The Hardware Bulletin Spring2016

ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE? Online sales in Ireland continue to rise with €8.4 billion spent in 2014 or 5% of GDP. But, with 70% being spent outside the country should we be taking online traders from abroad as a serious threat to traditional bricks and mortar businesses?

By 2020, the value of the digital economy is expected to more than double to 10% of GDP and €21 billion.

While Irish consumers have wholeheartedly embraced online shopping, many Irish SMEs have not kept pace with this consumer revolution by moving to sell their goods and services online, in addition to traditional methods. This is particularly evident with retailers and merchants in the hardware and building materials sector. The numbers above highlight the opportunities which exist for Irish SMEs to grow their market share, strengthen their turnover and profitability and increase their workforces. For businesses, increased digitisation can drive sales, reduce trading costs and open new paths to markets in terms of engaging directly with consumers and customers.

As part of our training schedule in 2016 we are bringing you a series of training programmes to equip you and your staff with the knowledge needed to strategise and compete in the digital era.

First in this series is a seminar entitled: “Accessing The Online Potential Of The Hardware Sector” This half-day seminar will give you a great understanding of the Irish Digital Landscape and show you how you can use it to sell more hardware products. The goal of the session is to demystify the Digital Marketing world, show you how you can build an effective online presence with limited resources and without huge time investment. By the end of the session you will have a clear knowledge of what digital components are best for your business and even be able to build a website.

Areas we will cover include:

SEMINAR

5 steps to build your own website.

How to sell your products and services on your website.

How to make your website visible on Google.

What is SEO? How using the right keywords and phrases can get you seen online.

How to target and advertise online to a local market – an introduction to Google Adwords.

How Social Media can benefit your business.

How to build an email list and how email marketing can drive sales.

What are Social Ads? Why Facebook ads are offering much better return on investment than traditional advertising.

How to develop a Digital Footprint on a shoe string budget.

Who Should Attend? Owners/Managers of Hardware Retail stores and Builders Merchants, and Suppliers.

Date: 19th April 2016, 10am to 2pm including networking lunch.

Location: Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Dublin Cost: Members €40, Non-Members €60

Following this workshop the series of Social Media and Digital Marketing training will continue with Digital & Social Media Bootcamp which is a two day course taking place in May and June, to be followed by advanced digital strategy and e-commerce events in autumn 2016.

The voice of the Irish Hardware Industry

www.hardwareassociation.ie

E-LEARNING

Audrey Matthews of Dunleer Hardware is joined by Brian Wogan and Amanda Creane as she receives her certificate of completion as the first graduate of The Hardware Education Hub New Employee Induction Training

NEW EMPLOYEE INDUCTION TRAINING The first course available on the platform is New Employee Induction training: a six-module programme which will get your staff up to speed quickly and aid you in complying with your requirements as an employer under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 and 2001.

There are six modules and five exams to complete. Topics range from general day-to-day HR policies on workplace requirements according to Irish Employment Law (disciplinary procedures, holidays and absenteeism etc.) right through to how to merchandise and sell hardware goods, and, an introduction to Health and Safety to complement any required H&S training.

Several members have already rolled this training out to their staff, our first graduate was Audrey Matthews of Dunleer Hardware (see above). From a manager’s point of view Frank Mc Donough said “E-Learning provides an accessible solution for training staff, without the need to have an employee away from the business for a day. The course introduces the concepts to the hardware business and also covers what is expected of them as employees, as well as what is expected from their employers.”

For Audrey, who came from a completely different sector the course gave a full introduction to the business “I found the training accessible and easy to use. It was a complete introduction for me as I came from a different sector.”

Along with the advantage of flexible and independent learning, employers can receive reports which monitor time actively spent by employees on each module, and on their performance in online assessments.

New Employee Induction Training will enable you to assess whether a new employee sufficiently understands what is required of them in their new role.

Access to the induction course is available at a discounted rate of €50 per employee for Members.

HAI also provides members with HR management tools to aid you in the HR management of your business.

These can be found in the Members’ Area of the Hardware Association Website hardwareassociation.ie.

The tools include a template Employee Handbook and Contracts of Employment, and, updates on Employment Law. As a member you can also avail of a free consultation on a HR issue with our partner Tom Smyth & Associates. www.hardwareassociation.ie

The voice of the Irish Hardware Industry

E-

G ONLINE PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE An important part of the ongoing training and development of your employees is keeping up to date with the specifications and capabilities of products available in your store.

We are currently building our bank of Product Knowledge Modules on different product areas; e.g. roofing, painting and decorating, flooring and ironmongery. Access to the Product Knowledge modules will be available free of charge to all Retail & Merchant Members.

Ray Savage, National Sales Manager for IKO Ltd in Ireland has already experienced the benefits of E-Learning in the sector; having rolled out product knowledge training to hundreds of trainees across multiple branches they supply their products to in the UK. “Our experience of our E-Learning project in the UK was positive from both our point of view and from our customers. Retailers and Merchants liked the flexibility which is inherently provided by the fact that their staff could complete training online. From a suppliers point of view E-Learning complimented classroom training by providing another avenue for ongoing and flexible learning in an engaging manner.”

-LEARNING

An example of the content from the IKO E-Learning Module

IKO are the pioneer suppliers who are using The Hardware Education Hub to provide online product training to HAI Members, Ray continues: “IKO Ltd was well known in the market for over 60 years as Irish Roofing Felts Ltd., in late 2014 we rebranded as IKO Ltd and first appeared to the market place as IKO Ltd at The Hardware Show in 2015. Since the success of the show we are continuing our rebranding process by looking to fresh and modern avenues to increase the familiarity of the IKO product range and E-Learning is one of the methods we are using. Our tagline is “setting the standard” with which we go to the market with a factual approach.

E-Learning is one of the ways we achieve this by giving us another avenue to continuously increase end users knowledge of our products”.

The IKO Product Knowledge E-Learning module consists of four topics: introduction, flat roofing products, pitched roofing products, and, liquid based roofing and weather protection. There are examinations after each topic, and the course takes under half an hour to complete.

All HAI Supplier, Distributor and Manufacturer Members are invited to provide E-Learning Modules on their product range, please contact: Amanda at amanda@hardwareassociation.ie or (01) 298 0969

The voice of the Irish Hardware Industry

www.hardwareassociation.ie

MEMBER OFFERS

CARD PAYMENT SERVICES HAI has recently completed a deal with AIB Merchant Services offering payment card services which includes competitive transaction rates with full PCI compliance support. In addition to this, AIB will offer €5 off the monthly rental of your selected terminal option further reducing the costs to your business.

AIB Merchants Services offer you an affordable end to end solution to support your business.

This includes: High speed transaction processing Dedicated and fully serviced merchant helpdesk Next day settlement to your nominated bank account PCI, compliance and risk support Award winning service and product innovation Revolutionary innovative EPOS solution reducing costs and driving efficiency for your business They would be delighted to discuss their capabilities and services in more detail with Hardware Association Ireland members. They are confident that they can support you in delivering market leading payment services and solution to your customers.

†Visa International Consumer Debit Card(s) will be charged at the Visa Consumer Credit Card Rate. ††Visa International Non Consumer Debit Card(s) will be charged at the Visa Non Consumer Credit Card Rate. *MasterCard International Consumer Debit Card(s) will be charged at the MasterCard Consumer Credit Card Rate. **MasterCard International Non Consumer Debit Card(s) will be charged at the MasterCard Non Consumer Credit Card Rate. ***International Maestro Card(s) will be charged at the MasterCard Consumer Credit Card Rate.

Rates are subject to continued review based on member feedback.

Contact: Jim Copeland on 087 667 1361 or jim@hardwareassociation.ie for further information.

www.hardwareassociation.ie

The voice of the Irish Hardware Industry

MEMBER OFFERS

CASH IN TRANSIT AND CASH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

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Handling Cash has become an ever increasing part of our business. Bank charges are only going one way, with security and time management of staff important issues. A Cash-in-Transit (CIT) and Cash Management solution is becoming a real option for members. With cash processing rates well below those of high street commercial banks, and very competitive rates for the collection and delivery of notes and coins this service offers a substantial saving for your business.

Hardware Association Ireland has negotiated a members rate with RMS Group Services, http://www.rmscashservices.com/, for their cash handling and management requirements.

RMS has established itself as one of the most professional and effective security companies in the Irish Market place providing an all-round service solution.

Established in 2008, it is a wholly Irish owned company with offices located in both Limerick and Dublin with nationwide coverage. Their Cash-in-Transit service offers the secure movement of money and valuables, to and from your premises, to a bank or cash processing centre. Delivering exceptionally high service levels, underpinned by strict industry regulations, guiding every action they perform, from staffing to equipment without compromise.

All employees are fully vetted and personally selected.

They employ cutting edge technology to ensure the highest security for both staff and valuables.

All collections accommodate individual business requirements.

NATIONAL COVERAGE Delivery / Collection rate

€25 - €28 per service

(urban on existing route - rural off route)

Cash Processing

€1.50 per €1,000

(Banking reconciliation report issued 24 hours after the initial collection. Value transferred by EFT)

Notes Supply

Coin Supply

€1.00 per €1,000 ex VAT

€1.5% of Value

Contact: Jim Copeland on 087 667 1361 or jim@hardwareassociation.ie for further information.

The voice of the Irish Hardware Industry

www.hardwareassociation.ie