mike Glennon.

Rising Star Award winner: Sarah Topley of Haldane Fisher Lisburn with Mike Glennon, Octabuild Chairperson.

Lifetime Achievement Award winner: Dan Twomey, Cork Builders Providers with Minister Chambers and Mike Glennon.

Octabuild Supporting Irish Award, sponsored by Guaranteed Irish winner: The team at Chadwick’s Robinhood Road with Brid O’Connell, CEO, Guaranteed Irish and Mike Glennon.

Unsung Hero Award winner: Billy McIvor, Murdock Builders Merchants with Mike Glennon.

September/October 2026

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CHADWICKS KELLS MARKS NEW CHAPTER FOR LONGSTANDING LOCAL BUSINESS WITH EXPANDED OFFERING AND LAUNCH OF IN HOME Following its acquisition by Chadwicks Group, Rooneys Home and Hardware becomes Chadwicks Kells, building on its local heritage with an increased trade and retail offering and new home interiors destination. A total of €1.3 million has been invested in the Chadwicks Kells branch since last year, delivering a significant upgrade and expansion of its trade and retail offering. The move brings together the strengths of both businesses, combining Rooneys’ strong local reputation, excellent service, established customer relationships and experienced team of 47 with Chadwicks’ scale and specialist expertise. The branch has significantly broadened its trade and retail offering and will also introduce In Home, Chadwicks’ new home interiors destination. First established in Kells in 2014 and operating from its current premises since 2019, the branch has long played an important role in the local community. Many of its 47 colleagues have served local customers for years, with the existing team remaining at the heart of the business as it becomes Chadwicks Kells. Alongside the standard Chadwicks builders’ merchant offering, customers can now shop a wider range spanning building materials, plumbing supplies, tools, workwear, garden, paint, agricultural products, pet and equestrian supplies and smart home heating controls. The branch has also added to its specialist range to include steel, Sitetech concrete and brickwork accessories, Baumit insulation and smart home heating solutions, making it even better equipped to support trade professionals, DIY customers and homeowners. A showroom featuring bathrooms, doors and flooring gives customers the opportunity to explore a wider range of options in person. A new home interiors destination for Kells The relaunch marks the introduction of In Home, Chadwicks’ new home interiors destination, bringing a curated selection of kitchenware, gifting, lamps and lanterns and interior décor to Kells. Customers can also expect an impressive Euronics appliances range, spanning washing machines, tumble dryers, fridge freezers and more.

September/October 2026

L-R: Ken Brougham (Managing Director), Anne-Marie Rooney (General Manager), Laura Cassidy (Branch Manager), Patrick Atkinson (CEO of Chadwicks Group), Cathleen Rooney, Brendan Rooney, Robert Kenny (Regional Director).

Among the new arrivals to the branch are premium brands including Max Benjamin, La Bougie, Field Day, The Handmade Soap Company, Foxford, Tramontina, Tipperary Crystal, Brabantia and YETI. Celebrating the next chapter To mark the relaunch, Chadwicks Kells welcomed local trade customers for a day of in-branch activities including goodie bags, refreshments and product demonstrations from DeWALT, Makita and Tec7. Patrick Atkinson, CEO of Chadwicks Group, said: “The acquisition of Rooneys Home and Hardware brought an established local business with a strong reputation and deep customer relationships into the Chadwicks Group. As we begin this next chapter as Chadwicks Kells, it’s important that we build on those strengths while bringing customers the additional choice, expertise and support that comes with being part of the wider Chadwicks network. “The expanded trade and retail offering, together with the launch of In Home, demonstrates the positive opportunities that come from bringing the two businesses together. Crucially, the same experienced team of 47 colleagues remains at the heart of the branch, continuing the relationships and trusted service that have been built in Kells over many years.”

News & Products

HOMEVALUE ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC RAISES OVER €50,000 FOR BARRETSTOWN Homevalue hosted its second Annual Golf Classic in support of Barretstown on Thursday 10th September at Glasson Lakehouse, raising over €50,000 to support children and families affected by serious illness. The event returned following the success of Homevalue’s inaugural Golf Classic in 2025, which raised €40,164 for Barretstown. Last year’s event brought together 27 teams and marked an important early milestone in the charity partnership between the two organisations. This year, 27 teams of four again took part in a day of golf and fundraising, helping the event build further momentum in its second year. Guests enjoyed breakfast and refreshments on arrival and received team packs and branded goodie bags before heading onto the course. The day concluded with an evening barbecue, prize presentation and fundraising raffle. Guests also had the opportunity to take part in a number of popular on-course competitions throughout the day, including the Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin and Beat the Pro challenges. These activities added an extra layer of competition and entertainment to the event, while helping to drive additional fundraising in support of Barretstown. The event received strong backing from Homevalue suppliers and partners, whose participation and contributions helped maximise the amount raised for Barretstown. Prizes were awarded to the leading teams on the day: – – – – – –

1st Prize: Laydex 2nd Prize: Fleetwood Paints 3rd Prize: Saint-Gobain 4th Prize: Guardian Distribution 5th Prize: Calor Gas 6th Prize: Wavin

The United Hardware Team on the day.

Tim O’Dea, Director of Development at Barretstown, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Homevalue, its members, supplier partners and everyone who supported this year’s Golf Classic. To see the event return for a second year and build on the success of 2025 is a strong reflection of Homevalue’s continued commitment to Barretstown. “The funds raised will help us provide our therapeutic camps and programmes free of charge to children and families affected by cancer and other serious illness. Support from partners such as Homevalue plays a vital role in helping us reach more families and give them the opportunity to experience Barretstown. Every camp, every programme, every session we offer is completely free. That is a founding principle we have never compromised on, and never will. Your donation helps us keep that promise.” The Annual Golf Classic forms part of Homevalue’s wider charity partnership with Barretstown. Across its network of 88 independently owned stores, Homevalue supports fundraising, volunteering and awareness activity for the charity. The event is set to return in 2027, continuing to bring together Homevalue members, suppliers and partners in support of Barretstown.

Alan Quinlan presented the awards before the day concluded with a cheque presentation from Homevalue to Barretstown. Paul Candon, CEO of United Hardware, said: “Following the success of our first Golf Classic last year, it was fantastic to see this year’s event receive such strong support once again. We are delighted to have raised over €50,000 for Barretstown, which reflects the generosity and commitment of everyone who took part, donated or helped to make the day possible”. “Our partnership with Barretstown means a great deal to everyone across the Homevalue network. We are proud to continue supporting the vital programmes it provides for children living with serious illness and their families.” 16

Paul Candon, CEO of United Hardware, Former Munster & Ireland International Alan Quinlan who presented the prizes & Tim O’Dea, Director of Development at Barretstown.

September/October 2026

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STAKELUMS CELEBRATES HISTORIC AWARDS TREBLE Stakelums Home & Hardware has completed an exceptional awards treble after being named County Tipperary Business of the Year 2026. The Thurles-based family business recently received the top honour at the County Tipperary Chamber Business Awards in Hotel Minella, Clonmel in September.

Minister Jack Chambers, Anita O'Dowd (Stakelums), Niamh Irwin (Stakelums), John O'Shaughnessy (County Tipperary Chamber President), Joe Connolly (Stakelums), Declan Wynne (H&MV), CEO County Tipperary Chamber Michelle Aylward.

Stakelums also won Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Clancy, and Excellence in Customer Experience, sponsored by Ryans Cleaning. The Overall Business of the Year Award, sponsored by H&MV Engineering, was selected from the winners of the evening’s 15 business categories. Established by the Stakelum family in 1960, the business has grown from its beginnings in Borrisoleigh into one of Ireland’s largest independent home and hardware retailers. It now operates a 90,000 sq ft store in Thurles. The independent judging panel praised the company’s growth, innovation and resilience, together with its commitment to customer service, employee development and the community it serves.

Joe Connolly (Stakelums), Aisling Ryan (Ryans Cleaning), CEO County Tipperary Chamber Michelle Aylward.

Michelle Aylward, Chief Executive of County Tipperary Chamber, said: “Stakelums is a powerful example of what a family business can achieve by continuing to invest, innovate and listen to its customers. “It has remained deeply rooted in Tipperary while building a business with a reputation that extends far beyond the county. “Winning three awards in one evening is an extraordinary achievement. It reflects the contribution of the entire Stakelums team and the trust the business has built with generations of customers.” Joe Connolly, speaking on behalf of Stakelums Home & Hardware, said: “This award belongs to our entire team. Their knowledge, commitment and care for our customers are the foundations of the business.

Declan Fitzpatrick (Clancys), Joe Connolly (Stakelums), John O'Shaughnessy (County Tipperary Chamber President).

“We are proud of our family history and our Tipperary roots, but we have always understood that a successful business must continue to change and improve. “To receive three awards, including Overall Business of the Year, is an enormous honour. We thank our employees, customers, suppliers and the wider community for supporting us.” More than 400 guests attended the black-tie ceremony, which was hosted by Tipp FM’s Fran Curry. Minister Jack Chambers attended the event, together with business leaders, public representatives, sponsors and finalists from across County Tipperary.

Anita O'Dowd (Stakelums), Niamh Irwin (Stakelums), Joe Connolly (Stakelums), Minster Jack Chambers.

September/October 2026

News & Products

IITC LAUNCHES THREE NEW GARDEN TOOL BRANDS: GLENFORD, RAVN AND DIGBY IITC have announced three new own-brand garden tool ranges: Glenford, a premium range engineered for the professional; RAVN, a quality-led mid-tier range for the gardener who values lasting quality over cheap pricing; and Digby, an accessible entry-level range that makes it easy to start. All three brands launched in Q3 2026. The three brands have been developed with Niall Nugent, Brand & Product Consultant, and the former Commercial Director of Ames True Temper Ireland, who IITC appointed to support the development of its new garden tool brands and ranges. With decades of experience across the gardening and hardware trade, he has helped shape the range from the ground up. “Today’s buyer can see right through cheap tools - they’re a false economy. With Glenford, RAVN and Digby, we’ve built a range that meets every gardener where they are now from the professional to the first timer, with real quality at every tier.” said Niall.

Glenford: professional grade, built to outlast Built for landscapers, builders and farmers and engineered for durability in the toughest conditions. – Backed by a limited lifetime warranty – Recognisable by its signature red finish – Solid Ash handles, double-riveted to the head at the joint where long-handle tools are most likely to fail – Balanced strength heavy enough for real strength, light enough to work with all day – Hammertone finish to protect against rust, with extra-long super-sockets and large steel D-grips for gloved hands RAVN: quality and value the buyer can trust Built for the buyer who values quality and value for money, and who sees through cheap tools as a false economy. – Tempered steel rather than quick welds – Quality Larch timber handle, made to work hard and sit comfortably in the hand – Head-to-handle retention at the joint where cheap tools fail first – Backed by a 15-year warranty Digby: simple gardening, easy to start Built for first timers and anyone at the start of their gardening journey, Digby is the accessible, entry-level range that makes getting started an easy decision. – Accessible entry price point - quality to get the job done, without a big, considered purchase – Clean, simple design that’s easy to find and easy to choose in store – A playful, encouraging personality that gives new gardeners the nudge to begin. “Stop planning. Start digging.”

Glenford: Professional grade, built to outlast.

For more information contact Clinton Maguire at clintonmaguire@iitc.ie or visit www.iitc.ie.

Digby: Simple gardening, easy to start.

RAVN: Quality and value the buyer can trust.

September/October 2026

News & Products

COMPACT SERIES: THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONAL CORDLESS TOOLS With the new COMPACT SERIES, Einhell is introducing a generation of tools that combines maximum performance with an exceptionally compact design. Smaller*, lighter* and engineered to deliver more performance*, these tools offer an outstanding balance of power, comfort and safety. Whether on the construction site, in the workshop or during installation work, the COMPACT SERIES makes professional work more efficient, ergonomic and safer than ever.

family, it can be used with all batteries and chargers in the system. It is powered by an Einhell Brushless Motor. Compact, lightweight and powerful, the PROFESSIONAL Cordless Impact Wrench is around 20 percent more compact than comparable impact wrenches. This makes it particularly flexible and easy to handle in use. Thanks to its powerful impact mechanism, it is ideally suited to loosening and tightening wheel bolts.

Cordless Circular Saw The Einhell PROFESSIONAL Cordless Circular Saw TP-CS 18/136-C Li BL is a must-have for professionals and ambitious DIY enthusiasts alike. Lightweight yet powerful, it has been designed to be more compact than similarly powerful circular saws, making it exceptionally flexible and easy to handle in the workshop or garage. Powered by an Einhell Brushless Motor, the cordless circular saw is part of the Power X-Change family and compatible with all batteries and chargers in the system. Cordless Drill & Cordless Impact Drill The Einhell PROFESSIONAL Cordless Drill TP-CD 18/70-C Li BL is part of the powerful Power X-Change family, allowing batteries, tools and chargers to be flexibly combined across the system. It is powered by an Einhell Brushless Motor. Compact, lightweight and exceptionally powerful, the PROFESSIONAL Cordless Drill has been designed to be more compact than comparable drill drivers, making it especially flexible and easy to handle in use. Its digital speed control electronics and 2-speed gearbox, delivering 70 Nm of torque, 21 torque settings and one drilling setting, enable both precise screwdriving and powerful drilling.

Cordless Impact Wrench The Einhell PROFESSIONAL Cordless Impact Wrench TP-CW 18/350-C Li BL is a powerful tool for effortless tyre changes and efficient screwdriving. As a member of the Power X-Change

Cordless Cut-Off Grinder The Einhell PROFESSIONAL Cordless Cut-Off Grinder TP-CO 18/76-C Li BL is a versatile, easy-to-handle all-rounder for demanding tradespeople. Compact and lightweight, it cuts metal, tiles and stone faster and more easily than many larger angle grinders. The 18 V cut-off grinder is a member of the Power X-Change family and can be combined with all batteries and chargers in the system. It is powered by an Einhell Brushless Motor and can be used with cutting discs up to 76mm in diameter. For further information visit www.einhell.co.uk or contact Rowan O’Meara, Sales Director - Ireland, phone 086 8269905, email Rowan.OMeara@einhell.com. *Compared with equivalent Einhell PROFESSIONAL standard tools featuring a brushless motor.

September/October 2026

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YOUR BEST PEOPLE KNOW HOW YOUR BUSINESS WORKS - YOUR ERP SHOULD TOO Every hardware or builders’ merchant has a ‘Paul’. The person who knows the customers, remembers the exceptions and understands what needs to happen next.

one person holding all that knowledge and they leave, suddenly, products aren’t getting uploaded and purchase orders aren’t going on.”

That experience is enormously valuable. But when too much day-to-day knowledge sits with one person, the wider team can become reliant on them.

Your ERP should make that knowledge easier to access. Salespeople should be able to see previous orders, open quotations and queries, regularly purchased products and what needs attention.

GenetiQ’s Migration and Integration Consultant, Jordan Parker, has seen this first-hand. During an ERP project, one employee had taken ownership of key purchasing and data processes. When they unexpectedly left, the wider team were left without knowledge they rely on. As Jordan puts it: “You can’t have that reliance on one person. If you’ve got

GenetiQ brings customer, order, stock and pricing information into the salesperson’s working environment. It can also surface active, overdue and expired quotations, helping salespeople see what needs attention and when pricing or stock availability needs checking.

When the customer says yes, there should be a clear route through order, stock, purchasing, fulfilment and invoicing. Consider how another team member would handle a customer. Can they see the context, understand what’s happened and confidently take the next step? Your experienced people should be valued for their decisions and relationships, not because important information is difficult for everyone else to access. The more knowledge your ERP puts at your team’s fingertips, the more time your best people have to put their experience to good use. For further information visit www.genetiqsoftware.com.

“What did we charge t them last time?” “Ask Paul.” That’s some ERP.

Give Paul a break. See what your ERP should be doing.

genetiqsoftware.com

September/October 2026

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GRANT’S MERCHANT NETWORK AT THE HEART OF INTEGRATED HEATING SUPPLY Grant’s nationwide network of plumbing and heating merchants plays a central role in making its heating technologies accessible to installers, developers and homeowners throughout Ireland. The long-standing relationships Grant has built with merchants provide an established route through which complete heating systems, individual products, accessories and spare parts can be supplied locally. As home heating increasingly moves towards integrated systems, this network also plays an important role in bringing multiple, complementary heating technologies together for projects.

Alongside its Design and Specification Service, Grant provides ongoing technical support and product training, keeping merchant partners up to date with the latest developments across its heating technology portfolio. A complete-system opportunity for merchants Grant’s integrated heating packages provide merchants with an opportunity to supply multiple complementary heating technologies as part of one professionally designed system.

“At Grant, the distribution of our heating technologies has always been through our dedicated network of plumbing and heating merchants across Ireland,” said Barry Gorman, National Renewable Sales Manager at Grant. “We are proud of the relationships we have developed with our merchants and grateful for their continued support.”

The award-winning Grant Aerona R290 4kW air source heat pump.

Depending on the requirements of the property, a package can combine the award-winning Grant Aerona R290 4kW air source heat pump with a Grant QR hot water cylinder, Uflex underfloor heating and smart heating controls. Following the system design and specification process, a quotation detailing the required Grant technologies provides the merchant with a clear schedule for supply. Barry Gorman, National Renewable Sales Manager at Grant.

For installers, purchasing through a local Grant merchant provides a trusted and traceable route to the products specified for each project. It also provides convenient access to the products, accessories and spare parts required. For developers, this merchant network supports the local supply of Grant’s professionally designed and specified heating systems. Grant’s free Design & Specification Service supports this process, with its in-house technical specialists sizing and specifying the heating system for each project and providing a detailed specification and bill of materials. This gives merchants a clear schedule of the Grant technologies required for supply. A strong partnership with the trade As heating systems become increasingly integrated, close collaboration between manufacturers, merchants and installers is important. Grant’s established merchant relationships form an important part of this approach. 22

For merchants, this creates the opportunity to supply a wider range of Grant technologies within an individual project, while installers and developers benefit from a clear route from system specification through to local supply. “It is important that we continue developing technologies and services which our merchants can recommend with confidence,” continued Barry Gorman. “Our integrated heating packages bring together technologies designed and specified to work as part of a complete heating system, giving our merchant network a clear package to order and supply.” Merchants are also supported by Grant’s technical expertise, product training, commissioning and aftercare services, providing a connected network of support throughout the project. Visit www.grant.ie for more information on Grant’s range of innovative heating solutions. Follow Grant on Facebook @GrantIRL, Instagram @grant_irl, LinkedIn @GrantEngineeringULC and YouTube @GrantEngineeringIE. September/October 2026

Smarter installation starts here The Grant Smart Quick Recovery cylinders are pre-plumbed and pre-wired with factory-fitted components designed to support quicker, simpler installation. Optimised for seamless integration with the Grant Aerona R290 heat pump system.

Uflex underfloor heating

www.grant.ie

Aerona Smart Controller

Remote monitoring

Discover the QR Cylinder Range

News & Products

IITC BRINGS AMES TOOLS CUTTING & PRUNING RANGE TO RETAILERS IITC is the Irish distributor for AMES Tools, bringing the brand’s comprehensive cutting and pruning range to hardware retailers across Ireland. The AMES Tools cutting and pruning collection comprises 19 product introductions, offering retailers a broad selection of tools designed to cover everything from precision pruning and trimming to heavier-duty cutting tasks. The range includes six pruners, with bypass and anvil options alongside compact and multi-function models and a ratchet anvil pruner. Four shears include hand, hedge, geared hedge and telescopic hedge shears, while the lopper range features seven options, including geared, long-reach, compound action and ratchet models in both bypass and anvil formats. The collection is complemented by precision snips and a folding pruning saw.

blades across selected products, with a 15-year guarantee applying across the AMES Tools range. The collection has been designed to address different gardening requirements, with bypass tools suited to cutting live green stems, while anvil options are designed for tougher, woody and dead stems. Long-reach and geared options provide additional choice for customers tackling larger or harder-to-reach growth. With autumn an important period for pruning and garden maintenance, the AMES Tools cutting and pruning range gives Irish hardware retailers a comprehensive selection to meet customer requirements. The range is available to Irish retailers through IITC. For more information contact Clinton Maguire at clintonmaguire@iitc.ie or visit www.iitc.ie.

A key feature across the range is the use of SK5 Japanese carbon steel, selected for its hardness, durability and wear resistance. Many of the blades are also PTFE coated, providing smooth cutting, rust resistance and lasting sharpness. The range also incorporates ergonomic handles and precision-tensioned

Bypas Pruner

Multi-Function Bypass Pruner.

September/October 2026

News & Products

LENEHANS GIVE AN UPDATE ON THEIR AI-POWERED SHOP ASSISTANT In the July /Aug 2025 issue of The Hardware Journal, Lenehans, one of Ireland’s most established retail brands with over 150 years of service, reported their introduction of one of Ireland’s first fully AI-powered shop assistants, setting a new standard for customer experience in the Irish DIY, home and garden sector. Now over 12 months on we can report on what a great success the initiative has been. As a quick reminder for anyone who missed the first piece, Mark Lenehan, Managing Director of Lenehans, says “In a physical shop, someone knows the range, answers the awkward questions, and helps guide the customer towards the right product. Online, that experience is much harder to replicate”. “The AI Shop Assistant was introduced to help bridge that gap. It helps customers find, compare and understand products, while also answering many of the customer service questions that would otherwise arrive by phone or email including questions about delivery, stock, returns, or whether a product will work for a particular job”. “It also gives us a much clearer picture of what customers are looking for and where the website is falling short. As it chats, it takes notes on what customers are asking for and sends those insights back to us”.

Since our original piece, the results from Lenehan's have grown considerably:

– More than 23,000 customer conversations – 52% of conversations start outside 9-6 or at weekends, when there is nobody here to answer them. – Around one in four conversations identifies something worth acting on. – An estimated 140 hours of customer service time saved between March and September 2026. – More than €245,000 worth of products added to baskets through the assistant. One of the biggest developments came in July 2026 says Mark, “Until then, the assistant was mainly a chat button in the corner of the website. On 16th July, we moved it directly onto every product and category page, making it part of the shopping experience rather than something customers had to actively seek out”.

“What surprised us was that the quality of those conversations held up. The proportion of conversations that highlighted something worth acting on barely changed, so roughly three times the volume produced roughly three times the useful customer insight rather than simply three times the noise”. “The most common thing the assistant tells us is that a product page is missing a piece of information the customer needed. After that, we regularly see customers asking for products we don't currently stock or looking for products that happen to be out of stock at the time. Previously, much of that demand was invisible to us. Now we can see it and act on it. That insight is probably the part I would highlight most”. With thousands of customer interactions since the launch, the AI assistant has already improved website navigation, boosted customer satisfaction, and enhanced overall purchase journeys on www.lenehans.ie.

“The difference was significant. Conversations increased from around 52 per day to 155 per day, while the estimated customer service time saved increased from 23 hours to 61 hours across comparable eight-week periods”.

September/October 2026

News & Products

MAMMOTION ROBOTIC MOWERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO IRISH RETAILERS THROUGH LYSTER LAWNMOWERS DAC The Athlone-based Lyster Lawnmowers is bringing the Mammotion robotic lawnmower range to hardware, DIY and electrical retailers across Ireland, with stock available from Q1 2027 in time for the new season. A long-established family-run business in the garden machinery industry and a long-standing Mammotion partner, Lyster Lawnmowers will offer their Irish retail partners a complete range of robotic lawnmowers for the home garden. From various models and sizes for a compact town plot through to larger lawns with slopes and awkward corners. Retailers can build the category around one brand and one supplier rather than piecing it together from several sources.

know and trust, and we want those shops to have a straightforward way to stock it." Every unit sold through Lyster is backed by support, repair and warranty service handled in Ireland, so retailers can list the range without taking on a technical aftersales burden. Retailers looking to add robotic mowing to their 2027 garden range can contact Lyster Lawnmowers on 090 6476565 or info@lysterlawnmowers.ie for trade pricing and full range details.

Mammotion is one of the fastest-growing names in robotic mowing worldwide. The brand marked its tenth anniversary this year and has sold to more than 750,000 customers in over 30 countries. Its mowers work without a perimeter wire, using satellite positioning and AI vision to map the lawn, so the customer can set one up themselves in an afternoon. No installation visit, no specialist fitting which is exactly what makes the category workable over a retail counter. Mammotion invests heavily in consumer marketing in Ireland and the UK, and that demand is already showing up on the shop floor. "Customers are walking into hardware stores and asking for Mammotion by name," said Nigel Lyster. "We want them to be able to buy it locally, from the shops they already

September/October 2026

News & Products

WINTER READY WITH STAFFORDS As the colder months approach, John Stafford & Sons is fully stocked and ready to help hardware retailers meet the changing seasonal needs of their customers. Generators remain an essential part of winter preparedness, providing a dependable source of backup power for homes, farms, workshops and commercial premises during outages and periods of severe weather. Staffords offers a comprehensive selection of generators to suit a variety of applications, with stock available and ready for delivery for the season ahead. Alongside its generator range, Staffords carries a wide selection of practical winter essentials. These include plastic and metal fuel cans for the safe storage and transport of fuel, booster cables for those difficult cold-weather starts, and durable tarpaulins for protecting equipment, building materials, vehicles and outdoor areas from the elements. Salt spreaders are also available to help customers prepare paths, yards, driveways, car parks and commercial premises for icy conditions. These are complemented by many more seasonal products designed to keep people working safely and efficiently throughout the winter months. For hardware retailers, having the right products available when the weather changes is vital. Staffords’ extensive range allows customers to source many of their essential winter lines from one trusted and dependable supplier.

With strong stock availability across generators, fuel accessories, automotive essentials, weather protection and winter maintenance equipment, retailers can prepare confidently for the busy season ahead. Supported by generations of experience supplying the Irish hardware trade, John Stafford & Sons remains committed to providing quality brands, reliable service and a broad product offering throughout the year. From unexpected power cuts and freezing mornings to heavy rain and outdoor protection, be Winter Ready with Staffords. For further information on the complete range of winter products, contact the Stafford Sales Team or visit stafford.ie.

TEAM WAVIN PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD The Wavin Ireland team put their community spirit into action with a litter pick in Balbriggan recently. The team welcomed colleagues from the BU North Leadership Team and Global Sustainability Team, swapping meetings for litter pickers as they headed out into the local community. The activity forms part of Wavin’s commitment to employee volunteering, giving colleagues the opportunity to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work. Together, the team collected litter from across the town and ensured it was disposed of responsibly. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss progress on Wavin’s new offices and Visitor Centre, which are due to open nearby in Q3 2027.

September/October 2026

News & Products

CIRET LTD ARE MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY PAINTING AND DECORATING PRODUCTS Ciret provide expert solutions to the trade and retail industry. Their wide range of products allows both contractors and DIY enthusiasts to efficiently and cost-effectively accomplish their decorating projects. The Ciret brands have been designed to provide quality solutions for the full lifecycle of a decorating project, starting with the preparation stage right through to the finishing touches. Paint is the only product that they don’t offer.

Designed to perform where it matters most - on the job - this new collection responds to the daily demands of modern decorating, raising the bar for performance, comfort, and finish quality. Every detail has been shaped to help decorators work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence.

Their extensive product range is divided into Ciret’s own key brands. ROTA - paint rollers & roller accessories, Kana - paint brushes & accessories, Masq - masking solutions, Prep preparation products, and Beeline - wallpaper adhesives and fillers.

KANA PRO Engineered for professionals who demand precision and reliability, the Kana PRO range delivers exceptional balance, durability, and control. Lightly waxed handles provide a comfortable, natural grip, while advanced polyamide ferrules are designed to flex in harmony with the handle. This innovative construction enhances control, reduces hand fatigue, and prevents paint build‑up, ensuring consistent performance project after project.

In 2026 Ciret launched the next generation of brushes. After a year of intensive development, real‑world testing, and direct feedback from professional decorators and retailers, Ciret are proud to unveil the next generation of Kana brushes.

PRO Luxe Specifically developed for water‑based paints, PRO Luxe brushes feature a sleek tapered design and Tri‑Blend filaments that deliver an ultra‑smooth, flawless finish with minimal effort. PRO Select Optimised for oil‑based and hybrid coatings, PRO Select introduces new X‑Tense curled filaments and a denser filament pack. The result is improved paint pick‑up, smooth release, and outstanding control, ideal for thicker coatings on trim and woodwork. KANA ICONIC Blending timeless craftsmanship with modern filament technology, Kana Iconic pairs a natural, unfinished wooden handle with a seamless steel ferrule. Combined with a Twin Tech filament blend, these brushes offer dependable performance across a wide range of decorating tasks, with reliability decorators can trust. KANA TRADE Reliable, comfortable, and made for everyday use - Kana Trade brushes deliver great coverage with minimal brush marks. Their ergonomic handles and tapered filaments make them a solid choice for anyone seeking consistent, professional results. For further information please email sales@ciret.co.uk or phone +44 23 9245 7450.

September/October 2026

News & Products

CPM IRELAND CELEBRATES FORTY YEARS OF INNOVATION, GROWTH AND PARTNERSHIP CPM is celebrating 40 years in business in Ireland, marking four decades of growth, innovation and partnership with many of Ireland’s and the world’s best-known brands. Established in 1986 following a request from Mars UK for a dedicated field sales operation in Ireland, the business has grown from its retail merchandising roots into one of Ireland’s leading sales outsourcing and customer experience agencies. Originally known as Counter Products Marketing, CPM built its reputation on helping brands succeed at retail level through expert field sales and merchandising. While those foundations remain an important part of its identity, today’s business has evolved far beyond the shop floor. Operating across the country with offices in Dublin and Belfast, CPM now combines strategic planning, sales expertise, customer experience, technology, data and nationwide dynamic resource deployment. Over the past four decades, CPM’s development has mirrored the changing needs of retailers, brands and consumers. Joining Omnicom in 1991 provided the Irish business with access to international expertise, technology and resources while retaining its deep understanding of the Irish market. Since then, CPM has expanded its services significantly, supporting clients across FMCG, telecommunications, utilities, hardware, technology, hospitality, events and many other sectors. The business has also embraced innovation throughout its history. Early investment in handheld reporting technology transformed the way field teams worked, replacing paper-based reporting with real-time data capture. Continued investment in digital tools, analytics and field technology now enables CPM to combine information from retail activity with sales and performance data, helping clients identify opportunities faster and deploy resources more effectively. While execution remains central to CPM’s success, its role increasingly begins long before activity reaches a store or customer. Today the company works with clients to identify commercial opportunities, interpret market data, develop sales strategies and design campaigns capable of delivering measurable commercial results. This combination of strategic thinking and operational excellence has become one of CPM’s defining strengths. John Healy, General Manager of CPM Ireland, said: “Reaching 40 years is an important milestone, but this is a business that doesn’t spend much time looking backwards. We have remained successful because we have continued to evolve, invest and challenge ourselves to do more. We combine the experience and security that come with longevity with the ambition of a business that is determined to keep growing and finding better ways to deliver for our clients.” September/October 2026

At the recent CPM 40 Years in Business event L-R: John Healy GM CPM Ireland, Neil Finlayson Pilgrims Europe, Felim Condron, Strong Roots and Mike Hughes CEO CPM International.

Technology has transformed how CPM operates, but people remain at the heart of the business. The company continues to invest heavily in learning and development, leadership and employee engagement, recognising that lasting client relationships and commercial success are built by knowledgeable, motivated teams. This commitment has been recognised through a range of industry and people awards in recent years. John Healy added: “At CPM, we work in genuine partnership with our clients, contributing insight, ideas, technology and strategic thinking, before combining that with the quality execution needed to deliver measurable results. Our people continually identify opportunities, challenge existing approaches and bring new solutions to our clients.” Many of CPM’s client relationships have continued for well over a decade, reflecting the company’s ability to evolve alongside its customers, while continually delivering significant return on investment. As part of the wider international CPM network and the Omnicom Group, the Irish business combines detailed local market knowledge with global resources, innovation and expertise, giving clients both international capability and strong local understanding. Looking ahead, CPM intends to build on its 40-year heritage through further growth, diversification and investment in people, technology and strategic partnerships. “We are proud of our history, but we are even more excited about the future,” said John. “Markets continue to evolve rapidly: our ambition is to anticipate, not to respond to change and help our clients understand it, shape their strategies around it and turn each challenge into a commercial opportunity. That passion and hunger to be the best we can be is what has driven CPM over the past 40 years and what will continue to drive the business in the years ahead.” He concluded. For further information visit www.cpm-int.com.

News & Products

GLENNON BROTHERS WIN ‘SOFTWOOD TRADER: SAWMILLER OF THE YEAR’ Glennon Brothers has won the ‘Softwood Trader: Sawmiller of the Year’ Award for a seventh time, one of the Timber Trade Journal’s most coveted awards. The TTJ Awards are widely seen as the most prestigious in the timber sector and were held at the Marriott London Grosvenor Hotel in London. In this the 153rd Year of the TTJ, the Award was once again open to companies across Europe, the UK and Ireland, to vote for their choice of ‘Best in Class’ timber supplier. Mike Glennon, said; “We are delighted to win the prestigious TTJ award for Timber Trader; Sawmiller of the Year 2026, despite once again being up against an exceptionally strong list of fellow nominees. To follow up on our success of previously winning it five times in a row between 2019 to 2023 in the same category, it is fantastic to win the award again for the second year in a row in 2026 after winning it in 2025. I’d like to sincerely thank our valued customers for voting for Glennon Brothers, and for their continued support and faith in us. We continue to endeavour to support our customers as best we possibly can “from forest to front door”, and their reciprocal commitment to Glennon Brothers is so greatly appreciated.

Pat Glennon, commented; “Picking up this award for the sixth time, is another proud moment for Glennon Brothers and will mean an awful lot to our colleagues in Longford, Fermoy, Enniskillen, Troon, Windymains, Irivine and Invergordon. To get this acknowledgement from our customers by way of this award, is a fantastic achievement for our entire team.” www.glennonbrothers.ie.

L-R Mike Glennon, Paul Treacy, Nico Fourie, Lewis McCall, Linsay McKellar, and Cameron McLaughlin.

TD LAUNCHES GLENNON BROTHERS NATIONAL TREE DAY 2026 Niall Collins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, joined pupils at Ballybrown National School, Co. Limerick, to plant a Scots Pine ahead of Glennon Brothers National Tree Day 2026, which took place on 1st October.

Schools can claim one of 2,000 free Scots Pine saplings at www.treeday.ie, where teachers will also find ready-to-use classroom resources, nature activities and information about the Scots Pine to bring National Tree Day to life in the classroom and outdoors.

An initiative of the Tree Council of Ireland, National Tree Day encourages primary school children across Ireland to get outside, plant a tree and discover the important role trees and forests playin our everyday lives. This year, schools can claim one of 2,000 free Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris; Irish: An Giúis) saplings to plant with pupils. This year’s theme, ‘Planting for the Planet’, will help children explore how trees support wildlife and biodiversity, capture and store carbon, and provide a renewable natural resource that can be transformed into timber products used to build our homes and communities. Minister Niall Collins commented: “National Tree Day gives children a practical way to learn about the importance of trees, forests and the natural environment. By planting and caring for a Scots Pine, pupils can see first-hand how trees support biodiversity, capture carbon and provide a renewable natural resource”. “It is also an opportunity to build understanding of sustainable forestry and how home-grown timber can continue to store carbon when it is used in timber products and buildings. I commend the Tree Council of Ireland and Glennon Brothers for helping schools across the country turn that learning into action”. 30

Niall Collins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, joins pupils at Ballybrown National School, Co. Limerick, to plant a Scots Pine ahead of Glennon Brothers National Tree Day 2026. Pictured with Minister Collins are (back row L-R) Mike Glennon, President Tree Council of Ireland, Felicity Gaffney, Pat Glennon and children from Ballybrown NS (L-R) Alex O’Brien (11) , Conor O’Shea (11), Robbie O’Donoghue (10), Jack Loftus (11), Holly Burke (12), Aoife-Mai Ahern (11), Ellie Boland (10) and Issa Soji (10).

September/October 2026

Golf Society

HAIGS OUTING AT LUCAN GOLF CLUB The Golf Society's third outing of the year, the HAIGS President's Prize, was to the challenging Lucan Golf Club, kindly sponsored by Toolbank Ireland. Lucan Golf Club, in existence since 1897, boasts a magnificent, mature parkland layout in the tranquil suburbs of Liffey Valley and at the same time is only 25 minutes by car from the centre of Dublin.

Men's overall winner Paddy O'Leary being presented with his prize by Hardware Association Ireland Golf Society (HAIGS) President Eddie Kelly.

Ladies overall winner Patricia O`Shea being presented with her prize by (HAIGS) President Eddie Kelly.

Padraig Ryan, Martin Rowe, John Hassett and John Phelan getting ready to tee off in Lucan.

A great welcome awaited our society from HAIGS President Eddie Kelly to his home club which was in excellent condition on the day. Michael Donohoe, Sales Director, Toolbank Ireland represented the company on the day and presented the impressive array of prizes to the winners. He said that he was delighted to see such a large group of friends and colleagues playing on the day and confirmed their continued sponsorship of the event into the future.

Tim Burke accepting his 2nd overall prize from Michael Donohoe, Sales Director, Toolbank Ireland.

Brian Stapleton, Jim Cuddy, Paddy O'Leary and David Bolger on the 1st tee in Lucan Golf Club.

Eddie Kelly presenting John Phelan with a framed flag to commemorate his excellent Hole In One at the previous outing on the Par 3, 8th Hole in Naas Golf Club.

Tim Burke, Jimmy O'Neill and Tim Lodge ready for play on the 1st tee.

HAI PRESIDENT EDDIE KELLY'S PRIZE 31st July 2026 - Lucan Golf Club - Sponsored by Toolbank Ireland OVERALL First place Second place Third Place

Paddy O'Leary Tim Burke James Wallace

45 points 38 points 38 points

handicap 34 handicap 15 BB9 handicap 30

CLASS 1 First place Second place Third place

Martin Rowe Vincent Hyland David Brady

33 points 31 points 26 points

handicap 10 handicap 14 handicap 14

CLASS 2 First place Second place Third place

Tim Lodge Joe Wallace Paul O'Shea

33 points 33 points 30 points

handicap 19 BB9 handicap 21 handicap 22

September/October 2026

CLASS 3 First place Second place Third place

Michael McBride William Wallace Neil Parks

38 points 37 points 35 points

handicap 25 handicap 23 handicap 31

LADIES First place Second place

Patricia O`Shea Catherine Hyland

41 points 37 points

handicap 38 handicap 31

VISITORS First Place Second Place

Paul Morris Mike Keating

38 points 38 points

handicap 15 BB9 handicap 23

News & Products

READY FOR THE RUSH? WHY CONNECTED COMMERCE MATTERS WHEN PEAK TRADING BEGINS As retailers move into the final months of the year, the pressure begins to build. Winter demand, seasonal promotions and the run-up to Christmas can all bring increased activity both in-store and online. For hardware retailers, this is also the time when inefficiencies that are manageable during quieter periods can quickly become much bigger problems. The question isn't simply whether your website can handle more visitors. It's whether your entire commerce operation is connected and ready to handle increased demand. When More Orders Mean More Admin Growth in online sales should be good news. But if every additional order creates additional manual work for your team, increased sales can quickly expose weaknesses in your systems. When an eCommerce platform operates separately from your ERP or ePOS system, staff may find themselves checking stock manually, re-entering orders, updating prices across different systems or resolving discrepancies between what the customer sees online and what is actually available. During peak periods, when staff are already under pressure, these additional tasks become particularly costly.

Integration allows stock information to be synchronised between your ERP/ ePOS and eCommerce platform, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions while reducing the need for staff to manually confirm availability. The same applies to pricing. Promotions, product updates and customer-specific pricing can become difficult to manage when information has to be maintained in multiple places. This is particularly important for hardware retailers serving both trade and retail customers. Trade customers expect to see their agreed pricing and account information when they log in, while retail customers need a simple, seamless online shopping experience. One Business, Not Separate Channels Customers increasingly move between online and offline channels without thinking of them as separate experiences. They might research a product online before visiting a branch, check availability from their phone or place an order online with a retailer they have dealt with for years. For the retailer, delivering that experience depends on having connected systems behind the scenes.

The objective should be simple: your website shouldn't operate as a separate business. It should be an extension of the business you already run. Prepare Before the Pressure Arrives Peak trading isn't the time to discover that systems don't communicate effectively. September and October provide an opportunity for retailers to examine where unnecessary manual processes remain and identify where better integration could remove friction for both customers and staff. Paul Montwill, CEO, Magico says “At Magico, we have spent years working with Irish hardware retailers and understanding the complexities of the sector. Through the AB Commerce platform, we have developed mature integrations with ERP and ePOS systems including GenetiQ (formally Intact) Agility, SAP and Microsoft Dynamics Navision”. “As peak and winter trading approaches, the retailers best prepared for increased demand won't necessarily be those with the most technology. They'll be the ones whose technology works together, allowing their people to spend less time managing systems and more time serving customers and growing the business”. Visit www.magico.com for further information.

A connected commerce approach changes this. By integrating your eCommerce platform with the systems already at the heart of your business, information can flow automatically between online and offline operations. Give Customers Confidence in What They See Stock availability becomes increasingly important when demand rises. A customer who sees an item available online expects that information to be accurate, whether the product is sitting in one location or across a network of branches.

September/October 2026

News & Products

NEW EU-WIDE PRODUCT REPAIR RULES COME INTO FORCE New EU rules have come into force that are designed to encourage consumers to repair rather than replace products and so tackle the estimated 35 million tonnes of waste the premature disposal of consumer goods generates across the EU. The 'right to repair' regulations introduce new rights and supports aimed at encouraging repair over disposal, including a repair obligation for manufacturers of certain products and the establishment of a national repair platform to help consumers locate repair services. The rules apply to household and electronic products such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, phones and tablets. The regulations are designed to make it easier for consumers to access repair services when products develop faults after the seller's guarantee period. People now have the right to request that manufacturers repair products that are technically repairable under EU law. The repairs must be done for free or at a reasonable price, within a reasonable timeframe, to encourage repairs.

Manufacturers must also provide easily accessible information about repair services, as well as access to spare parts at a reasonable price. The national repair directory, www.RepairMyStuff.ie, will be further developed to fulfil the role as Ireland's national repair platform. "These regulations will make it easier for consumers to choose repair over replacement, while also creating opportunities for Irish businesses operating in the repair and refurbishment sector," said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke. "In implementing the Directive, we have sought to strike the right balance between supporting consumers, encouraging sustainable economic activity and ensuring that businesses are not faced with unnecessary regulatory burdens," he added. According to the European Commission, the new rules are expected to bring €4.8 billion in growth and investment within the EU. For more information visit www.RepairMyStuff.ie and www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/0824/1588931-repair-rules/

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News & Products

DRIVING GROWTH THROUGH SPECIALIST BRANDS AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE For hardware stores and builders merchants success increasingly depends on offering more than product availability alone. Customers are looking for trusted brands, knowledgeable support and reliable supply partners who can help them grow profitable business categories. That is where AEF Ltd and the wider Datajan Group continue to add value. The Datajan Group brings together three specialist businesses, AEF Ltd, Arctec Welding and Century Fasteners Ltd, combining decades of industry experience with a broad portfolio of market-leading brands and technical expertise. Together, the group provides merchants with access to industrial tools, power tools, fastening systems, welding equipment and specialist engineering solutions from many of the world's most respected manufacturers. AEF Ltd has established itself as one of Ireland's leading distributors of engineering, industrial and maintenance products. For builders merchants and hardware retailers, AEF offers access to premium brands including Metabo, CAT

Power Tools, Starrett, RIDGID and Hilmor. These brands are recognised throughout the construction, mechanical, fabrication and maintenance sectors for their quality, durability and professional performance. Beyond supplying products, AEF works closely with merchant partners to identify category growth opportunities, provide product training and support local sales development with strong technical knowledge and responsive customer service. Through Arctec Welding, the group has become one of Ireland's leading welding specialists, supplying globally recognised brands including Lincoln Electric, Oerlikon, Magmaweld and Lorch Welding Equipment. As more merchants look to expand their welding and metalworking offering, Arctec provides the technical expertise, demonstrations, training and after-sales support needed to build confidence in what can often be a highly specialised product category. Century Fasteners Ltd strengthens the group's capability through its extensive fastening and fixing solutions portfolio.

Representing premium brands such as Lindapter, Sormat, INDEX, Blind Bolt and Nord-Lock, Century Fasteners supports merchants serving both the construction and industrial sectors. Whether supplying structural steel projects, concrete fixings or specialist fastening applications, Century brings technical knowledge that helps merchants solve customer challenges while expanding sales opportunities. As a wholly Irish-owned business group, Datajan combines specialist expertise with nationwide coverage, strong supplier partnerships and a commitment to long-term customer relationships. For hardware stores and builders’ merchants, this means access to premium brands, dependable supply and the technical support needed to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The Datajan Group's objective is simple: help merchant partners grow through better brands, better support and specialist expertise that delivers real value to their customers.

IN MEMORY OF DERRICK LAING It is with great sadness that we share the news that Derrick Laing has passed away suddenly. Derrick was a true gentleman, respected by colleagues and customers alike throughout his long career in the industry. He spent over a decade with Wood Mouldings before joining DS Supplies in 2012, where he served as Business Development Manager until 2017. Derek Doyle, MD of DS Supplies said, “During his time with us, Derrick built lasting relationships across the trade, his

warmth, integrity, and dedication left a real mark on everyone who worked with him. Even years after his return to Scotland in 2017, customers continued to ask after him, a testament to the impression he made and the genuine connections he built”. Derrick is survived by his wife, Suzanne, to whom our thoughts go out at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

September/October 2026

News & Products

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY “Nine in Ten Young Adults” would consider following family into the trades according to new Chadwicks Group Research* highlighting strong interest in trade careers and the importance of making apprenticeship pathways accessible to all young people Almost nine in ten (89%) young adults would consider joining a family business and 93% would feel proud to continue it, according to new research from Chadwicks Group. The research, conducted among 200 young adults aged 16 to 24 and 150 tradespeople, highlights the important role family connections continue to play in introducing the next generation to careers in the trades, while revealing a need to make apprenticeship pathways clearer and more accessible to young people regardless of their family background. The findings suggest family members can play an important role in giving young people early exposure to skilled careers. More than two-thirds (68%) of young adults surveyed have a family member who currently work or previously worked in a trade. Over half (58%) have spent time on a building site or in a trade-related workplace through a family connection, while 47% have been offered the opportunity to learn trade skills informally through a relative. For young adults, the biggest perceived benefit of working in a family business is job security and stability, cited by 39%, while tradespeople are most likely to value the trust that comes with working alongside family (49%). However, the research also highlights the importance of ensuring young people can explore careers in the trades regardless of whether they have an existing family connection to the industry. More than eight in ten (81%) young adults believe apprenticeships are easier to access for those who already have family working in the trades. While there is an awareness of apprenticeships among young people, there is an opportunity to provide greater clarity around how to take the first step. More than two in five (43%) say they are aware of apprenticeships but don't know where to begin, while only a quarter (26%) know how to apply for one. Commenting on the findings, Patrick Atkinson, CEO, Chadwicks Group, said: “It is encouraging to see so many young people interested in following family members into the trades. The construction industry offers highly skilled and rewarding careers, and apprenticeships provide an important pathway to gain practical experience and develop those skills.”

September/October 2026

Patrick Atkinson, CEO, Chadwicks Group.

“Family connections can be a valuable introduction to the industry, and we want to ensure that all young people can explore the opportunities available to them. Apprenticeships offer an accessible and attractive route into a rewarding career, which is why initiatives such as our TU Dublin scholarship programme and support for the Apprenticeship Excellence Awards are so important.” As part of an ongoing partnership, Chadwicks Group has invested €250,000 in Ireland’s first Design + Construct Centre and supports a scholarship programme with TU Dublin. It also sponsors the Apprenticeship Excellence Awards at the university’s School of Architecture, Building and Environment. Together, these initiatives reflect Chadwicks Group’s continued commitment to supporting education apprenticeships and pathways into careers in the construction industry. *Refers to 3Gem research commissioned by Chadwicks Group in January 2026 of 200 young adults aged 16 to 24 and 150 tradespeople.

Classroom Training Venue: Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm

HAI AUTUMN 13 TRAINING 2026

OCTOBER

Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) is delighted with the strong start to its Autumn 2026 Training Programme, with our Selling Skills for B2B Suppliers, Profit Maximisation, and Leadership & Communication Skills workshops all very well attended and positively received. Our programme continues with practical, industry-specific training for hardware retailers, builders’ merchants, suppliers and agri-retailers, including our popular classroom workshops in Portlaoise and Virtual Marketing Series, offering further opportunities to develop skills and strengthen teams.

15 OCTOBER

Stock Control Duration: 1 Day Learn practical techniques to improve stock accuracy, reduce unnecessary costs and ensure the right products are purchased in the right quantities to improve profitability.

HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €325

Merchandising Duration: 1 Day Discover proven visual merchandising techniques that improve product presentation, enhance the customer shopping experience and encourage increased sales.

HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €325

3 NOVEMBER

Customer Service Excellence Duration: 1 Day Equip your team with the skills and confidence to consistently deliver outstanding customer service, build customer loyalty and encourage repeat business.

HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €325

New

VIRTUAL MARKETING SERIES

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HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100

20TH 20TH 20TH OCTOBER OCTOBER OCTOBER

Individual workshops can be booked Individual workshops cancan be booked separately or as a complete Individual workshops beseries. booked separately or as a complete series. separately or as a complete series.

Learn how tosocial create engaging content, the right media platforms and choose usechoose social Learn how to create engaging content, themedia right social media platforms and use social effectively to increase awareness, the right social media platforms and use social media effectively to increase awareness, generate enquries and drive sales. media effectively to increase awareness, generate enquries and drive sales. generate enquries and drive sales.

HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100

Duration: 90 Minutes per Duration: 90 90 Minutes perper Workshop (9.30am-11am) Duration: Minutes Workshop (9.30am-11am) Workshop (9.30am-11am) Designed specifically for hardware retailers, Designed specifically for hardware retailers, builders’ merchants and these Designed specifically forsuppliers, hardware retailers, builders’ merchants and suppliers, these practical workshops provide these builders’ online merchants and suppliers, practical online workshops provide immediately applicable marketing skills that practical online workshops provide immediately applicable marketing skills thatthat can be implemented straight away.skills immediately applicable marketing cancan be implemented straight away. be implemented straight away.

Social Media for the Hardware Sector Social Media forfor thethe Hardware Sector Social Media Hardware Learn how to create engaging content, Sector choose

Email Marketing for the Hardware Sector Email Marketing forfor thethe Hardware Sector Email Marketing Hardware Sector

21ST 21ST 21ST OCTOBER OCTOBER OCTOBER

Learn the fundamentals of effective email Learn the the fundamentals of effective email marketing, including building mailing lists, creating Learn fundamentals of effective email marketing, including building mailing lists, creating targeted campaigns, promoting seasonal offers marketing, including building mailing lists, creating targeted campaigns, promoting seasonal offers and measuring campaign performance. targeted campaigns, promoting seasonal offers andand measuring campaign performance. measuring campaign performance. HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100

Video Marketing for the Hardware Sector Video Marketing forfor thethe Hardware Sector Video Marketing Hardware Sector Create professional-quality promotional videos

professional-quality videos using Canva. Learn how promotional to produce engaging 22ND Create Create professional-quality promotional videos using Canva. Learn how to produce engaging 22ND content showcasing products, demonstrations, using Canva. Learn how to produce engaging 22ND content showcasing products, demonstrations, OCTOBER seasonal campaigns and practical advice OCTOBER content showcasing products, demonstrations, OCTOBER seasonal campaigns and practical advice for customers. seasonal campaigns and practical advice for customers. for customers. HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100 HAI Member: €75 - Non-Member: €100

Attend all four virtual workshops at a discounted rate: Attend all four virtual workshops at aatdiscounted rate: Attend all four virtual workshops a discounted rate:

HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €375 HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €375 HAI Member: €275 - Non-Member: €375

PLACES ARE LIMITED AND EARLY PLACES ARE LIMITED AND EARLY PLACES ARE LIMITED AND EARLY BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED. BOOKING BOOKINGISISRECOMMENDED. RECOMMENDED. For bookings or further information contact ForFor bookings or or further information contact bookings further information contact aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 298 0969. aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 298 0969. aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 298 0969.

Innovative Store Design

Is your store layout working hard enough? How a better layout can make your store easier to shop and operate. A good hardware store layout should do more than fit products into the available space. It should make the customer journey feel natural, helping people understand where to go, what to explore and where to find help. In our previous article, we looked at how store design influences customer behaviour. In this issue, we’re looking at how that behaviour should shape the floor plan itself. At Rigney Forge, we start every layout from the customer’s point of view. From a bird’s-eye view, we map how people enter, move between departments and reach key destinations. The goal is simple: create a store that feels intuitive to navigate, even before the signage goes up. Start With the Journey, Not the Shelving Every building is different. We've worked with long, narrow stores, large open-plan spaces and awkward smaller spaces, so there’s no single layout that works for every hardware store. So, the goal when planning a layout is to make it logical for your customer. Most stores benefit from a clear main circulation route, sometimes called a racetrack, that helps customers move easily between departments. From this route, they should be able to understand where they are, identify key destinations and know where to go next. The example floor plan here shows this clearly. The main customer route is highlighted in red, linking the retail and trade entrances with key departments and the Garden Centre. Related categories sit naturally together, while focal points such as the Trade Counter and Paint Mixing Counter create recognisable destinations along the journey. Clear sightlines, uncluttered aisles and avoiding dead ends are just as important. Signage helps, but ask yourself: if you removed every sign tomorrow, would the layout still make sense? The products, departments and physical environment should already be doing much of the navigation work.

Store layout at a glance: Main customer route in red, connecting key focal points and adjacent departments.

Think of Your Store as a Small Town One way we often think about store planning is to imagine the shop as a small town. Your main circulation route is the main street, while departments become different neighbourhoods. Within those neighbourhoods are individual bays, displays and branded areas, each with their own role. But every good town also has landmarks. It might be a church steeple, town hall or well-known pub, something distinctive that helps you understand where you are. We often navigate places using these reference points without even realising it. A hardware store should have them too. A customer service desk, trade counter, feature display or distinctive branded area can become a landmark within the store. These features break up what might otherwise become a sea of shelving and give customers recognisable points of reference as they move around. Ideally, these focal points should also be functional. A highly visible customer service desk, for example, creates a visual landmark while telling customers where they can find help. A customer shouldn’t need a map to understand your store, but your store should have the logic of one.

September/October 2026

Innovative Store Design

Create Neighbourhoods That Make Sense One of the most common layout issues we see is departments that have gradually ended up in the wrong place. When planning a store, we look closely at adjacencies, making sure departments and products that naturally belong together are positioned together.

Some stores can accommodate separate trade and retail entrances, as illustrated in the floor plan. Where everyone enters through the same door, the layout can still create different journeys. A visible trade counter might provide a direct destination for one customer, while another route leads towards more inspirational retail departments.

Paint and decorating have an obvious relationship, as do bathrooms, tiles and plumbing. Workwear can sit naturally within a wider trade offer. Rather than asking, “Where can we fit this range?”, ask, “What is this customer likely to need next?”

The objective isn’t to force every customer around the entire store. It’s to understand the journeys they want to make and create relevant opportunities along the way. A Better Layout Works for Your Team Too Good layout planning doesn’t only benefit customers. It creates a clearer structure for the people running the store. When departments have defined boundaries and products have a logical home, merchandising becomes easier to manage. Main walkways stay clear, displays become more intentional, and staff have a shared understanding of where ranges belong. Ultimately, a successful layout isn’t about filling every available metre with product. It’s about creating a store where departments work together, routes are clear, and customers instinctively understand where to go next.

A visual cue: Footwear leads customers naturally into Workwear and Clothing.

Merchandising can then help customers recognise these areas. At Atkins Farm & Garden Store in Bandon, the footwear display creates a strong focal point leading into the Workwear and Clothing Department. Before customers read a sign, the product itself provides a visual cue to what lies ahead. A well-positioned display can sell product, create interest and help customers navigate at the same time. Ideally, customers should be able to sense where one department ends, and another begins without relying entirely on signage. Different Customers Need Different Journeys Not every customer enters a hardware store with the same mission, and the layout should recognise that. A builder may want to reach the trade counter quickly, collect what they need and get back to work. Someone shopping for workwear may want to browse, compare products and try something on. A DIY customer planning a renovation may need inspiration, advice and time to explore several related departments.

September/October 2026

When the layout feels natural, the customer shouldn’t have to think about it at all. That makes the store easier to shop, easier to operate and ultimately more effective.

Peter Rigney is Founder and Creative Director of Rigney Forge, a retail design studio based in Co. Westmeath. With experience across hardware, grocery, garden centres and hospitality, Peter and his team specialise in creating highperforming retail environments that combine commercial strategy with strong brand identity. Rigney Forge works with independent and multi-site retailers across Ireland, helping businesses modernise and strengthen their instore experience through structured, insight-led design. Peter can be contacted at Peter@rigneyforge.ie or visit www.rigneyforge.ie for more information.

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C O R P O R AT E PA R T N E R

CASH MANAGEMENT Brink’s Cash Services Customer Services 0818 111 330 nationalservicecentre@brinks.com www.brinks.com

GenetiQ Software Mark Gurney 042 933 1742 mark.gurney@genetiqsoftware.com www.genetiqsoftware.com

GLORY Ireland David O’Meara 086 383 0650 David.OMeara@ie.glory-global.com www.glory-global.com

.ie Seán Tobin 01 236 5400 stobin@weare.ie www.weare.ie

CREDIT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Credit Risk Brokers James Riordan 01 491 6007 james.riordan@creditriskbrokers.com www.creditriskbrokers.com PKF Brenson Lawlor Ian Lawlor 01 668 9760 ian@pkfbl.ie www.pkfbrensonlawlor.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

Klipboard 01 5457100 hello@klipboard.com www.klipboard.com Magico Paul Montwill 065 6864580 pmontwill@magico.com www.magico.com Premio eCommerce Michael Morrissey 021 245 5022 michael.morrissey@premio.ie www.premio.ie StudioForty9 Gerard Keohane 021 239 2349 ger@studioforty9.com www.studioforty9.com Turbo Inventory Catherine Lockhart 01 204 8300 clockhart@bigredbook.com www.turboinventory.com

September/October 2026

HAI Corporate Partners

ELECTRONIC SHELF LABELS DIGI Katie Kirwan 01 295 4844 katie@digi.ie www.digi.ie

ENERGY MANAGEMENT DCS Group Caroline Sugrue 066 7181836 carolinesugrue@dcsgroup.eu www.dcsgroup.eu Pinergy Michelle McKenna 087 383 7301 michelle@pinergy.ie www.pinergy.ie

INSURANCE Margin Investments Ltd t/a NFP Kevin Whelan 01 6672644 kevin.whelan@nfpireland.ie www.nfpireland.ie

LOGISTICS Dachser Ireland Melissa Barr 01 401 3333 melissa.barr@dachser.com www.dachser.ie Woodland Group Lee McMullen / Shauna Dunne 01 8111500 lee.mcmullen@woodlandgroup.com shauna.dunne@woodlandgroup.com www.woodlandgroup.com

FIELD SALES & MARKETING MATERIALS HANDLING 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

Clearlift David McCullough 01 5267 411 sales@clearlift.ie www.clearlift.ie Combilift Anthony Rooney 047 80500 anthony.rooney@combilift.com www.combilift.com

HR SUPPORT Peninsula Business Services (Ireland) Limited Michael Gombart 1800 719 215 michael.gombart@peninsula-ie.com www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/ie TSA Consultants Tommy Smyth 021 4634154 tommy@tsaconsultants.ie www.tsaconsultants.ie

September/October 2026

Henley Forklift Group Ltd Mark Kenny 01 6209200 sales@henley.ie www.henley.ie

PAYMENT SERVICES Elavon Merchant Services Peter Cooke 0818 202 120 peter.cooke@elavon.com www.elavon.com

HAI Corporate Partners

Fexco International Payments Ian Craddock 087 9094392 icraddock@fexco.com www.fexco.com

RECRUITMENT Tactical Talent Vinny Kelly 01 9079192 info@tacticaltalent.ie www.tacticaltalent.ie

SECURITY SYSTEMS CSC Covert Security Consultants Declan Cassin 0818 273274 info@cscsecurity.ie www.cscsecurity.ie SeaChange Eamonn Condell 045 856028 / 085 2524679 Eamonn.condell@seachange-intl.com www.seachange-intl.com Securitas Technology Ireland Denise McCarthy 086 1916327 denise.mccarthy@securitas.com www.securitastechnology.com/ire

SHOPFITTERS/RACKING SYSTEMS OHRA Racking Solutions Seamus Coyle + 44 28 8224 7858 coyle@ohra.de www.ohra.ie Shop Equipment Ltd. Padraig Downey 087 8135242 Padraig_downey@sel.ie www.shopequipment.ie Storefit Shopfitters Limited Eamonn Brien 021 4344544 eamonn.brien@storefit.com www.storefit.com Store 2000 Paul Bennett 087 2332402 Paul@store2000.ie www.store2000.ie

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SALES & INSTALLATIONS 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.

– Preferential rates and early access to event sponsorship and networking opportunities – A preferential rate for exhibitor space at The Hardware Show

Hardware Association Ireland will help you to promote your company to all key decision makers in the sector with;

– Positioning your company as a solution-provider for the hardware, building materials and DIY sectors

– 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 Pages in each issue of The Hardware Journal – A preferential member rate for advertising in The Hardware Journal, plus three free classified advertisements

– Access to all the latest industry news via regular emails & updates.

Want to find out more? Contact us today to become a HAI Corporate Partner info@hardwareassociation.ie or phone 01 2980969

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

BUILDING TOMORROW

Building Materials & Supplies

Dulux Trade reveals Colour of the Year 2027: Soulful Sage™ Every building should be designed with people in mind. That's the foundational principle behind Dulux Trade ColourFuturesTM, the annual international trend forecast that translates colour experts’ global insights into palettes for the built environment. This year's forecast found people feeling weighed down by world events and overwhelmed by digital overload. The answer is interiors and exteriors that lighten hearts, brighten souls and lift spirits, using colour to counteract the sense of institutional heaviness in the spaces we share. Enter Soulful Sage™, Dulux Trade's Colour of the Year 2027. A silvery, soft green, it sits between the vividly verdant and the subtly pastel: rich but understated, and associated with wisdom, healing, clarity and inspiration. It's a versatile mid-tone, equally at home in traditional or modern settings, that can read as warm, cleansing or inspiring depending on how and where it's used. Three supporting Colour Stories To help turn this year's Colour of the Year into ready-made inspiration, Dulux Trade has developed three colour stories built around Soulful Sage™: Glow, Light

and Lift. Each draws on complementary tones from the sage family, giving you maximum flexibility while maintaining a consistent thread throughout a project. The palettes lean towards light tones overall, with stronger accent shades adding definition and identity where needed. Tailored for every sector Soulful Sage™ and its three supporting colour stories have been developed with five key sectors in mind: Education Research shows that engaging students starts with design that stimulates the senses. Joyful, uplifting colour helps create inspiring learning spaces. Offices With staff retention high on the agenda, organisations are turning to sensory design to create workspaces that look and feel good for the people who use them. Hospitality Hotels, libraries, galleries and restaurants thrive on real experience and human connection. A warm familiar palette helps create a light, welcoming feel.

Healthcare Providers are prioritising healing architecture, using colour and design that support wellbeing rather than focusing solely on function. Residential Clay, terracotta and stone-inspired tones add warmth and authenticity to the home, helping people feel grounded and connected. Whichever sector you're designing for, Soulful Sage™ and its supporting colour stories provide a starting point for human-centric interiors and exteriors that feel fresh and contemporary. Get the full picture Soulful Sage™ is just the starting point. The Dulux Trade ColourFutures™ 2027 colour guide reveals the thinking behind the hero colour and supporting Colour Stories, and offers sector-specific guidance to help you apply them with confidence. Download the Dulux Trade ColourFutures™ 2027 guide to inspire your next project.

Discover Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2027 - Soulful Sage™ Getting a FREE specification is easy when you work with Dulux Trade The Dulux Trade Ireland portfolio has a broad offering of high-performance products, which address the Irish construction industry needs for low VOC and sustainable solutions ensuring award winning finishes to projects across Ireland. Dulux are the leading innovator in this space with a dedicated Trade and Specification resource, collaborating closely with Architects and Construction companies to deliver sustainable and bespoke solutions for client projects along with delivering CPD’s on relevant industry standards through our Dublin-based Academy. For all queries on Colour and Products for your projects, please contact duluxtradespecirl@akzonobel.com 44

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

Tradespeople keep reaching for hybrid adhesives & sealants The days of selling five different tubes to do one job are numbered. Trades want one product that just works and that’s exactly why hybrid adhesives and sealants are flying off shelves. They’re fast, strong, versatile, and easy to recommend. No confusion. Just results.

Merchants See It Too Hardware Retailers & Builders Merchants are seeing hybrid adhesives and sealants outperform traditional products. According to GFK, the category has doubled in size since 2019, making it the fastest-growing segment in the market. Trades ask for them because they trust them. OB1® – Making Its Mark OB1® Multi-Surface Construction Sealant & Adhesive is now one of the fastest-growing hybrids in Ireland and the UK. It’s built for versatility and performance: – Bonds to almost anything, even underwater – Suitable for lead, PVC, glass, mirrors, fibreglass and timber – No odour, shrinkage or cracking – Paintable and food-safe – Resistant to UV, fungi and bacteria – Performs from -40°C to +120°C

What’s the Big Advantage with Hybrids? Hybrids bring together the best of silicones, acrylics, polyurethanes and epoxies in one reliable solution. They stick, seal, flex and last. From bathrooms to roofs, windows to floors, they cover more jobs with less hassle, a clear win for busy trades. Built for Real-World Jobs Trades need something that performs first time, every time. Hybrids deliver: – Serious grab – Long-term flexibility – Durability in harsh conditions – Resistance to weather, chemicals and movement. The result is fewer call-backs, less stress, and better results on site. Hybrids have now gone from a “nice to have” to essential kit. They perform in heat, cold and damp, stay flexible for movement joints, resist UV and weather, and save time by reducing the number of products needed. They’re also cleaner to use, cutting down on mess and waste.

OB1 Expands the Range with Heavy-Duty Cleaning Wipes No job ends when the adhesive goes down, and OB1 is addressing that final step too. The introduction of OB1 Heavy-Duty Cleaning Wipes expands the range into clean-up, offering a practical solution for everyday site conditions. Designed for tough environments, the wipes cut through sealants, paints, oils, grease and grime with ease. They’re suitable for hands, tools and a wide range of surfaces, making them a versatile addition to any van or toolkit. Key Features Include: – Powerful cleaning action for stubborn residues – Removes wet paint, sealants, oils, grease and bitumen – Multi-use across hands, tools and surfaces – Strong, durable material that holds up during use – 100% biodegradable, without compromising performance The benefit is straightforward: faster clean-up, less downtime, and a more professional finish. Find out more at www.ob1original.com.

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

Saint-Gobain showcases innovation & integrated solutions at Future Foundations event Future Foundations, Saint-Gobain Ireland’s flagship customer engagement event, brought together industry professionals, partners, customers and stakeholders to explore the innovations, expertise and integrated solutions shaping the future of construction in Ireland. The event highlighted how Saint-Gobain’s portfolio of market-leading brands is helping address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, including sustainability, building performance, productivity and resilience. Along with Gyproc, celebrating 90 years of manufacturing and innovation in Ireland, Future Foundations demonstrated the strength of Saint-Gobain’s unique position in the market. By bringing together brands including Gyproc, Isover, Weber, K Rend, K Systems, Ecophon, Vetrotech, Kilwaughter and Saint-Gobain Glass, the event showcased how customers can access a wide range of complementary products, systems and technical expertise through a single trusted partner.

Evan O'Keeffe, Head of Integrated Solutions.

Innovation was a key focus at Future Foundations, with Saint-Gobain brands showcasing solutions that address both sustainability and productivity challenges. Isover highlighted its new Lanaé insulation, combining high-performance thermal and acoustic properties with a bio-sourced binder, while Gyproc demonstrated innovative jointing and spray plaster technologies designed to improve on-site efficiency, quality and consistency. Together, these developments reflect Saint-Gobain’s commitment to helping customers build more sustainably and work more effectively.

At the podium Barry Hennessy, Commercial Sector Director with Liz Ryan, Marketing & Customer Experience Director.

A key theme throughout the event was integration. Visitors experienced how Saint-Gobain is connecting products, technologies and services across the entire construction journey to deliver better outcomes for customers. From specification and design support to manufacturing and onsite solutions, attendees explored how coordinated systems can reduce complexity, improve performance and simplify project delivery. Initiatives such as InteWall, enabled by KOPE software, Facades and external Wall Insulation and retrofit applications, demonstrate how they bring together innovation and collaboration to solve practical construction challenges.

Jason Horrex Technical Academy Manager (far right).

(Continued on page 50).

September/October 2026

BUILT ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS.

BUILT TOGETHER. INNOVATION. PARTNERSHIP. PROGRESS.

THEN

NOW

CRAFT. HERITAGE. TRUST.

PERFORMANCE. PEOPLE. PARTNERSHIP.

INNOVATION. PROGRESS. FUTURE AMBITION.

www.gyproc.ie

Building Materials & Supplies

The event also highlighted Saint-Gobain’s continued investment in Irish manufacturing through the Kingscourt facility in Cavan. Attendees gained insight into the company’s local production capabilities, extensive warehousing infrastructure and commitment to reducing environmental impact through renewable energy, recycling initiatives and responsible resource management. Local sourcing, manufacturing resilience and supply chain security were key themes, reinforcing Saint-Gobain’s role as a long-term partner to the Irish construction industry.

Custom Cut demonstration.

Saint-Gobain Kingscourt Factory Tour.

Sustainability featured strongly throughout Future Foundations. Visitors learned about innovations such as Pallet LOOP, plasterboard recycling initiatives and the forthcoming Custom Cut service, all designed to reduce waste, improve efficiency and support circular construction practices. These investments demonstrate how Saint-Gobain is translating customer feedback into practical solutions that deliver both commercial and environmental benefits.

Speaking to the event’s central message of Innovation, Partnership and Progress, Future Foundations reinforced Saint-Gobain Ireland’s ambition to be the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction. By combining global research and development expertise with local manufacturing, trusted brands and technical support, the company continues to help customers design and deliver buildings that are more sustainable, efficient and future-ready. As Ireland’s construction sector continues to evolve, Saint-Gobain and its family of brands remain focused on building the next 90 years together with customers and partners across the industry. If you would like to find out more information on any of the brands, solutions or products mentioned in this article visit www.saint-gobain.ie

Ben de Freitas Head of Exterior Solutions. Dean O'Sullivan, CEO of Saint - Gobain UK & Ireland.

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

Making windows and doors airtight in retrofit The Hardware Journal has spoken to Joe Fitzgerald, PgDIP Eng, BSc, Energy Technical Manager at Ecological Building Systems about making windows and doors airtight in retrofit upgrades. When insulation is added to the walls of a property and windows or doors are upgraded to modern comfort standards, the overall performance can sometimes be let down by a lack of good-quality sealing between these elements. Permanently sealing unwanted gaps around windows and doors with the right airtightness products during a home retrofit helps stop unwanted draughts. These gaps can contribute to low surface temperatures, increasing the risk of mould. Simple taping can help lower heating bills by preventing warm air leakage and cool air infiltration, while also reducing outdoor noise and potential pollutants entering the home. Dedicated airtightness tapes differ from other types of tape in several important ways. Ecological Building System's Pro Clima airtight tapes, such as Vana and Contega Solido SL, use solid acrylic glue to ensure a permanent bond and are independently tested to provide an airtight seal between window frames and a range of substrates. They bond permanently to different surfaces and are designed to withstand humid conditions such as those we experience in our climate.

September/October 2026

Good-quality tapes that are fit for this purpose are also designed to remain flexible rather than becoming hard or brittle. This helps them cope with changes in temperature and unpredictable movement over time. It’s a common misconception that airtightness detailing such as this belongs only in the highest-performing, energy-efficient forms of new construction. On the contrary, it’s often the leakiest buildings – those struggling to stay warm in winter – that have the greatest potential for energy savings. To get the best performance from airtightness tape, it’s important to make sure it’s installed correctly. While some skill is certainly involved, with practice, good results can often be achieved by careful homeowners as well as skilled subcontractors. With expert supplier guidance and careful surface preparation, most building types can be improved through effective window and door draught-proofing using simple but suitable products. The Ecological Building Systems technical team is on hand to offer support whenever they can help. Contact the team at Ecological Building Systems today on +353 46 9432104, email info@ecologicalbuildingsystems.com or visit www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com.

Building Materials & Supplies

Unilin Insulation Discovery Hub - supporting professionals, teachers and students alike Unilin Insulation Discovery Hub was conceived to assist construction professionals in understanding the principles of specifying and achieving on-site, best practice, insulation standards for new dwellings, commercial envelope solutions and refurbishment projects. This support is targeted at construction and design professionals, as well as educators and their students. For the construction professional, Discovery Hub offers a host of webinars, CPD presentations and toolbox talks to ensure a greater understanding of best practice in construction. There are also online resources available on www.unilininsulation.ie such as BIM Models, CAD drawings and Accredited details. For teachers and their students, it offers detailed insights into the construction industry. Partnerships with schools and colleges offer students hands on learning opportunities to help them develop and focus their interest in the construction sector. Unilin are proud supporters of the Technoteachers Conference, www.technoteachers.ie, which they sponsor and exhibit at annually. Two Innovation Centres - in Ireland and the UK At the heart of the Discovery Hub offering are two modern state-of-the-art innovation centres, one in Navan at the company’s headquarters and the other in Chesterfield in the UK. These centres are a forum for face-to-face training and collaboration. They were specifically designed to forge partnerships through the sharing of knowledge with the aim of creating the best in construction, together. They offer practical training areas and visitors can benefit from honest, uncomplicated advice and see up close examples of best practice installation and compliance. Both centres feature interactive displays, cut away models and practical training areas. To plan a visit please contact Unilin on 046 9066050 or email tech.ui@unilin.com.

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

HAI hold their regional board meeting at Unilin Insulation headquarters in Navan Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) held its recent board meeting at the Unilin Insulation premises just outside Navan. The board of HAI were joined by members from surrounding counties for a presentation on the company’s strategy and future plans, followed by a tour of the very impressive Unilin Insulation Discovery Hub facilities and a networking lunch. On the day Martin Groome, Director of Sales & Marketing at Unilin Insulation gave a comprehensive overview of the company's ambition and business aspiration to “Be an Insulation Partner for the Construction Industry that delivers best-for-purpose solutions by being customer-centric”. This, Martin believes, involves Unilin Insulation transforming the company from a volume-driven player in a commodity environment into a customer-focused, value-adding business built on: – – –

Tailored innovative solutions Superior product quality Outstanding service levels

known for its Quick-Step floors. Unilin Group also produces roof panels, insulation panels and furniture panels. In 1960 several families from south-west Flanders who were active in the flax industry started producing flax chipboards. They called the company 'Unilin', short for 'Union de Lin'. In the 1970s & 1980s the company expanded to produce melamine boards, laminate floors & roofing elements. Unilin was acquired by Mohawk Industries, a global leader in flooring in 2005 and in 2016 they bought the well-known family business in Navan, Xtratherm. 2021 saw Ballytherm become part of wider group. Unilin Insulation now manufacture a range of PIR, Phenolic and EPS boards providing a range of solutions to meet current building regulations.They support their customers by offering training, technical and sales support. he Unilin Group has nine insulation manufacturing sites in T Europe - France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland and the UK - currently employing 490 employees.

Unilin was founded in the 1960s by about forty flax farmers. Since then, it has developed into a world player and is mainly

L to R Martin Groome, Director of Sales & Marketing at Unilin Insulation and Mark Magennis, Technical Manager, Maryanne Quigley, Board Member (HAI) & Purchasing Manager, Wallace's Homevalue Hardware, Tara Brennan, President Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) & Marketing & Development Director, Chadwicks, Martin Markey, CEO (HAI), Stephen O'Connor, Board Member (HAI) & Manager, Barretts of Maynooth Homevalue, Niall Fay, Vice President, (HAI) & General Manager/Director, Grant Engineering, Paul Candon, Immediate Past President (HAI) & CEO, United Hardware and Pat Moore, Board Member (HAI) & Managing Director of Brooks.

September/October 2026

Talk to Technical Our Technical Team here at Unilin Insulation provides unrivalled support with expertise built through over 40 years of engagement with the construction industry.

Eamonn Clarke Technical Manager - Ireland & UK Eamonn manages both the Product Development and the Technical Services team. A Building Services Engineer with a Masters in Energy Management, he has over 13 years’ experience and has led a number of product developments including our ECO360 Range.

External Specification Team

Raymond Madden Specification Manager South

Andrea Gormley Specification Manager Dublin

Francis Rilley Specification Manager North

Ray joined the Technical Team in 2014. He had specialised in DEAP and is a current energy assessor for the scheme in Ireland.

Andrea joined the Technical Specification Team in May and brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry.

Francis joined the Technical Team in 2017 as a Technical Advisor with a background in Construction Technology. He had specialised in SAP, DEAP, LCA’S and our roofing designs system.

Internal Technical Team

Mark Magennis Technical Services Manager Mark joined back in 2003 and leads the Technical Services Team for the UK and Ireland where he manages both technical support services and training.

Marc Walsh Product Management & Development Engineer

Paschal Gallagher Technical Advisor

Marc joined in 2017 and provides technical expertise in the form of thermal & hygrothermal assessments.

Paschal joined the team in 2007 where he provides technical support including U-Value calculations and condensation risk analysis to architects and customers across Ireland and the UK.

Fiona Prendergast Technical Advisor

Conor Sheppard Technical Advisor

Ian Geraghty Technical Advisor

Fiona joined Unilin Insulation in 2023 as a member of the Customer Service Department, acquiring extensive knowledge of Unilin Insulation’s diverse range of products and services before joining the Technical team later that same year.

Conor joined in 2020, with a background in MMC and has specialised in Tapered Insulation Roof designs including our XtraFall roofing system.

lan joined Unilin Insulation in 2018 as a General Operative, working in all areas of the factory. lan progressed to Machine Operative on the laminating line before joining the Technical Team in late 2023.

Contact the Technical Team t. +353 (0) 46 906 6050 e. tech.ui@unilin.com unilininsulation.ie

Building Materials & Supplies

The value of robust supply chains Availability and certainty of supply are critical for distributors, merchants and their customers. However, recent years have shown how vulnerable the Irish construction industry can be to global supply chain volatility. Products that depend on raw materials or manufacturing further afield are particularly exposed to disruption. They may also carry higher transport emissions at a time when embodied carbon is coming under greater scrutiny. So, what is the value of sourcing products manufactured closer to the Irish market? The Impact of Disruption Supply chain disruption can affect the availability and cost of both raw materials and finished building products. For merchants and distributors, this creates uncertainty over stock levels and pricing, making it harder to manage margins and provide customers with reliable lead times. For contractors, the consequences can include project delays and unplanned product substitutions. Spec-swapping may provide a short-term solution, but changing a product during construction can have wider implications. Substituting one type of insulation or block for another, for example, could alter the U-value of a wall or affect its acoustic and fire performance. Even where an alternative is technically suitable, installers may be less familiar with it. This can increase the risk of errors and make it harder to achieve the intended performance in practice. A reliable supply chain therefore supports consistency from specification through to installation. Some products are more vulnerable to disruption than others. Insulation manufactured using oil or oil-derived materials, such as rigid PIR boards, can be exposed to volatility in international energy and petrochemical markets. Products that travel through longer or more complicated supply chains also face more opportunities for delays.

Manufactured Closer to the Market Manufacturing closer to Ireland can help reduce this exposure. Shorter, more established supply routes make it easier to maintain availability and respond when demand changes. They can also give merchants greater confidence when planning stock and agreeing delivery times with customers. Knauf Insulation manufactures products for the Irish market at several plants in Britain. Glass mineral wool is produced at St Helens and Cwmbran, while rock mineral wool is manufactured at Queensferry in North Wales. This manufacturing network gives customers access to a broad range of insulation products without relying on supplies transported over long distances or through multiple international markets. Reducing Embodied Carbon For merchants and distributors, choosing products with lower embodied carbon is one way to address indirect Scope 3 emissions and support customers with their own sustainability commitments. Transport can be a significant part of this picture, particularly when bulky construction materials are moved over long distances. Sourcing closer to the market can therefore help reduce emissions as well as supply risk. However, distance is only one factor. The raw materials, manufacturing process, recycled content and energy source used by the manufacturer can all have a substantial effect. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool products, for example, contain up to 80% recycled content, primarily glass cullet. The company’s St Helens plant also uses 100% renewable electricity. Environmental Product Declarations can help merchants and specifiers assess these impacts. Independently verified, product-specific EPDs provide standardised information that allows products to be compared on a consistent basis. Expanding Capacity For the Irish market, investment in capacity is crucial and provides confidence that the products needed to support new construction and renovation will be available. A robust supply chain protects merchants and their customers from disruption while helping the industry make progress on embodied carbon. In a volatile market, those practical and environmental benefits are becoming increasingly valuable. For more information visit www.knauf.com.

A reliable supply chain therefore supports consistency from specification through to installation.

September/October 2026

REDUCE THE NOISE. New OmniFit® Thermal and Sound Slab. Achieves the best possible Sound Absorption Class A for the same performance as traditional 45kg/m3 rock mineral wool. It’s non-combustible, easier to handle, and costs less too. Make the switch today.

knauf.com Contains AI-generated imagery

Build on us.

Building Materials & Supplies

Safer & more efficient material handling Multidirectional Forklifts for Long Loads Handling long and bulky materials such as timber panels or pipes presents unique challenges. Multidirectional forklifts, including the C-Series and CB range, are designed to address these demands. These models can travel sideways, allowing operators to manoeuvre long loads through narrow aisles and doorways, and around corners without the need for overhead carrying. This reduces the risk of accidents and product damage while improving workflow efficiency. Additionally, this allows for much better and cost-effective use of all available space, and results in an all-round safer working environment. Their low centre of gravity further enhances stability by keeping loads close to the ground during transport. Additionally, the C-Series features an integrated platform, providing a secure resting point for loads and improving overall handling safety. Handling building materials and bulky DIY products of various shapes, sizes and weights including pipes, timber, and palletised goods can present several challenges for traditional forklifts. For builders’ merchants, where space is often at a premium and forklifts operate alongside employees, customers and delivery vehicles, safe and efficient material handling is essential. Choosing the right equipment for each application can help businesses make better use of available storage space, streamline loading and unloading, improve turnaround times and support safer operations across their facilities. Traditional forklifts often struggle to handle long, bulky loads. Wide turning circles limit their manoeuvrability, leading to lost time and inefficient space utilisation. When navigating tight corners or narrow aisles, operators may need to make additional manoeuvres to position the load, increasing the potential for collisions or damage to products and racking. Additionally, the space required to manoeuvre conventional forklifts can also affect storage capacity. In a merchant yard or busy warehouse where every square metre is valuable, space allocated to wide turning areas could potentially be used for additional stock. These challenges highlight the importance of selecting material handling equipment that improves efficiency and space utilisation while prioritising operator and site safety. Cost, productivity and sustainability all have a role to play, but safety should remain a fundamental consideration. A Safety-First Design Philosophy At Combilift, safety is embedded at every stage of product development. The company’s design philosophy focuses on delivering solutions that improve space utilisation and productivity while helping to reduce operational risks. With nearly three decades of industry experience, Combilift continues to invest 7% of its annual revenue in R&D, developing equipment for applications where conventional handling solutions may not be suitable.

Enhanced Visibility for Safer Operation Clear visibility is critical in busy yards and warehouses. Operators must maintain a constant line of sight to the load, forks, and surrounding environment to ensure the safety of nearby personnel. The elevated cab position on C-Series models, combined with expansive glazing, ensures that even when transporting large loads, the operator’s view remains unobstructed. Pedestrian Range: Innovative Tiller Arm In many applications, especially where forklifts operate close to pedestrians, pedestrian-operated trucks can support safer working conditions by operating at lower speeds and keeping operators closer to both the load and the surrounding environment, helping them maintain further awareness, greater visibility and react to conditions around them. Combilift’s pedestrian range incorporates a unique patented tiller arm that significantly improves safety in narrow aisles. At the touch of a button, the tiller arm can rotate left or right, allowing the rear wheel to pivot parallel to the chassis. This enables operators to work from the side of the truck rather than the rear and out of the crush zone, reducing the risk of becoming trapped between the machine and racking. It also ensures clear visibility of both the load and surrounding workspace at all times. Maximising Space, Efficiency and Safety With land becoming increasingly expensive, maximising available capacity while maintaining safe and efficient handling is increasingly important for builders’ merchants. Selecting equipment according to the loads, layout and operating environment can help businesses optimise their existing footprint while improving material flow and supporting safer working practices. To find out how Combilift’s range can improve the safety of your material handling operations, visit www.combilift.com or email info@combilift.com today. September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

KORE expands sustainable building range with MULTITHERM 140 wood fibre KORE has expanded its sustainable building product range with the addition of MULTITHERM 140, a high-performance wood fibre insulation board designed for roofs, walls and interior applications. The product provides builders, contractors and specifiers with a versatile natural insulation solution that combines thermal efficiency, breathability and sustainability. As demand for sustainable construction and retrofit solutions continues to grow across Ireland, KORE's introduction of MULTITHERM 140 strengthens its commitment to energy-efficient, healthy buildings. Suitable for deep retrofit projects, timber frame construction and low-energy new builds, the product offers flexibility across a wide range of applications. Manufactured from natural wood fibres, MULTITHERM 140 delivers a thermal conductivity of 0.040 W/mK and is available in multiple thicknesses, making it suitable for achieving demanding thermal performance targets. Its density of 140 kg/m³ provides structural stability while contributing to excellent year-round comfort. Unlike lightweight insulation materials, wood fibre insulation has a high

heat storage capacity, helping reduce summer overheating and maintain more stable indoor temperatures. A key benefit of MULTITHERM 140 is its ability to support breathable construction. Its vapour-open properties allow moisture to move through building assemblies, helping structures dry naturally and reducing condensation risks. This makes it particularly suitable for timber frame buildings, traditional properties and retrofit projects where moisture management is critical. The board also offers strong mechanical performance, with compressive strength of at least 100 kPa, providing durability in demanding roof, wall and façade applications. By adding MULTITHERM 140 to its product portfolio, KORE is providing Irish construction professionals with access to a renewable insulation solution that supports lower-carbon construction while delivering high thermal performance, moisture control and occupant comfort. Available directly from KORE, enquire today - www.kore-system.com 0494336998.

HIGH-DENSITY, BREATHABLE WOOD FIBRE INSULATION FOR ROOF, WALL & TIMBER FRAME SYSTEMS KORE WOODFIBRE Multitherm 140 is a high-density wood fibre insulation board engineered for roofs, walls, ceilings and timber-frame applications. It combines thermal insulation, moisture management and thermal mass in a single breathable board, designed for both new-build, low-energy construction and traditional building retrofit projects.

Key Application Areas: Roofs: Over-rafter and sarking insulation, under-roof insulation, roof refurbishment projects.

Walls: Compatible with masonry, concrete, timber, and light-gauge steel frameworks.

Floors & Ceilings: Suspended ceilings, ceiling insulation, insulation below screeds.

Why Choose KORE WOODFIBRE Multitherm 140? BREATHABLE & VAPOUR-OPEN

Water vapour resistance μ = 3 allows moisture to diffuse freely through the structure, ideal for retrofit and traditional builds.

EXCELLENT SUMMER COMFORT

High density and heat capacity (2,100 J/kgK) provide thermal mass that reduces overheating in warm weather.

ROBUST & PRESSURE-RESISTANT

≥100 kPa compressive strength gives excellent durability, handling performance and load spread.

KORE Insulation The Green, Kilnaleck, Cavan, Ireland

September/October 2026

www.kore-system.com info@koresystem.com | +353 49 433 6998

Building Materials & Supplies

In conversation: Wavin's commitment to Ireland market is invaluable to us. In turn, they look to Wavin for reliable products, technical expertise and solutions they can confidently recommend to their customers. What trends are shaping the construction market at the moment, and how are they influencing what customers need from Wavin? Time, labour and cost pressures are influencing product choice. Contractors want solutions that are quick to install, lighter to handle, easier to transport and reduce complexity on site. Newly appointed UK and Ireland Commercial Director, Maxine Cornelius with Wavin Ireland Sales Director, Declan Conlon.

Introduction Wavin has been part of Ireland’s construction landscape since 1958, working closely with builders’ merchants across the country. Over that time, Ireland has changed enormously, with a growing population placing increasing demands on infrastructure. Builders’ merchants have a unique on-the-ground view of what is happening across the construction sector, and Wavin has built long-standing relationships with the trade. The Hardware Journal spoke to Wavin Ireland Sales Director Declan Conlon and newly appointed UK and Ireland Commercial Director Maxine Cornelius about the market, Wavin’s commitment to Ireland and how its relationship with merchants is evolving. Declan, what stands out to you about the merchant businesses Wavin works with? Wavin only sells through builders’ merchants, so those relationships are fundamental to our business. What really stands out is the professionalism of the sector and the level of investment merchants continue to make in their businesses - from their branches and teams to digital systems and customer service. They are constantly evolving to meet the standards their customers expect. Many are long-standing partners and their on-the-ground understanding of the

Products like the Wavin Access Junction (WAJ), Wavin Sewer and NG AquaCell, show how good design can help installers work more efficiently. Strong technical support, clear product information and robust guarantees provide added reassurance. Sustainability is also increasingly important. Wavin invested early in Environmental Product Declarations across its portfolio and continues to review areas such as packaging and product efficiency. Maxine, where does Ireland sit within the wider European market and what do you see as the opportunities for the brand here? Ireland is an important market for Wavin. The Government’s ambition to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030, supported by €9 billion in capital funding, creates significant opportunity across housing, infrastructure and water management. There is also an opportunity to help customers stay ahead of regulatory and sustainability changes. For example, Wavin has already moved its Tigris fittings to lead-free brass ahead of the new EU Drinking Water Directive requirements, while the Tigris MP range has transitioned to PERT multilayer pipe. Ireland benefits from the scale, expertise and innovation of a wider Global business, but our focus remains local - understanding what customers need and being ready to support the market as it grows.

Maxine, Wavin is continuing to invest in its Irish operation. What are the priorities for the business over the next few years? We are progressing plans for the next phase of our facilities in Ireland, including new offices and a visitor centre which are due to open in Q3 2027, followed by a new state-of the-art logistics centre. The use of new technology will be key; helping to further improve the customer experience and working environment for our team. Our priority is to continue delivering the service, product availability and expertise customers expect. In addition, being part of a global organisation gives us access to innovation in urban water management, including products like TreeTanks, Polder Green Roofs and AquaCell NG, helping address climate and rainfall challenges. Declan, as products and projects become more technical, how is the relationship between manufacturers and merchants evolving? Our role is to give merchant teams more than the product itself. It is to provide the knowledge and confidence to advise their customers, backed by strong technical support when required. This is where the Wavin team is particularly important. We have an experienced and knowledgeable team who understand both our products and the market, and who have built strong relationships with merchants over many years. They are accessible to branch staff and can support specifiers and installers when projects require more detailed technical input. Digital tools will continue to evolve, but that combination of expertise, personal relationships and being available when customers need us remains central to how we work. After almost 70 years in Ireland, Wavin continues to invest in its people, facilities and solutions, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Irish market and the customers it serves.

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

JP Corry Builders Merchants: Northern Ireland’s first fibo Collect JP Corry Builder’s Merchants has become the latest company across Ireland and UK to transform its operations with a fibo Collect system and the first in Northern Ireland. Where is it? JP Corry Builders Merchants, 648 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7EH. www.jpcorry.com. What is it? The fibo Collect is a small automated batching plant, with self-cleaning technology that allows customers to order small to large quantities of concrete, mortar, screed or render in 10 minutes or less. It is a comparable concept to the automatic coffee machine that are a familiar sight in service stations, except that it is for concrete, mortar, screed or render. Convenience for Customers For JP Corry’s customers the fibo Collect opens up a new level of convenience and

flexibility. Customers can collect small quantities of Concrete, Mortar, Screed and Render in less than 10 minutes. The consistency and quality of fibo Collect’s automated mixes mean contractors can pour immediately upon arrival, saving time on site while ensuring durability. Unique Selling Point for JP Corry The fibo Collect gives customers a new alternative service for concrete in the Belfast area and another reason for customers to choose JP Corry’s Springfield Road Branch. Customers could already collect most of the items that they need for any given job, at JP Corrys, and with the addition of the fibo Collect system, JP Corrys have become a true One Stop Shop. Customers understand the value of spending less time on the road collecting materials and more time on site doing value added work – JP Corrys fibo Collect system enables their customers to achieve this.

With the fibo Collect, JP Corrys are embracing the future of concrete production in Ireland and UK. Opportunity to Grow Sales of Complimentary Products The machine has been found to have a versatile range of end users due to its range of recipes, including contractors, builders, landscapers, utility companies, local councils, farmers, DIY’er etc. Many of these end users also need to collect additional items for the job at hand and it has been demonstrated that the installation of a fibo Collect system drives both increased footfall and also drives increased sales of many complimentary products. Contact Seán Walsh, Ireland Partner, Fibo Intercon at +353 87 6404298 or email sw@fibointercon.com or visit www.fibointercon.com for further information.

fibo Collect Self-service Concrete, Mortar & Screed

New Customers. Repeat Sales. Higher Margins. Get high-quality, documented concrete when you need it. Collect from just 0.25 m³ in less than 10 minutes – a cost-effective and time-saving solution for builders, contractors, utility companies, landscapers, agriculture and DIY. Upsell and cross-sell to boost basket size, lock in customer loyalty, and drive more repeat business – all while enjoying high margins, strong ROI, and minimal overhead. Make your site the local go-to in this exciting new market.

www.fibointercon.com DISCOWER NOW Get a visual tour of a fibo Collect

Contact fibo Collect Ireland for more details

Seán Walsh sw@fibointercon.com +353 87 640 4298

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

Velux launches their Standard Glass Rooflight for mainstream flat roof projects VELUX recently launched a new addition to their flat roof windows range. The new VELUX Standard Glass Rooflight expands the VELUX flat roof window portfolio, offering architects and specifiers a cost-effective glass rooflight solution for projects where daylight, aesthetics and performance are important, while budgets remain a key consideration. Positioned between traditional domes with glazing and premium glass rooflight solutions, it provides an attractive option for both new-build and refurbishment projects. Designed as the aesthetic successor to the polycarbonate dome, the Standard Glass Rooflight features a contemporary framed glass design that creates a cleaner roof appearance while allowing generous levels of natural daylight into the spaces below. Bringing daylight deeper into buildings can help create brighter, more comfortable interiors while reducing dependence on artificial lighting during daytime hours.

To support occupant comfort, the solution can be combined with blind systems to help manage daylight and solar gain when required. Together with the wider VELUX flat roof window portfolio, architects can select a solution that best matches project requirements, performance needs and budget considerations. Whether specified for a housing development, extension, educational building or commercial refurbishment project, the new VELUX Standard Glass Rooflight offers a practical balance of daylight performance, contemporary design and value. For technical specifications, size options and further project support, email architecture@velux.co.uk or visit the VELUX website. www.velux.ie/products/flat-roof-windows/standard-glassrooflight

Beyond its visual appeal, the rooflight has been engineered with durability and comfort in mind. The glass top design offers lasting clarity and is more resistant to algae and moss than traditional dome solutions, helping to maintain a clean appearance over time. Improved thermal performance also contributes to comfortable indoor environments throughout the year. The Standard Glass Rooflight is available in eight sizes, providing flexibility across residential, housing and light commercial projects. It is particularly relevant for refurbishment schemes where ageing dome rooflights are being replaced with a modern glass alternative that enhances both appearance and performance.

September/October 2026

Building Materials & Supplies

Pushing the boundaries with special lintels Steel lintels are a familiar product at the counter, providing essential support above masonry openings. But today, the opportunity extends beyond simply supplying a product. With the right support, merchants can help customers select the right solution, add value to projects and build confidence at the counter. Keystone Lintels offers both standard and special lintels, giving merchant partners a solution for a wide range of applications. Standard lintels provide an efficient, established option for conventional openings, while special lintels can accommodate more complex requirements, including arches, bays, corners and distinctive architectural details. Beyond the standard Special lintels can provide the flexibility needed where shape, dimensions, loading or architectural detailing fall outside a standard range. Importantly, however, the focus is not simply on special products. It is about giving merchants the confidence to identify the most appropriate solution for every project. That confidence is supported by Keystone’s technical expertise and its commitment to supporting merchants. Keystone is not simply a product manufacturer; it provides education, webinars, training and sales and marketing support to help counter teams understand the product range and identify opportunities to add value. Working together There is also scope for joint sales activity, with Keystone working alongside merchants to support projects and develop opportunities. This collaborative approach can help merchants strengthen their customer relationships while increasing the value of each sale.

A major part of this support is Keystone’s scheduling service. Merchants can send project drawings to Keystone for review. The team will quote for the products the merchant has identified, and will also examine the drawings for potential added-value opportunities. This could mean identifying additional lintel requirements, highlighting where a special lintel could provide a better solution, or spotting requirements that may otherwise have been missed. It gives merchants technical reassurance while helping ensure customers receive a solution. For merchants, the benefits are clear: greater confidence at the counter, stronger technical support and the opportunity to generate additional revenue by identifying solutions that add value. As building design continues to evolve, merchants have an opportunity to look beyond the immediate lintel requirement and understand the wider needs of a project. Where architectural features call for a bespoke solution, Keystone Lintels can provide the technical expertise and special lintel design support needed to turn that design intent into a practical solution. By combining a comprehensive product range with technical expertise, training, joint sales support and its scheduling service, Keystone Lintels helps merchant partners identify opportunities, add value and support their customers with confidence, from standard and special lintels through to KeyFab structural steel solutions. Visit www.keystonelintels.com/products/special-lintels for further information.

September/October 2026

THE CEMENT YOU TRUST

Same great cement now available in both the reliable paper bag and new plastic bag. www.irishcement.ie

Steve Collinge

Why doing nothing is now the riskiest strategy of all For years, one of the safest strategies in Builders’ Merchanting was to do nothing. If the branch was profitable, sales were growing, the yard was busy and customers kept coming back, why change anything? Why invest significant sums in technology, disrupt processes that work perfectly well or risk alienating loyal customers who liked things the way they were? It was a perfectly reasonable approach. However, the world around Home Improvement Retailers and Builders Merchants is now changing considerably faster than the branches themselves. Customer expectations are shifting, a new generation of tradespeople have entered the industry, technology is developing at extraordinary speed, and convenience has established itself as a fundamental part of any commercial strategy. Throw Artificial Intelligence and Agentic Commerce into the mix and the pace of change will only accelerate. Against that backdrop, standing still is no longer the safe option it once appeared to be. Increasingly, doing nothing is a strategy in itself and potentially the riskiest one of them all. Forced, Chosen or Inspired There is a simple way of thinking about organisational change that I’ve always liked. Businesses generally change for one of three core reasons. They are forced to change, they choose to change, or they are inspired to change because they see a better way. The first is by far the most uncomfortable. When a business is forced to change, the warning lights have usually been flashing for some time. Sales have fallen, customer numbers have declined, margins have deteriorated or a competitor has changed the local market. At that point, change is no longer strategic, it becomes necessary.

Choice is very different; it means recognising that the world around you is changing while your business is still performing well and having the confidence to act before you need to. Then there is inspiration. Seeing what Screwfix has done with convenience, Uber with visibility, supermarkets with Click & Collect or what AI is beginning to do with customer service and asking: Could we do that? The smartest businesses rarely wait until they are forced to change; in fact, the best time to change a business is probably when you don’t have to. The Danger of Being Comfortably Successful Poorly performing businesses generally know they have a problem, as declining sales, margin and customer numbers tend to focus the mind. The potentially more dangerous position is being comfortably successful. The branch is profitable, customers continue to arrive and relationships remain strong. There’s no obvious burning platform and therefore little urgency to change. But the P&L tells you what happened last year, it doesn’t necessarily tell you what your customers will expect tomorrow. September/October 2026

Steve Collinge

Customer behaviour often changes long before the financial impact becomes visible. By the time declining sales appear on the management report, customers may already have established new habits elsewhere.

And perhaps most importantly, what does gradually becoming less relevant to the next generation of trade customers cost? Those numbers rarely feature on a spreadsheet, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

A successful retailer or Builders Merchant has the time and resources to experiment, test new ideas and introduce change gradually, whereas a struggling business has considerably fewer options.

Evolution, Not Revolution None of this means ripping everything up and starting again. The better approach in this world of constant change is continuous improvement, focusing on areas of friction and removing them one step at a time.

Convenience Has Changed the Benchmark I’ve written previously in The Hardware Journal about convenience becoming the latest battleground for merchants, and I remain convinced this is one of the biggest changes taking place in our sector. The tradesperson’s most valuable commodity is increasingly not cash, but time. Every unnecessary journey, unavailable product, queue at the counter, inaccurate delivery window, incorrect delivery or complicated payment process wastes something they can never get back. Trade customers no longer benchmark their merchant experience purely against another merchant. Amazon tells them when their parcel will arrive, supermarkets allow them to order at midnight and collect the following morning, while Uber shows them precisely where their driver is. Real-time stock visibility, simple ordering, rapid Click & Collect, extended-hours collection, accurate delivery information and frictionless payment are rapidly moving from differentiators to expectations. Convenience doesn’t necessarily mean doing everything faster; it means removing unnecessary effort from the trade customer’s working day. Two Customers, One Branch The traditional trade customer isn’t disappearing. Many tradespeople value personal relationships, knowledgeable staff and the ability to walk into a branch and speak to someone who understands their business. That remains an enormous strength of the best merchant branches across the United Kingdom and Ireland. But alongside that customer is a younger generation who have grown up ordering through apps, checking availability online and expecting information instantly. One customer may want to ring the branch at 7.30am to see if an item is in stock. Another wants to order it at 10.30pm the night before, pay through their phone and collect at 6.30am without speaking to anybody. Neither customer is wrong: the challenge for the merchant branch of today is being brilliant at serving both.

Where are customers wasting time? Where are colleagues duplicating effort? Where is information difficult to access? Where are processes designed around how the merchant has always operated rather than how the customer increasingly wants to buy? You simply need to make tomorrow’s branch slightly better than today’s. The Bottom Line I remain incredibly optimistic about the future of the builders’ merchant sector. There is something uniquely powerful about combining physical stock, local availability, knowledgeable people and long-standing customer relationships. But believing in the future of the branch shouldn't be confused with believing that the branch doesn’t need to change. Which brings us back to those three reasons businesses change. You can be inspired to change, because you’ve seen a better way. You can choose to change, while the business is successful and you have the time and resources to get it right. Or eventually, you can be forced to change, because customers, competitors or the market have made the decision for you.

What Does Doing Nothing Cost? Whenever businesses consider change, they naturally focus on the cost. How much will it cost? What's the return on investment? How disruptive will implementation be? What happens if it doesn't work?

The successful merchants won’t necessarily be those making the biggest investments or adopting every new technology before anyone else. They’ll be the businesses constantly asking where friction exists, what their customers increasingly expect and what they could do better.

These are perfectly legitimate questions, but there is another side of the calculation which receives far less attention and that is: What is the cost of doing nothing?

Because in a market moving this quickly, there will always be risks associated with making the wrong decision. But increasingly, the biggest risk of all is making no decision at all.

What does another year of inaccurate stock information cost in lost sales? What do unnecessary queues cost? What does inefficient delivery planning cost? What does having experienced employees spending hours on tasks that could be automated cost?

Steve Collinge is an international speaker, influencer, retail commentator and executive editor of Insight DIY. You can follow Steve on LinkedIn.

September/October 2026

Lumber & building materials - USA

Components are reshaping residential construction in USA How trusses, wall panels, and prefabricated systems are changing the way homes and multi-family buildings are built. Walk onto a residential construction site in the United States today and you are likely to see fewer piles of loose timber, fewer framing carpenters, and a faster pace of construction than was common just a decade ago. The reason is simple: components. Roof trusses, floor trusses, prefabricated wall panels, and floor panels are becoming an increasingly important part of both single-family and multi-family construction across America. While these products have existed for decades, their adoption has accelerated significantly in recent years as builders face mounting pressure to complete projects faster amid rising labour shortages. In many regions of the United States, components are no longer viewed as an alternative to traditional framing methods. They have become the preferred approach. Labour Shortages Perhaps the single biggest challenge facing American builders today is the shortage of skilled labour. The average age of skilled tradespeople continues to rise while fewer younger workers enter the construction industry. Experienced framing carpenters are increasingly difficult to find, and when they are available, labour costs continue to climb. Components allow builders to shift a significant portion of the construction process from the construction site to a controlled manufacturing environment. Instead of requiring large framing crews to cut and assemble materials on-site, much of the work is completed in a factory setting where productivity is higher, weather is not a factor, and quality can be closely monitored. A project that may have required a large framing crew for weeks can often be erected in a matter of days using prefabricated systems. Speed of Construction Time has become one of the most valuable commodities in construction. Builders, developers, and investors all want projects completed more quickly. Shorter construction cycles reduce financing costs, accelerate occupancy, and improve cash flow. Components help achieve those goals. A roof truss package can be installed in a fraction of the time required for conventional stick framing (traditional site-built timber framing). Wall panels arrive at the site ready for placement. Floor trusses eliminate many field modifications and provide clear pathways for mechanical systems.

For multi-family projects, these time savings can be measured in weeks or even months. The ability to bring a building to a weather-tight stage quickly has become particularly important in regions where weather delays can significantly impact schedules. Improved Quality and Accuracy Traditional framing relies heavily on field measurements, cutting, and assembly. Even highly skilled crews can encounter variations that lead to rework or material waste. Component manufacturing relies on sophisticated design software, precision equipment, and controlled production environments. Each truss, panel, or engineered component is manufactured to exact specifications before arriving on-site. As a result, builders often experience better dimensional accuracy, improved structural consistency, reduced waste, fewer construction site errors, and stronger quality control. Roof Trusses Remain the Foundation Roof trusses continue to be the most widely used structural component in American residential construction. In many markets, conventional roof framing has become the exception, rather than the rule. Modern roof trusses provide faster installation, reduced labour requirements, longer spans, greater design flexibility, and improved engineering performance. Complex roof systems that once required highly skilled carpenters can now be manufactured and installed with remarkable efficiency. For builders constructing large-volume housing developments, trusses have become an essential tool for maintaining schedules and controlling costs. Even custom home builders increasingly rely on trusses, because they provide engineering certainty, while allowing for sophisticated architectural designs. Floor Trusses Gain Momentum While roof trusses have become commonplace, floor trusses represent one of the fastestgrowing segments within the component industry. Traditional dimensional lumber (structural timber) floor systems often create challenges for plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and fire protection contractors. Floor trusses provide open web spaces that allow mechanical systems to pass through without extensive drilling or modifications.

This creates several benefits, including faster installation of mechanical systems, reduced field labour, greater design flexibility, improved coordination between trades, and longer clear spans. Builders also appreciate the ability to create larger open-plan layouts without adding interior load-bearing walls. As consumer demand continues to shift toward open living spaces, floor trusses are becoming increasingly attractive. Wall Panels Move into the Mainstream Prefabricated wall panels may represent the most significant growth opportunity within the component sector. Historically, many American builders viewed wall panels as a specialty product. Today, they are becoming accepted more. Modern wall panel systems are designed using advanced software and manufactured under tightly controlled conditions. Panels arrive at the construction site ready for installation, dramatically reducing framing time. Benefits include reduced labour requirements, faster project completion, improved quality, better material utilisation, reduced construction site congestion, and enhanced safety. For large residential developments, wall panels can create substantial efficiencies throughout the construction process. Builders also appreciate the predictability that comes from receiving pre-engineered wall systems rather than relying entirely on field-built assemblies. Multi-Family Construction Leads Adoption Although component usage continues to grow in single-family housing, the multi-family sector has become one of the industry's strongest drivers. Apartment developments, student housing projects, senior living facilities, etc., all benefit from component-based construction. The economics are compelling. When a developer is constructing hundreds of units, even small improvements in labour efficiency or construction schedules can translate into significant financial gains. Large multi-family projects frequently utilise roof trusses, floor trusses, pre-fabricated wall panels, pre-built stair systems, engineered wood products, and more. The result is a more streamlined construction process that allows developers to bring projects to market faster. In today's environment of high interest rates and rising development costs, speed-to-market has become a critical competitive advantage.

September/October 2026

Lumber & building materials - USA

Technology Is Accelerating Adoption One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the integration of technology throughout the design and manufacturing process. AI and advanced design software allows component manufacturers to coordinate directly with architects, engineers, builders, and contractors. Many projects now use 3D modelling, Building Information Modelling (BIM), automated design software, computer-controlled manufacturing equipment, and digital project coordination. This technology reduces errors and improves communication among all stakeholders. The result is a more efficient construction process from initial design through final installation. The Impact on Lumber Dealers The growth of components is also changing the role of timber/lumber and building material dealers throughout the United States. Traditionally, many dealers focused primarily on supplying dimensional lumber (structural timber) and construction site materials. Today, successful dealers increasingly position themselves as solution providers rather than simply product suppliers. Many dealers have invested in truss manufacturing facilities, wall panel operations, design services, engineering capabilities, and component installation support. These value-added services strengthen customer relationships while helping dealers differentiate themselves in competitive markets. For many independent lumber dealers, components have become an important growth engine and profit centre. It's About Total Installed Cost - Not Material Cost One of the biggest misconceptions about building components is that builders use them because they're less expensive than traditional framing materials. In reality, that's often not the case. A package of roof trusses, floor trusses, wall panels, and engineered components may cost more than purchasing dimensional lumber (structural timber) and stick-framing a building on site. If material price were the only consideration, many builders would continue framing the way they always have. But today's builders are looking beyond the price of the lumber package (timber package). Instead, they evaluate the total installed cost of the project - the combined cost of materials, labour, time, waste, supervision, financing, and productivity. When viewed through that broader lens, components frequently deliver a lower overall cost while helping projects finish sooner. The largest savings typically come from labour. Factory-built components dramatically reduce the amount of cutting, measuring, and assembly that must occur on the construction site. A framing crew that once required several weeks to complete a structure may now finish much of

the work in a matter of days using cranes and smaller installation teams. In an industry where skilled labor is increasingly difficult to find - and increasingly expensive - that efficiency has become a major competitive advantage. Time savings create another significant financial benefit. Every day shaved from a construction schedule reduces carrying costs such as construction loan interest, equipment rentals, temporary utilities, insurance, and site supervision. For developers building apartment communities or residential subdivisions, completing projects even a few weeks earlier can accelerate occupancy, home closings, or rental income, producing returns that often outweigh the additional investment in components. Quality and consistency also contribute to the financial equation. Components manufactured in controlled factory environments are produced to precise engineering specifications using automated equipment. This reduces framing errors, minimizes rework, and creates straighter, more accurate structures that benefit every trade working on the project. Material efficiency is another advantage. Modern component manufacturers use sophisticated optimisation software to maximise timber yield, producing less waste than traditional site-built framing while reducing cleanup and disposal costs. The result is that successful builders increasingly ask a different question … instead of asking, "How much does all the timber/ lumber cost?", builders increasingly ask, "What is the total cost of getting this building framed, weather-tight, and ready for the next trade?" That shift in thinking helps explain why the use of components continues to expand throughout the United States. Builders are not simply purchasing manufactured products; they are investing in greater productivity, shorter construction schedules, improved quality, and better overall project economics. For many projects, particularly large-volume housing and multi-family developments, those benefits more than offset the higher purchase price of the components themselves. Challenges Remain Despite the advantages, component construction is not without challenges. Transportation logistics can be complex, particularly for large wall panels and truss packages. Successful implementation also requires greater upfront planning and coordination than traditional framing methods. Design changes that occur late in the process can create delays and additional costs. Some builders must also adapt their workflows and project management practices to fully realize the benefits of prefabrication. However, most industry participants view these challenges as manageable and significantly outweighed by the advantages.

September/October 2026

Looking Ahead The future of component-based construction in America appears strong. Labour shortages are unlikely to disappear, builders will continue to seek ways to improve productivity, and developers will remain focused on reducing construction schedules and controlling costs. At the same time, advances in automation, digital design, manufacturing technology, and off-site construction will continue to expand what is possible. While traditional construction site framing will remain part of the industry for years to come, the trend is clear. Roof trusses, floor trusses, wall panels, floor systems, etc., are transforming the way homes and multi-family buildings are designed and constructed. What began as a strategy for improving efficiency has evolved into a fundamental change in the construction process itself. For builders seeking greater productivity, improved quality, and faster project completion, components are no longer simply an option. Increasingly, they are becoming the standard. A Final Thought for Irish Timber Merchants I understand that labour shortages in Ireland are as much an increasing cause of concern as those seen in many parts of the United States, and many of the same pressures are emerging. As residential construction continues to grow and skilled labour becomes more difficult to source, Irish builders and timber merchants may find increasing opportunities in roof trusses, floor systems, wall panels, and other off-site manufactured components. The American experience suggests that this shift is driven not simply by material cost, but by improvements in productivity, project certainty, and total installed cost.

Mike McDole has 40+ years’ experience in the Lumber & Building Materials Industry in the USA and is the principal of Firing-Line LBM Advisors (outside of Boston, Massachusetts). He helps LBM dealers of all sizes with management strategies, sales strategies, salespeople, gross margin improvement, profit improvement, and more. He can also help Hardware and LBM Dealers in Ireland. Mike can be reached at Ph. 001.774.372.11367 or at Mike@FiringLineLBM.com

ART FREEDMAN

Business Readiness The Hardware Journal has caught up with our great friend and colleague Art Freedman to see what he is currently doing in the area of Customer Service. Attached is Part One of a process that outlines what he describes as “Business Readiness”. Part Two, which will be in the Nov/Dec issue will cover the "Business Readiness Score”. Originally developed and implemented by Art, they have been using this at Costello’s www.costellosace.com for two years, and the process has brought exceptional results.

What is “Business Readiness”? Every time a customer shops at a retail store they are influenced by the store’s readiness to serve them. Business readiness has both direct and indirect impact. Some examples of direct impact include: (1) having the product that the customer needs in-stock and available; (2) having enough product in-stock and accessible; (3) staff available and prioritising service; (4) speed to serve a customer based on availability and accessibility of product. Indirect impact deals with the customers’ likelihood to return based on their in-store, and prior shopping experiences. In today’s retail landscape, “customer service”, the direct interactions between staff members and customers, has been replaced with “customer experience”, the combination of the same interactions and the store’s preparedness to serve customers. Business Readiness is predictive of customer experience because it encompasses the key elements responsible for determining friendly and frictionless service, efficiency, and confidence.

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Developing retail readiness knowledge, mindset, and execution across the enterprise. (High standards, winning mindset, initiative)

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Empowering all store personnel to participate in their store’s retail readiness. (Accountability, empowerment, inclusion)

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Inspiring all team members to strive for greater retail readiness. (Inspiration, innovation, champion change)

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Developing a culture of curiosity with other retail and nonretail businesses for the purpose of improving one’s own retail readiness. (Curiosity, continuous learning)

Objectives: 1 Defining “Business Readiness” and why it is important

How is “Business Readiness” achieved? Process – Proper handling of stock inwards on to the floor.

Five components of Business Readiness

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Check stock levels - What's out of stock, new or price changes.

The Business Readiness Score –

The Business Readiness Process

Execution of Walk Every Aisle Daily (WEAD) by store manager/ management team.

Cultural benefits of Business Readiness Process and Scoring

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Execution of Helpful Service - This means we execute our customer service philosophy with every customer, every time. It's not enough to have a service philosophy, it has to happen consistently with every customer every time.

Why is “Business Readiness” important? – Business Readiness focuses on the elements most basic and most important to retail customers/shoppers. –

Our “Business Readiness” vision Build and sustain a culture of consistent customer delight by: – Training ALL team members to see the store through the customer's eyes.

Business readiness is predictive of customer experience; customer experience is predictive of business success.

Remember task efficiency creates more time to spend interacting with customers. Task effectiveness allows for more frictionless customer interactions.

September/October 2026

ART FREEDMAN

Culture – Commitment to efficient processes and staff development. (Leadership) –

Maintaining business readiness as a team objective with accountability for every team member, from the first day of employment.

–

Proper onboarding/training/coaching.

–

Aisle accountability (everyone in store “owns” a piece of the store; “every item has an owner”)

–

Develop business readiness acumen so that everyone understands what BR “looks like.”

Five components of “Business Readiness” 1 In stock: – Strong in-stock position – Minimal empty hooks/bins or blank pegboard. – Ample inventory supply 2

Signage/Pricing: – Clear communication of price, promotion, features, and benefits. – Execution and condition of price tags and signs – POP, branding, and services signage

Product Display: – Maximise the potential for a sale – Out-of-the-package display – Display creativity for promotional, seasonal, and key categories.

Housekeeping/Organisation: – All items in their correct locations. The absence of clutter and outer boxes. – Neat and organised sidewalk, entry, front end, aisles, base decks. – Organisation of overstock on gondola, overheads, warehouse, basement, front end, sea boxes. Everything can easily be counted, – The proper treatment of inventory and assets. “$eeing Money”.

Customer Interactions: Executing a “Customer First” culture where every customer feels:

Welcome – Warm greetings everywhere contact is initiated in the store.

II. Important – Prioritising customer interaction over all tasks, – Using all helpful weapons and magic questions, – Leading customers to products (never pointing) and providing meaningful in-aisle assistance.

September/October 2026

III. Confident – Displaying a willingness to say “yes” to every request. – Providing the right products and sharing the appropriate information that solves the customer’s problem. IV. Appreciated – Frequent expressions of gratitude and strengthening the relationship. In Part Two of the process Art talks about implementing the process - Introducing the Business Readiness Score The Business Readiness Score (BRS) is a practical, handson method to teach, assess, coach, and nurture a culture of Business Readiness excellence. BRS must be performed in groups of two or more (can be done alone when assessing competitors). BRS is an essential function for a district manager in a multi-store environment; however, the process works in any store environment and with any combination of participants from senior leadership, store/assistant/department managers, store associates, or any support function personnel. BRS have proven to be the most effective method to understand: (1) What our team sees; (2) What our team thinks; (3) How our team aligns with the priorities of the business. Also, you can catch up with Art and his colleagues in their newly introduced Podcast, 'Still in the Fight', the Business Readiness topic is Podcast number four and the Business Readiness Score is Podcast number 5: www.youtube.com/@StillInTheFightPodcast

Still in the Fight is a leadership podcast built around real conversations from the front lines of retail. Hosted by Mike Costello owner of Costello's Ace Hardware www.costellosace.com, who operate 60 plus locations across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, Rob Feiler, SVP & President Commercial / Industrial Services at Costello's Ace Hardware and Art Freedman. The podcast shares decades of experience designed to help today’s retail leaders - and the next generation - learn, teach, empower and coach. Can be watched on YouTube or listened to on Spotify or Apple.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Freight procurement in an uncertain market: Why the cheapest rate isn't always the best decision For many businesses across Ireland's hardware and building materials sector, freight has remained one of the most unpredictable elements of the supply chain over the past few years. While shipping rates may have stabilised compared with the extraordinary highs of the pandemic, the market itself remains far from predictable. Congestion across key ports, geopolitical disruption, fluctuating fuel costs and ongoing carrier capacity management continue to influence both pricing and service reliability. For importers sourcing products from Asia, Europe or North America, procurement decisions have become far more strategic than simply obtaining the lowest freight rate. Many organisations still default to the approach they've always taken, renewing annual contracts or purchasing entirely on the spot market without questioning whether it remains the right fit for their business. In reality, there is no universally correct procurement model. The most effective strategy depends on your shipping volumes, forecasting confidence, seasonality and appetite for commercial risk. For businesses importing regular volumes into Ireland, longerterm agreements can provide welcome cost certainty, improved budget planning and, perhaps most importantly, access to capacity during periods of market disruption. Conversely, businesses with fluctuating demand may benefit from maintaining greater flexibility through shorter-term arrangements or selective use of spot rates. Increasingly, many importers are finding success with blended procurement strategies that combine the stability of contracted volumes with the agility to take advantage of market opportunities when they arise. Another consideration is who manages your freight procurement. While contracting directly with ocean carriers can offer transparency, working with an experienced freight forwarder often provides access to multiple carriers, greater buying power and alternative routing options when disruption occurs. Just as importantly, forwarders increasingly offer market intelligence, customs expertise and multimodal solutions that extend well beyond ocean freight. This is particularly relevant for Irish importers, whose supply chains often depend on multiple transport modes and carefully managed connections into Ireland. Whether products are arriving through Dublin, Cork or via UK and continental European gateways, flexibility has become a valuable commercial advantage. The ability to reroute freight, secure alternative capacity or receive

proactive advice on changing market conditions can often be worth considerably more than achieving the lowest headline freight rate. The importance of resilience has become even more apparent in recent months. Ongoing disruption across the Red Sea has led many carriers to continue routing vessels via the Cape of Good Hope, extending transit times and placing additional pressure on global shipping schedules. Combined with port congestion and periodic blank sailings, businesses can no longer assume that today's supply chains will operate exactly as planned tomorrow. Procurement strategies need to account for this uncertainty. Sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important consideration. More retailers, construction companies and manufacturers are asking suppliers to demonstrate progress on carbon reporting and wider ESG commitments. Freight procurement is therefore evolving beyond price and transit time to include emissions data, routing choices and the environmental credentials of logistics partners. Ultimately, freight procurement should be viewed as a business decision rather than simply a logistics exercise. The right strategy is one that balances cost, resilience and flexibility while supporting long-term commercial objectives. Rather than asking, "What's today's cheapest rate?", businesses should increasingly be asking, "Which procurement strategy best supports our business over the next 12 months?" Woodland Group has recently published a practical guide exploring freight procurement strategy, helping businesses understand contract structures, rate validity, procurement models and the considerations that can help build a more resilient supply chain. You can view at www.woodlandgroup.com/rate-validity-andprocurement-strategy. September/October 2026

Business Support

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

MICHELLE McKENNA Head of Sustainibility Partnerships, Pinergy

Energy costs are a growing concern for Irish SMEs. What should hardware businesses examine first?

New SBCI research* shows nine in ten Irish SMEs now rank energy and transport costs among their biggest risks. For hardware retailers and builders’ merchants, the instinct is often to reach for a quote on solar PV panels or change to a new supplier. A more useful starting point is understanding exactly where the money is going. According to the SBCI’s SME Outlook Report 2026, 91% of Irish SMEs now identify rising energy and transport costs as a key risk, up sharply from 68% a year earlier. Material costs were flagged by 86% of respondents. As each business has a different tariff, building and consumption patterns, a useful first step is understanding what the business is actually spending, when, and why. Why energy costs remain volatile Ireland imports most of what it burns. SEAI’s First Look: Ireland’s Energy Supply and Security of Supply 2025 note, shows imports met 78.2% of Ireland’s energy requirement in 2025, almost 93% of it from fossil fuel. When international oil and gas prices move, Ireland feels it directly. There is progress: renewable energy hit a record 15.9% of total energy requirement in 2025, and solar PV supply grew 50% on 2024 and 150% on 2023. But more renewables on the grid does not reduce volatility overnight. What lands depends on a business’s supplier contract, renewal date, regulated network charges, and its own consumption pattern. Understand the bill before changing the building Before any decision on supplier, efficiency or generation, it is worth understanding what makes up your bill: – The unit rate, and whether it is fixed, variable or market-linked – Standing charges and regulated network charges – Contract end date and renewal terms – Day, night and peak consumption split – Maximum Import Capacity (MIC) and whether it still matches actual usage – Maximum demand and any capacity-related penalties – Total annual consumption, VAT treatment, and whether multiple meters serve the site – Additional unit charges often described as I-SEM charges. The cheapest quoted unit rate is not automatically the lowest annual cost. An MIC that no longer matches the site, or standing charges that have crept up, can outweigh a lower headline rate. What the consumption profile reveals A monthly bill shows how much was spent. It does not show when or why. Interval data, such as half-hourly readings, can reveal a baseload running day and night regardless of trading hours, sharp peaks tied to specific equipment, and seasonal swings, a bill cannot. Common culprits include out-of-hours lighting, yard and security lighting, space heating, compressors, workshop machinery, forklifts on charge, EV charging and equipment left energised overnight. September/October 2026

A small independent shop, a merchant with a large yard, and a multi-branch retailer will each have a genuinely different profile; there is no single “typical” reading. This is where visibility tools earn their keep. Some energy suppliers now offer monitoring platforms, such as Pinergy’s Acutrace, giving businesses interval-level visibility of their own consumption. They help identify potential cost savings. When solar PV may make commercial sense A full feasibility study needs to include not just the roof structure, but also energy consumption (daytime demand), ownership of the building, funding options, a workable grid connection and a reasonable match between generation and on-site use. SEAI’s Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) supports systems up to a maximum of €162,600. A grant offer is required before work starts, the installer must separately apply to ESB Networks beforehand, and the project must complete within eight months of the offer. Batteries: use data, not assumptions Batteries are increasingly bundled with solar quotes, but the economics do not automatically follow. They can add value by capturing otherwise-exported solar electricity, shifting consumption to cheaper periods, managing demand peaks, or providing limited backup where specifically designed for it. Against that sit capital cost, conversion losses, degradation, cycling limits, forgoing export income, and tariff dependence, and the gap between rated capacity and usable energy. Many standard commercial batteries will not automatically keep a premises running during an outage. A battery should be modelled against a business’s own consumption data, generation estimates and tariffs, not added simply because solar is going in. Conclusion There is no single energy answer that suits every hardware business. A small independent shop, a busy builders’ merchant and a multibranch retailer each face a different combination of tariff, building and operating pattern, and each deserves a unique response. What holds across all of them is the order decisions should follow. Efficiency, supply contracts, solar PV and storage are parts of one energy strategy, and the right mix depends on evidence and analysis. The businesses best placed to manage future energy costs will not necessarily be those that invest the most in technology. They will be those that understand where their energy is going, how they control it, and which interventions produce a measurable commercial return. For further information visit www.pinergy.ie. *Link for SBCI: SME Outlook Report 2026, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), 2 September 2026. https://www.sbci.gov.ie/news/sme-outlook-report-2026

Business Support

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

From IBM to AI: The tools keep changing JOHN O`SHANAHAN Consultant, LeanBPI

When IBM launched the personal computer in 1981, it changed how businesses worked. Apple followed with the Macintosh and made computers easier to use. Microsoft Windows then brought computing to a much wider business audience. Since then, we have gone through wave after wave of change: the internet, smartphones and cloud computing. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace became part of everyday business. Traditionally, after each wave, things settled down. Businesses chose their systems, people learned how to use them and got on with the job. AI is developing differently. A few years ago, when businesses talked about generative AI, they generally meant ChatGPT. Today we have Google's Gemini, Microsoft's Copilot and Anthropic's Claude, alongside AI being built into more and more business software. You will also see large companies announcing partnerships with one AI provider. That can give the impression that businesses need to choose a side. I don't think that is how AI is developing, particularly for SMEs. From what I see working with Irish SMEs, adoption is much more mixed. One person uses ChatGPT, someone else prefers Claude, Copilot appears because the business uses Microsoft 365, while a Google Workspace business may naturally start with Gemini. But these boundaries are becoming blurred. Being a Microsoft 365 business doesn't mean Gemini has nothing to offer. You might use Microsoft for email, documents and file storage but find Gemini better for certain research or general LLM work. Equally, a Google Workspace business might find ChatGPT or Claude better for particular tasks. The different tools also have different strengths. These are changing all the time, but ChatGPT is a good general-purpose tool for research, analysis, data and developing ideas. Claude is often very good for longer documents, writing and detailed analysis. Gemini is strong for research and has the advantage of Google's wider ecosystem. Copilot's advantage is its integration with Microsoft 365, bringing AI closer to the emails, meetings, documents and spreadsheets people already use.

So, the decision isn't necessarily ChatGPT or Claude or Gemini or Copilot. It can be a combination. If you are a Microsoft 365 user, Copilot has an obvious home. If you use Google Workspace and Gmail, Gemini has a similar natural fit. ChatGPT and Claude are different. They don't necessarily need to be part of your core business platform. They can sit alongside it and be used where they deliver better results. This is increasingly what I see SMEs doing: choosing the AI tool based on the job rather than simply the software platform they already have. The risk is that a small business can quickly end up using three or four AI tools without ever deciding to do so. That isn't necessarily a problem, but businesses should know what tools people are using, what they are being used for and what information is being put into them. Some SMEs introduce AI simply because it is AI and they feel they may be left behind if not getting AI systems in places. It’s always best to start with a business problem and see which tool, if any, helps solve it. And if your underlying processes are poor, information is stored across spreadsheets and paper, or staff are repeatedly entering the same information, AI isn't necessarily the first thing to fix. Get the basics right first. There is support available. The Digital for Business programme through the Local Enterprise Offices can help businesses review their digital systems and identify opportunities. The Grow Digital Grant can support investment in appropriate software, while CeADAR, Ireland's National Centre for AI, provides AI expertise and test-before-invest supports. AI will continue to change. SMEs don't need to predict which platform will win. Understand the problem, try the tools, use the one that works best for the job and put some basic controls around its use. That approach worked when businesses first started putting computers on desks. It still works today. About LeanBPI LeanBPI specialises in assisting Irish SMEs in the integration of digital solutions to improve business efficiency. We help companies identify the correct software solutions, facilitate seamless integration, automate processes, and, when needed, develop bespoke solutions tailored to unique business challenges. For further information visit www.leanbpi.ie or contact John O'Shanahan at johnoshanahan@leanbpi.ie, 087 7444887.

September/October 2026

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Laying wood flooring in 17th century: A brief history What has dancing 340 years ago, King Louis 14th of France and Wilhelm II of Germany got to do with glueless and nailless fixings systems for wood floors? The Hardware Journal has asked our colleague and well-known wood expert John McCabe to explain. The earliest known system I am aware of for laying wood flooring without glue or surface nailing was developed in 1687, tongue and groove was not common at this time. The place was Amerongen Castle in the province of Utrecht, which at this time was known as the United Provinces and West Friesland, which later in 1813 became The Netherlands (Holland is two of the 12 provinces – north and south).

reason she asked for this was because she loved to dance and surface fixing by nails would cause her silk stockings to tear/ladder. The master carpenter came up with the solution that you see in the picture. He took the standard dove tail joint, which is commonly used to connect the sides of drawers with the drawer face, and developed from that a sliding dove joint with a reducing angle of one to six from end to end. The flooring was made from Norway Spruce, as mentioned, and the wood used to make the insert was Oak. It simply locked the floorboards together. This would be very good wood working in a cabinet of the period, but to have this clever jointing system in a huge floor was masterful. The music room was roughly 60ft by 22ft. The room has one further claim to fame. Amerongen Castle was also used in 1918/1919 as a temporary refuge for Kaiser Wilhelm II, who fled Germany at the end of WW1. With The Netherlands Government permission, the Kaiser arrived at Amerongen Castle to stay for two days, but to the acute ongoing embarrassment of both the owner of the castle (now the Bentinck family) and the Dutch Government, he stayed 18 months. This delay in moving him out of Amerongen Castle is reputedly because his next home, Doorn House, a few miles away, was not ‘ready’ to his liking. It was in the room next to the afore mentioned music room that Kaiser Wilhelm II signed his abdication letter in 1918, some weeks after the end of the first World War.

Amerongen Castle in Utrecht.

To set the scene. In 1673 Louis 14th of France, the sun king, was withdrawing his troops from present day Netherlands, after 13 years of warfare. His army was retreating along a dry ridge. This area is known as the Utrecht Hill Ridge (Utrechtse Heuvelrug) and is one of the few places in The Netherlands that is above sea level at 10 to 15 feet. The French were leaving for a number of reasons. One of which was that The Netherlands defense was built around flooding those areas that were below sea level. When you realise that three major European river systems flow into the sea in The Netherlands, you can understand how they can do this quite easily. The three rivers are the Rijn, Maas and Waal. This had the effect of making it extremely difficult to transport cannons and all the provisions for an army. The French troops decided in retreating that they would implement a policy of “pay up or we burn your property”.

“Today, whether you are a dancer or not, you have access to a great many glue less/nail less wood flooring systems that will not tear your stockings”. John McCabe is based in the Utrecht region of The Netherlands. He has acquired during his lifetime of working in the hardwood and decorative softwood trade an expert knowledge of woods, grades etc. In particular he is specialised in sourcing wood and wood products for clients internationally. John has also been involved in the wood flooring industry, designing and problem solving in the industry. In the recent past, John has worked with Hardware Association Ireland in hosting training events and workshops for hardware stores and builders merchants staff on selling and fitting advice for wood flooring, emphasising product knowledge and problem avoiding. He can be contacted at john@mccabewood.com

Photographs by: Dicky de Haan

Amerongen Castle, where we are focusing on in this story, had been reconstructed three times since the 13th century. The lady of the house in 1673 was Margaretha Turnor, wife of nobleman Godard Adriaan van Reede (aka General Ginkel in the Battle of the Boyne/Augrim/Limerick) was faced by a French demand to pay 3,000 guilders in silver coin or they would burn the castle to the ground and destroy all the trees on the estate by cutting them down. Margaretha made her brave choice and refused to be blackmailed or coerced by the French military. Amerongen Castle was totally destroyed as were its woodlands. In 1674, one year later, Margaretha started to rebuild Amerongen Castle. It took 13 years to complete. In the meantime a family friend, Frederic William, elector of Brandenburg, Duke of Prussia, based in Berlin, upon hearing the news sent 130 cubic metres of Norway Spruce logs to assist in the reconstruction. When they reached the Castle interior, and in particular the music room, Margaretha insisted that the floor be secured in place without nails, the norm at the time was face nailing floors. The September/October 2026

Sliding Dove Joint from the period.

Music Room at Amerongen Castle.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Make more of your flooring showroom Whiteriver Group helps builders’ merchants and flooring retailers improve their displays and gives their teams practical support to sell flooring. A well-planned flooring display makes it easier for customers to compare products and for staff to explain the options. For a merchant or retailer, it is also a chance to make better use of the space available and give the flooring range the attention it deserves. Whiteriver Group works with merchants and retailers on showroom fit-outs and revamps, supported by a broad flooring range, samples and sales materials. Whether you are updating an existing display or planning a larger refurbishment, Whiteriver can discuss with you how to make the most of your flooring area. Showroom fit-outs and revamps Good presentations help customers see what a floor will look like in their own home. Whiteriver work with you on displays that show the range clearly and make it easier to compare colours, finishes and formats. Alongside the displays, their hand samples, swatches and point-of-sale materials help your team talk customers through the choices. Brochures give customers something to take away and refer to as they make their decision. A choice of flooring and outdoor ranges The flooring range includes laminate, SPC and engineered timber, with a choice of styles and finishes. They continue to develop the collection as new products become available and customer preferences change.

Whiteriver also supplies composite decking and cladding, giving merchants and retailers further options for customers planning outdoor projects. Samples and product information The brochures bring the ranges together in one place, helping staff and customers compare products and check specifications. Hand samples and sample boxes for architects and designers allow a closer look at colour, texture, finish and construction. Where a project requires formal specification, their product information on the National Building Specification (NBS) Platform, www.thenbs.com, provides an additional resource for architects and specifiers. Talk to us about your showroom If your flooring display is due a refresh, or you are considering a more extensive revamp, talk to the Whiteriver team about your plans. They can discuss showroom presentation, retail displays and the sales materials available to support your team. Contact sales@wrg.ie or call +353 (0) 41 686 1000. View the range at www.wrg.ie.

September/October 2026

Make more of your flooring showroom Showroom revamps, retail displays and practical sales support from Whiteriver Group. Talk to us about your flooring display.

www.wrg.ie | sales@wrg.ie | +353 (0) 41 686 1000 | Whiteriver Group, Cluide, Dunleer, Co. Louth

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Introducing Neptune: Canadia launches new SPC collection Water has always been flooring's biggest enemy. Canadia's new Neptune Collection turns that weakness into a selling point. Built on a five-layer SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) construction, Neptune pairs a waterproof core with a scratch and UV resistant wear layer, a stain shielding protection layer, and an integrated underlay for warmth and sound insulation underfoot. The result is a floor that is dimensionally stable, with a Class 34 rating - tough enough for busy family homes and commercial spaces alike, backed by a 30 year domestic and 10 year commercial warranty. For retailers, the real story is choice. Neptune launches with five new oak décors - Harbour Mist, Riptide, Silver Stream, Lagoon Sand, and Coastal Drift, each rendered in high-definition detail for a natural, believable wood look. Every shade is available as a standard plank (1219 x 229mm) and as a matching herringbone (600 x 153mm), so customers can move seamlessly from a classic layout to a statement parquet pattern without stepping outside the palette. That pairing gives showrooms an easy upsell: once a customer commits to a décor, herringbone becomes a natural upgrade conversation.

Installation is where Neptune earns its keep on the shop floor. The range uses I4F's proven drop-lock system, keeping fitting fast and joints tight, a point installers will thank you for. Add slip resistance, antibacterial properties, and pet and kid friendly performance, and Neptune ticks the boxes that dominate today's flooring conversations: durability, hygiene, and family living. Positioned between laminate and traditional vinyl, SPC continues to be one of the fastest growing categories in flooring, and Neptune gives retailers a collection that competes on both performance and looks. The soft tones sit comfortably in kitchens, hallways, and living spaces where moisture and footfall are constant concerns - exactly where customers are currently trading up. Neptune is available now through Canadia. For samples, information or to discuss stocking the collection, contact your Canadia representative or email the team at info@canadia.ie. Product information is also available at www.canadia.ie.

September/October 2026

Introducing

NEPTUNE SPC FLOORING Water-resistant

Scratch resistant

Easy to maintain

Beautiful flooring, made for real life. Discover collection at canadia.ie

Built to last

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Trojan Harmony runner matting - non-slip backing Trojan has launched its new Harmony runner matting, and for DIY retailers, the standout format is the pre-cut 2.4m x 80cm roll. Designed with convenience in mind, it's a ready-to-go size that requires no cutting or measuring, making it a perfect impulse purchase for customers passing through the aisle. Whether it's for protecting a hallway, landing, or any other hightraffic area at home, Harmony offers a quick, no-fuss solution that fits neatly into how DIY shoppers actually buy, see it, grab it, use it. Beyond its practicality, Harmony brings a stylish, durable finish that holds up well to everyday wear, backed by a latex non-slip base that keeps it firmly in place underfoot, giving customers confidence they're getting a safe, quality product without the hassle of trade-sized rolls. For those tackling bigger projects, such as a full landing, or a larger commercial-style installation, the full 20m roll is also available, offering the same quality, design, and non-slip backing in a format suited to larger jobs. Harmony further extends Trojan's growing matting offering, which already includes non-PVC dirt trapper barrier mats,

High Performance XPS Underlays for Wood & Laminate Floors

ideal for entrance ways looking to reduce dirt and moisture ingress and a recycled collection made from car and truck tyres, appealing to environmentally-conscious customers and retailers alike. Together, these ranges give DIY retailers a wellrounded, sustainability-conscious matting offering to shelve with confidence. For more information on Harmony runner matting or the wider Trojan range, contact info@dssupplies.com.

dssupplies.com

September/October 2026

Strength in every stitch Discover trousers that are crafted from Canvas Stretch – one of our most popular, comfortable, and durable fabrics. From the reinforced CORDURA® details to the freedom of movement, every element is designed to keep you working in comfort.

• Superior comfort with

2-way stretch. • 4-way stretch panels at

crotch, back yoke, and back thighs. • Multiple CORDURA®

reinforcements. • Cargo pocket with mobile

compartment. • Ruler pocket with

pen compartment and knife attachment.

6244 AllroundWork Canvas Stretch Trousers Holster Pockets

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Built on generations Since 1889, Carhartt has built its reputation on honest, hardwearing workwear. Now, three of its most enduring designs come together in a new Iconic range, as the American workwear brand expands in Ireland. Few names carry as much weight on a job site as Carhartt, worn on site and off it by generations of tradespeople. Founded in Detroit in 1889 by travelling salesman Hamilton Carhartt, the company started out with two sewing machines, a halfhorsepower motor and five employees, producing durable overalls for railroad workers. More than 135 years on, the founding promise of ‘honest value for an honest dollar’ still guides everything the brand makes.

which began life as the Engineer Sack Coat back in 1917, now comes with stretch-enhanced Rugged Flex duck and wind-resistant Wind Fighter protection. The Detroit Jacket, launched in 1954, keeps its blanket lining and quilted sleeves for serious cold-weather warmth. And the Bib Dungarees return to where Carhartt began, the heavyweight duck overall, now with reinforced kick panels and stretch side panels added for freedom of movement on site. It's a range built on proven performance rather than nostalgia: pieces that have already earned their place in generations of wardrobes now brought up to date for how people work today.

From producing uniforms for US soldiers in both World Wars to introducing the now-legendary Chore Coat in the 1920s, Carhartt has spent well over a century proving itself in tough conditions. It has weathered economic downturns, changing fashions and generational shifts in how and where people work, all while staying close to its founding purpose: gear that works as hard as the person wearing it.

Still family-owned five generations on, Carhartt remains committed to the tradespeople who built its reputation, something reflected in its ongoing support for apprenticeships, scholarships and trade partnerships. From listening to railroad workers in 1889 to testing kit through the Carhartt Crew network today, the company’s approach hasn’t changed: understand what the trade needs, then build gear good enough to wear anywhere, on site or off.

That staying power is distilled into the new Iconic range, which brings together three of Carhartt's most enduring designs, each updated with modern fabric technology. The Chore Coat,

To view the Carhartt range visit www.carhartt.com or for more information on stocking the range email Nick Poulson, Country Manager npoulson@carhartt.com.

September/October 2026

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Portwest DX4 Workwear, designed to meet the demands of today’s working professionals When it comes to workwear that combines comfort, practicality and a modern look, Portwest’s DX4 range is designed to meet the demands of today’s working professionals. From heating and plumbing engineers to builders, electricians, landscapers and maintenance teams, DX4 offers a versatile collection that helps people move freely, stay comfortable and get on with the job. One of the standout features of DX4 is its Dynamic 4X stretch fabric. Designed to provide flexibility in key areas, the range allows wearers to bend, crouch, stretch and climb without feeling restricted. This is particularly valuable for anyone whose working day involves constant movement, whether fitting pipework, carrying materials or working in awkward positions. The DX4 Work Trouser is a great example of this approach. Its ergonomic design, pre-bent knees and stretch fabric are intended to support a wide range of working positions. The trousers also feature a high-rise back waistband, side elastication and multiple pockets. DX4 is not limited to one type of worker or one type of environment. The collection includes work trousers, holster trousers, service trousers, shorts, jackets, gilets, hoodies, polo shirts and T-shirts. This makes it easy for individuals to choose garments that suit their particular role, while also building a coordinated workwear wardrobe. For those working outdoors, the range also includes weatherfocused options, including softshell and winter jackets. Hi-vis garments provide additional visibility for suitable working

September/October 2026

environments, while the broader collection offers options for different seasons and working conditions. Good workwear needs to do more than look the part. DX4 garments are designed with practical details that support everyday use, including multiple storage options, reinforced areas and features intended to improve durability. The DX4 Work Trouser, for example, includes triple stitching, multi-functional pockets and adjustable knee pad pockets. These details make the range suitable for a wide variety of professionals. Whether someone needs secure storage for tools, flexibility for physical tasks or comfortable clothing for a long day on site, DX4 offers a range of options to consider. For retailers, this broad appeal is an important advantage. DX4 can suit customers across multiple trades and industries, while offering a consistent range of garments that can be mixed and matched. It is a collection that brings together performance, comfort and style in a way that works for many different people. Think Workwear, Think DX4 From the workshop to the construction site, DX4 is designed to support the people who keep things moving. With stretch fabrics, practical features and a versatile collection, it offers workwear that is comfortable, functional and ready for the demands of everyday life. Whatever the job, DX4 is a range worth considering when comfort and performance matter. For more information visit www.charleshughes.ie.

Snap the pockets onto the tool bag and take your rig with you

Different solutions for different needs, all with the same brackets

Durable construction with waist rail for pockets and holders

Modular system adapted for different Craftsman’s trousers

professional roles

1745 with 4-way stretch for high comfort and mobility

RIGGING CAN INCREASE EFFICIENCY

We are champions of the labour athlete. Like an athlete, a tradesperson relies on their body to perform every day. Since 1993, Diamondback has provided innovative products and smarter systems to support performance no matter the trade.

BUILD SOMETHING.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Behind the scenes, creating a best seller It’s rare for a new product to immediately become a best seller, but that’s exactly what happed when LMA1880 developed the Metaphore. From drawing board to becoming the best selling export trousers, it has taken over 2 years to design, test and launch this product.

It was over to the designers, now it’s the turn of Carole Demillecamps, a woman of exceptional design talent and an eye for fashion. Carole believes there is no reason why workwear should be boring, she will aways add the French flair that makes LMA product stand out.

LMA1880, part of the Coverguard group, set out to design a product that was internationally accepted. This task was given to the export manager Bruno Gomez who drafted in the opinions and expertise of his team. The objective was to create a quality product, that would suit many markets across northern Europe.

Carole’s first thought is always on comfort, after all, workers spend most of their working lives in work trousers.

It was decided to target Ireland, Netherlands, and Belgium, and design something that would be popular and incorporate the best designs of all styles. LMA1880 have always consulted their customer base and designed products that suited the demands and standards required and that’s exactly what they did. Customers tasked LMA with producing something practical, comfortable and hardwearing but it needed to appeal across different European markets at a competitive price.

She decided on a ripstop polyamide elastane allowing the garment to stretch four different ways. The elasticated no slip waist band has a raised back and 7 belt loops to hold everything in place comfortably. Oxford 300 reinforcement was placed on the hems, kneepads and pockets ensuring that your knees stay safe and dry when kneeling. Carole thought about the holster pockets, cleverly designing them for different functions. One offers generous volume for nails, screws, fixing etc, while the other is designed to hold tools. These are shaped to fit inside the hand pockets when not in use. Zipped cargo pockets hold your phone and wallet in place, along with a hammer loop and a ruler pocket. As if all that wasn’t enough, the trousers are ergonomically pre-shaped to follow the curve of your leg and have a waterrepellent treatment to reduce water absorption, keeping you dry. All these requirements were passed to the design and creation team who brought the Metaphore to life. When Carole presented the trouser to the export team they knew straight away it was a winner. The A+A exhibition in Dusseldorf and the Hardware show in the RDS were chosen. The Metaphore (black) and Paradox (navy) were on display for the first time and customers loved them. Forward orders were placed for a work trousers that would not be available for another 8 months. Once the product hit the shelves in July, reorders were almost instant, with customers buying them for themselves, their family and friends. Anybody interested in seeing a sample can call Peter Dunican on 087 9660561 or e-mail peter.dunican@lebeurre.com

Carole Demillecamps and Coralie Argiles provided exceptional design.

September/October 2026

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