Issuu

July/August 2026

The Official Magazine of Hardware Association Ireland

YOUR SUPPORT WELCOME

Visit thehardwarejournal.ie to view digitally

Message from the CEO

Firstly, I would like to thank all members who participated in the annual Wage Rate Survey. This provides an important health check on the state of the sector. We will present the results in a seminar later in the autumn - looking at wages and many other factors that impact the sector - more on this to follow. Our front cover for this edition of The Hardware Journal highlights the three major reports that HAI have produced on recommendations for housing. To date many of the recommendations contained are now policy - the incentives for empty homes and above the shop properties and some loosening up of the regulations on building rural family homes. However, some recommendations take time, far too much time to be actioned. For example, we first recommended a derelict property tax managed by the revenue commissioners back in 2023 - this will come into play later this year. Up to now Local Authorities have not collected tens of millions of euros of this tax. We at HAI are working on our pre budget submission. Much of this centres on housing - in the main the required number of homes needed in each local authority to deal with pent-up demand and future needs. This follows and complements a series of reports from last year defining housing needs and targets. HAI holds a large database of insights on housing. At a recent meeting of the Board of HAI, it was decided that we would share relevant data with Local Authorities to help them meet the housing challenge. Delivery on housing is critical, and our strategic intent is to measure their performance on housing. To this end we will be providing league tables of performance in housing by Local Authorities. The first of these league tables is on page 20. Later in the year we are planning a number of Housing Roadshows around the country - we were in Athlone in June and the next one planned will be in Limerick in October. The most recent Business Index shows a market value increase of 7% compared to Quarter One 2025. (See page 8) However much, if not all of this increase is attributable to increases in the prices of building materials. And since Quarter One this situation has become more acute with the uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East. In this edition there are a number of very compelling articles. Architect Tríona Stack, who presented at our recent Housing Roadshow in Athlone, shares some of the findings of her current research into empty buildings

July/August 2026

and building regulations on pages 16 & 17. She debunks some widely held beliefs on lifts, stairs, and fire resistance. And thankfully what she has uncovered is very encouraging for anyone looking at a project. Recently we alerted members of the Government’s request to stop selling portable barbecues. And with much of mainland Europe sweltering in high temperatures and threatened by fire the need to move away from our reliance on fossil fuels has never been clearer. The book Bungalow Bliss, published in 1971, facilitated tens of thousands of homes to be built across the country. Many of these homes are in need of an energy upgrade, and this will be a growing market for the next few years. Mount Lucas are bringing their training around the country - by bus! - for further details and to book please see page 22. Peter Rigney on pages 42 & 43 underlines the importance of understanding behaviour when designing a shop. He contends that customers are not looking for more choice, rather they are looking to have confidence in what they choose. And in the war for talent Iseult McLaughlin provides some good tips on how to get the best from your recruiter on page 59. Tommy Smyth looks at the importance of investing in training. HAI’s autumn training schedule is featured on page 21. Ian Craddock from Fexco asks are you losing margin on overseas supplier payments on Page 61 and John O'Shanahan from Lean BPI explains how a well-designed digital system can make work better for people. Regulatory issues are either in place or on the way. As we know there are issues that are pressing on the sector. We will be keeping members informed via regular communications from these three subject experts, see page 38. We have been featuring support articles in recent issues and shared across our social media, on these and many other subjects, and we be providing further information as appropriate in future webinars. We will keep members posted. Enjoy what remains of the summer and prepare for business in the latter part of the year.

Martin Markey Chief Executive Officer - HAI

contents

July/August 2026

The Official Magazine of Hardware Association Ireland

YOUR SUPPORT WELCOME

July/August 2026

Visit thehardwarejournal.ie to view digitally

FRONT COVER: Your support welcome.

129 Lower Baggot Street,

D2 D02 HC84 t +353 1 298 0969 e info@hardwareassociation.ie w www.hardwareassociation.ie @hardwareassoc ISSN 2009-5481

Published by: Hardware Association Ireland Editor: Jim Copeland, editor@hardwareassociation.ie Editorial/Feature Contributor: Aoife Kinsella 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.

news 6 Dulux Heritage – What’s new in Interiors? 7 United Hardware completes acquisition of Expert Hardware. 9 Woodies creates 34 new jobs as it officially opens first Co. Clare store. 10 Chadwicks Group celebrates colleagues graduating from Credit and Heating & Plumbing Academies.

11 United Hardware rolls out first Homevalue Concept Stores as part of national brand refresh.

12 Finalists announced for the 2026 Octabuild Awards. 14 Wavin welcomes new colleagues to its Leadership and Sales teams. 18 Tipperary’s Vacant Business Re-Open Grant: Turning Vacancy into Opportunity. 22 Retrofit for Sales – Bringing Retrofit knowledge to the counter. 23 Halo Tiles & Bathrooms brings exclusive European design brands to first Dublin showroom.

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.

24 SKIL – over 100 years of powering the construction trade. 26 Westland completes its tools portfolio with two major new range launches. 28 WD-40 Company launches first ecolabel-certified multi-use lubricant in Ireland. 29 Velux launches new partner programme to recognise installer excellence. 30 Record year for Irish e-waste recycling but outdated EU targets fail to capture ®

the full picture.

31 The right tool for the job: How one Combilift has delivered safe operations for 28 years.

32 Protool introduces new 18L cordless backpack sprayer. 35 Credit Team of the Year Awards: Recognising the importance of Credit Control. 36 Trade Day 2026 at Hafele Ireland. 37 Topline Murtaghs named Finalist in Retail Excellence Ireland Awards. 39 Gyproc in Ireland marks 90 years of building better with Barnardos refurbishment project.

July/August 2026

regulars 3

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

BUSINESS INDEX The results for Q1 2026 reveal strong year-on-year performance for the sector.

44 HAI GOLF SOCIETY The results of HAI’s latest golf outing in Naas.

45 CORPORATE PARTNERS A look at HAI’s corporate

profiles

features

48 STORE PROFILE:

partners and the services they offer.

TEMPLECRONE CO-OP LTD (THE COPE)

16 ABOVE THE SHOP: Architect Tríona Stack explores why

Empty Buildings above our shops stay empty, and what can fix it.

This year The Cope marks its 120th anniversary, celebrating twelve decades of serving the people and communities of West Donegal .

42 INNOVATIVE STORE DESIGN: Peter Rigney, Founder and

Creative Director of Rigney Forge, reveals how store design influences customer behaviour.

51 TAXATION FEATURE: Michael O’Leary, Tax Partner at

PKF Brenson Lawlor, clarifies some issues around the ‘Small Benefit Exemption’ incentive given by employers to employees during the year.

52 A VIEW FROM EUROPE: Our newest contributor, Elisa

Servais, a Belgian retail design specialist with 19+ years experience, shares her key lessons from Thierry Coeman’s latest publication - Hammertime!.

54 INSIDE THE RETAIL ENGINE: Fiorella Origlia returns to share her thoughts on the rise of professional demand in DIY retail.

training & education 21 HAI TRAINING: HAI launches its Autumn training schedule, featuring highly collaborative onsite workshops, and a refreshed virtual Marketing Series.

classified ads 76 A SELECTION OF CLASSIFIED ADS

56 STEVE COLLINGE: Steve contends that click & collect isn't a channel - it's a stress test.

business support 58 LEANBPI Consultant, John O’Shanahan, continues his

reflection on Lean, this time looking at how simple, incremental evolutions over time have helped make work better for people and organisations.

59 TACTICAL TALENT Director, Iseult McLaughlin, advises

readers on how to make sure your role remains a priority with your recruiter.

60 TOM SMYTH & ASSOCIATES Tommy Smyth reminds readers that training is an investment that you can’t afford to overlook as an employer.

61 FEXCO Ian Craddock explores the potential pitfall which

COMMERCIAL FEATURES 62 PLASTERBOARD & INSULATION The latest feature reveals the benefits of insulation that go beyond warming a home, including improving air quality, simplifying fire safety, and improving energy efficiency.

67 HEATING & PLUMBING A look at how new compact solutions, sustainable accreditations and modern, more ergonomic designs are revolutionising the heating & plumbing sector.

72 BUSINESS SYSTEMS The latest business support services and solutions for the sector, including Cash Handling, Payment Services and expert advice in Freight Procurement, all designed to improve operational efficiencies.

could be causing you to lose margin on overseas supplier payments. July/August 2026

News & Products

DULUX HERITAGE LEADING THE WAY ON INTERIOR PAINT This year, Dulux Heritage continues to invest in driving brand awareness. As proud sponsors of this year’s Great House Revival, the show reached 500,000 viewers weekly over its six-week run to date. Working with influencers Aimee Connolly and more recently James Kavanagh, James chose Heritage Boathouse Blue to stunning effect in his living room. The colour drenched room pops with the amount of natural light coming in. James shared his inspiration on his Instagram channels and also featured in a full article and editorial feature in the Irish Times, The Gloss magazine and online. Coming next, Dulux Heritage will collaborate with The Irish Times and another prominent Irish influencer. This partnership will kick off in late August and run through September, aiming to reach over two million people across various platforms. The journey and impact of Heritage will be showcased and supported across multiple touchpoints, including high-impact print ads, captivating editorial video transformations, and targeted digital display advertising.

NEW IN INTERIORS This year’s new colours bring a subtle touch of sophistication to your home. An inviting range of neutrals will help to shape your rooms into calm and welcoming spaces. Available in both matt and soft sheen, these tasteful tones will elevate your hall, living room, bedroom, or dining room. White Mist White Mist is an ultra-pale grey with a smoke-like quality. It is ideal for combining with other cool neutrals either on the ceiling or to create a light,

Dulux White Mist.

open space. Choose this colour if you are looking for a cool, natural white. Just Walnut Just Walnut is an elegant warm neutral with just enough colour to make it interesting and pale enough to ensure it works in just about any room. This neutral is a chic and relaxing alternative to cream. Pocket Stone Pocket Stone is a green toned beige. This medium depth colour is a modern

Dulux Just Walnut.

neutral for any living space. This versatile colour will bring a warm relaxed atmosphere to the room. These colours are available in the “Walls & Ceilings” range in the Matt or Soft Sheen finish. Dulux Heritage will be exhibiting at the Ideal Homes Exhibition at the RDS in October 2026. The Dulux Colour consultants will be available every day.

Dulux Pocket Stone.

July/August 2026

News & Products

UNITED HARDWARE COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF EXPERT HARDWARE The transaction strengthens support for independent hardware retailers and accelerates the growth of both the Homevalue and Expert Hardware brands across Ireland.

Expert Hardware members will benefit from United Hardware’s buying scale, marketing support, digital and retail technology platforms, HR capability and retail operations expertise. At the same time, United Hardware emphasised that the entrepreneurial independence, local ownership and community focus of both Homevalue and Expert Hardware members will remain central to the future strategy of the enlarged Group. Commenting on the completion of the acquisition, Paul Candon, Chief Executive Officer of United Hardware, said: “This is a very positive and strategic development for both organisations and, most importantly, for the independent hardware retailers and communities we collectively serve across Ireland”. “Expert Hardware is a highly respected and well-established brand with strong local roots and highly entrepreneurial members. From the outset, our focus has been on creating a stronger future together while preserving the identity, independence and community connection that makes both organisations successful”.

Paul Candon, CEO, United Hardware and David Baker, Chair of Expert Hardware.

United Hardware have recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Expert Hardware following clearance from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The transaction brings together two long-established organisations serving independent hardware retailers and builders’ merchants across Ireland and creates a combined network of more than 200 stores, supporting over 2,500 jobs nationwide, with annual retail turnover exceeding "500 million. United Hardware confirmed that both the Homevalue and Expert Hardware brands will continue to operate independently within the group, with ongoing investment planned in the development, expansion and positioning of both brands across their respective markets. The acquisition represents United Hardware’s strategic expansion into the community and convenience DIY sector, complementing the Group’s existing strength in the larger DIY, builders’ merchant and home improvement market through the Homevalue brand. Expert Hardware currently operates through a network of 51 independently owned stores located in towns and communities throughout Ireland. United Hardware believes there is significant opportunity to grow the Expert Hardware brand and network over the coming years, with an ambition to expand to more than 80 stores by 2030. The combined Group will provide increased scale, stronger supplier partnerships and enhanced support services for all members at a time of growing competition and consolidation within the sector. July/August 2026

“By bringing the two groups together, we are strengthening our ability to invest in our members through improved buying scale, technology, marketing, retail support and brand development, while ensuring both the Homevalue and Expert Hardware brands continue to evolve and grow in their own markets”. “We believe this transaction positions the enlarged Group exceptionally well for the future and further strengthens independent locally-owned hardware retailing at a time of significant change within the sector.” David Baker, Chair of Expert Hardware, said: “This marks an important and positive milestone for Expert Hardware and our members. In joining United Hardware, our members are becoming part of a larger and highly successful organisation that shares our values around independence, local ownership and supporting communitybased retailers”. “The transaction gives our members access to greater scale, enhanced commercial support and future investment opportunities, while ensuring the Expert Hardware brand and our local retail identity continue to be developed and strengthened. We are very confident this move creates long-term opportunity and sustainability for our members and positions the Expert Hardware brand strongly for future growth.” United Hardware said the enlarged Group will now focus on the next phase of development across both brands, including organic store growth, expansion of the retail network, investment in digital capability, enhanced customer experience and the continued strengthening of independent hardware retailing throughout Ireland. 7

Market Intelligence

BUSINESS INDEX Q1 2026 RESULTS Business Index Qtr 1 2026 year-on-year comparisons While growth is widespread, it was exceptionally strong in specific segments during the first quarter. Mid sized branches (+15%) and the Connacht/Ulster region (+13%) were the standout performers.

Monthly Business Index 2026 year-on-year comparisons* The quarter's strong year-on-year performance was kickstarted by a 12% jump in January. This initial surge successfully set a positive tone, offsetting a slight dip in February's performance.

The Business Index is collecting and analysing data at category level. Business Index Annual Review 2025 - 2026 Total Market (All Categories) Month on month comparisons Seasonality (2026 in red, 2025 in blue).

If members would like to contribute and benefit from category data please contact Martin at 087 2226532.

July/August 2026

News & Products

WOODIE'S CREATES 34 NEW JOBS AS IT OFFICIALLY OPENS FIRST CO. CLARE STORE Woodie's have recently officially opened its first store in Ennis creating 34 new jobs following a significant investment by the company. Located in Ballymaley Business Park, the new Woodie’s store spans 21,000 sq. ft., including an 8,000 sq. ft. garden centre. The opening marks an important milestone for the retailer, extending its nationwide network to 36 stores and strengthening its presence in the Mid-West region. The development has transformed a retail warehouse that had remained vacant and unfinished for almost two decades into a modern retail destination serving homeowners, gardeners and DIY enthusiasts across Clare and the wider Mid-West region. The new store has created specialist horticultural positions alongside a mix of full-time and part-time retail roles, while bringing Woodie's home improvement, garden and DIY offering to customers across Clare for the first time. The Ennis store showcases Woodie’s newly developed retail concept, designed in partnership with Irish design consultancy TAP and focused on inspiration, navigation and customer engagement. The shopper experience has been elevated with a renewed focus on what Woodie’s does best, including a redesigned dedicated customer helpdesk to provide expert advice and assistance at every stage of the shopping journey.

The official ribbon cutting at the recent opening of Woodie's Ennis.

In-store navigation has also been thoughtfully re-imagined making it easier for customers to find what they need, while enhanced product displays help inspire ideas and showcase the breadth of the Woodie’s offering. The site also benefits from more than 100 customer parking spaces, supporting easy access for shoppers from across Clare and the Mid-West region. A standout feature of the development is a dedicated outdoor garden centre providing customers with an inspiring destination for expert advice, seasonal ideas and everything they need to bring their outdoor spaces to life. The opening comes amid continued consumer investment in homes and gardens, with Woodie's reporting strong demand across categories including outdoor living, garden power equipment, lawn and garden care, paint and decorating, DIY products and home furnishings. The store was officially opened by Woodie's CEO Damien Dwyer and the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Mary Howard.

Mayor of Ennis Cllr Mary Howard and CEO Woodie's Damien Dwyer.

July/August 2026

Speaking at the opening, Damien Dwyer, CEO of Woodie's, said: "The opening of our first store in Co. Clare is a significant milestone for Woodie's and reflects our continued investment in communities across Ireland. We had been looking for the right opportunity to establish a presence in Clare for some time and Ballymaley Business Park offered the scale, convenience and strategic location needed to serve customers across the county”.

News & Products

CHADWICKS GROUP CELEBRATES COLLEAGUES GRADUATING FROM CREDIT AND HEATING & PLUMBING ACADEMIES Chadwicks Group has celebrated the graduation of 32 colleagues from across the business following the completion of two of its internal development programmes: the Chadwicks Heating & Plumbing Academy and the Chadwicks Credit Academy. The graduation, which took place on 17th June at Killashee Hotel in Naas, recognised colleagues from across Chadwicks Group who completed structured learning programmes designed to build specialist knowledge, strengthen business capability and support career progression within the organisation. A total of 18 colleagues graduated from the Chadwicks Heating & Plumbing Academy, the first programme of its kind for the Group. The academy was developed to support colleagues who are new to plumbing counter roles, as well as those looking to build their confidence and expertise in heating and plumbing. Running from October 2025 to April 2026, the programme combined practical learning, product knowledge and supplier-led training. Participants completed modules covering areas such as water systems, heating systems, oil heating, renewable technologies, supplier product training and selling skills. Training was delivered through a blend of sessions at the Ashfield Learning Centre and offsite learning with key suppliers, supported by Chadwicks Group subject matter experts, supplier guest speakers and external trainers.

Heating & Plumbing Academy Graduates with Company Management representatives. L -R are graduates: Adam Coakley, Adam O'Connor Walsh, Andrew Walsh, Barry Connolly, Blain Kavanagh, Brandon Pluck, Cian Thornton, Daniel Balfe, Feargal O'Gorman, Gavin Brown, John Moloney, Karl Higgins, Luke Donnelly, Maksym Kogut, Mark Ring, Olan Tighe, Patrick Kenny, Thomas Dunne. Guests included (on the left) Ken Brougham, Chadwicks MD; Emmet Boylan, Head of Sales; (on the right) Gar McCarthy, Category Manager; and Patrick Atkinson, CEO.

The Chadwicks Credit Academy was also recognised at the graduation, with 14 colleagues completing the programme. Graduates came from a range of roles across the business, including credit control, administration, sales, yard and logistics, with representation from specialist brands including Steel, The Panelling Centre and Davies. The Credit Academy is designed to help colleagues develop a deeper understanding of credit control and the important role it plays in supporting customers and the wider business. Delivered primarily by Chadwicks Group subject matter experts, with specialist input from Declan Flood of ICMT, the programme covered topics including credit decision-making, debt recovery, insolvency, customer communication, IT systems, collections, negotiation and the relationship between credit and sales. Together, the two academies reflect Chadwicks Group’s continued investment in colleague development and its commitment to creating opportunities for people to learn, grow and progress within the business.

Credit Academy Graduates with Company Management representatives. L -R are graduates, Adam Errity, Alan Newman, Catherine Murphy, Declan Tahaney, Elana O'Brien, Karen O'Driscoll, Laura Taaffe, Lee Kinsella, Linda Gueran, Lisa McKeown, Liz Reilly, Vicki Kelly. Guests included (on the left) Pat Walsh, Head of Credit Management; Oisin Seale, Regional Credit Control Manager; Patrick Atkinson, CEO; (on the right) Jean Kelly, Regional Credit Control Manager; Michael Dermody, Regional Credit Control Manager; Dawn Stedmond, Regional Credit Control Manager; and Damien Ruigrok, Finance Director. July/August 2026

News & Products

UNITED HARDWARE ROLLS OUT FIRST HOMEVALUE CONCEPT STORES AS PART OF NATIONAL BRAND REFRESH United Hardware has recently announced the rollout of its new Homevalue Concept store format, with Ferdia Homevalue in Ardee and Clane Providers Homevalue in Clane among the first to transition to the refreshed brand. The new concept stores mark the beginning of a phased rollout across the Homevalue Network, with 10 stores planned to rebrand in the first year, as part of a wider programme to strengthen the group’s national retail offering. Homevalue is owned and operated by United Hardware on behalf of its members with a network of over 88 independently owned stores nationwide, serving both trade professionals and household customers. The refreshed concept centres on positioning Homevalue as Trusted Local Experts, reinforcing the group’s long-standing strengths while introducing a more modern, consistent and customer-focused retail experience. The new store format includes updated layouts, clearer in-store navigation, and an improved balance between trade, DIY, home and garden categories, designed to better reflect evolving customer needs.

Paul Candon, CEO of United Hardware, said “The rollout of the new Homevalue concept stores is a significant step forward for the business and for our members. It represents a major investment in the brand, ensuring we continue to evolve in line with customer expectations while maintaining the local, independent model that defines our network”. “By positioning Homevalue as Trusted Local Experts, we are building on what has always set our stores apart, while also creating a more consistent and modern experience across the network.” The programme forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Homevalue’s position as a distinctive national brand with strong local relevance while continuing to build deeper connections with communities and reinforcing its authority in trade and DIY expertise. The first wave of rebranded stores provides a working model for the wider rollout, with further locations expected to transition as the programme develops. United Hardware continues to support its members through purchasing, marketing, logistics and business advisory services, including its central distribution facility based in Citywest.

Ferdia Homevalue, Ardee.

Clane Providers Homevalue, Clane.

Ferdia Homevalue instore.

Clane Providers Homevalue instore. July/August 2026

News & Products

22 BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS IN THE RUNNING FOR EIGHT AWARDS, NINE RISING STARS AND 23 UNSUNG HEROES NOMINATED The finalists have been announced for the 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards, following a record number of submissions from builders merchants across the island of Ireland. With 22 businesses now in contention across eight award categories, they reflect the strength, resilience and innovation that continue to define the sector. Following a highly competitive entry process, finalists are now in the running for four Regional Awards, the Digital Excellence Award, the Sustainable Business Excellence Award and the overall Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Award. In addition, nine employees have been nominated for the Rising Star Award, recognising emerging talent within the industry, while 23 individuals have been put forward for the inaugural Unsung Hero Award, celebrating those whose dedication and contribution behind the scenes play a vital role in the success of their businesses. Now approaching four decades of recognising excellence in the builders’ merchant trade, the Octabuild Awards continue to provide a platform for celebrating the individuals and businesses raising standards across the industry. The finalists represent merchants of all sizes and from every region, demonstrating excellence across customer service, people development, operational performance, sustainability and digital innovation. Following visits to shortlisted merchants throughout recent weeks, judges Phil Derby and Steve Collinge praised both the quality and depth of this year’s entries. Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Phil Derby said: “The standard of entries this year has been exceptionally high, and it was clear at every stop that merchants are genuinely investing in their businesses - in stores, yards and merchandising, but just as much in people, training, digital capability, sustainability and customer experience”. “It has been a real privilege to meet with so many impressive people across the builders’ merchants sector and to witness first-hand how they are moving the needle in their businesses. What impressed the panel most was the consistency: across every category, we saw businesses actively strengthening every customer touchpoint, whether that’s in person, on the phone, online or through newer digital channels”.

“The calibre of this year’s finalists reflects a sector that isn’t standing still - it’s evolving, competing hard, and raising its own bar. Reaching this stage is the result of a rigorous judging process, and every shortlisted business should take real pride in what they’ve achieved.” Speaking on behalf of the eight Octabuild members - Bostik, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement, Keystone and Kingspan Insulation - Octabuild Chairperson Mike Glennon said: “The response to the 2026 Awards has been phenomenal, with a record number of submissions received - the highest in the history of the Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards. That level of participation speaks volumes about the pride, ambition and commitment that exist across our industry”. “It has also been hugely encouraging to see the strong level of engagement with our new award categories, particularly the Unsung Hero Award, which has shone a light on the remarkable people working behind the scenes in builders’ merchants across the island”. “These Awards are about celebrating excellence and recognising the people and businesses that continue to strengthen our industry. Congratulations to all of this year’s entrants and we look forward to celebrating with the builders’ merchant community in the Round Room at the Mansion House in October”. The winners will be announced at the 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday, 1st October in The Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin. July/August 2026

News & Products

The finalists for the 2026 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards are: LEINSTER REGIONAL AWARD Brooks Timber & Building Supplies - Bluebell Chadwicks Sallynoggin Ferdia Homevalue - Ardee Telfords - Portlaoise Wallace’s Homevalue Hardware & Garden Centre - Wellingtonbridge Wogan Build Centre - Drogheda MUNSTER REGIONAL AWARD Chadwicks Clonmel Chadwicks Ballysimon Cork Builders Providers - Togher Stakelums Home & Hardware - Thurles CONNACHT / DONEGAL / MONAGHAN / CAVAN REGIONAL AWARD Chadwicks Galway Chadwicks Letterkenny Ganly’s Athlone Joyce’s Hardware & Home - Headford NORTHERN IRELAND REGIONAL AWARD Haldane Fisher Lisburn JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast MacBlair Antrim Murdock Builders Merchants - Antrim Newry Building Supplies UNSUNG HERO AWARD NOMINEES Jason Antrobus, MacBlair Antrim Darrell Bell, JP Corry Castlereagh Breda Breen, Chadwicks Gorey Paul Campbell, Haldane Fisher Newry Ian Copeland, JP Corry Newry John Davison, Haldane Fisher Larne Jonathan Eddie, MacBlair Central Support - Belfast Warren Gaffney, Wogan Build Centre - Drogheda John Gillespie, Ganly’s Athlone Kevin Guilly, Co-op Superstores Midleton Builders Providers Maryanne Quigley, Wallace’s Homevalue Hardware & Garden Centre Paddy Heffron, MacBlair Antrim Johnny Hurst, Newry Building Supplies Niamh Irwin, Stakelums Home & Hardware Jonny McEvoy, Haldane Fisher Lisburn Billy McIvor, Murdock Builders Merchants - Newry Daniel McNeill, Murdock Builders Merchants - Newry Kevin Leahy, Co-op Superstores Mitchelstown

July/August 2026

Randal Morwood, Haldane Fisher, Castle St Portadown Barry Still, Telfords, Portlaoise Kevin Sullivan, Plumb Merchants Limited - Dublin David Weatherup, MacBlair Duncrue David Wood, JP Corry Portadown SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD Chadwicks Galway Chadwicks Robinhood Road JP Corry Springfield Road, Belfast Stakelums Home & Hardware - Thurles DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD (1-5 Branches) Sheahans Homevalue Hardware - Nenagh Stakelums Home & Hardware - Thurles DIGITAL EXCELLENCE AWARD (6+ Branches) Chadwicks Robinhood Road Haldane Fisher Newry RISING STAR AWARD NOMINEES Danielle Allen, Telfords Luke Burford, Haldane Fisher Larne Rory Cooper, Wallace’s Homevalue Hardware and Garden Centre Ben Egan, Chadwicks Gorey Jason Fullerton, JP Corry Ballymena Mark Hegarty, Brooks Timber & Building Supplies - Sligo Michale McClorey, Cranwood Industries, Newry Oisin McGovern, Murdock Builders Merchants - Castlereagh Sarah Topley, Haldane Fisher Lisburn

Judges Phil Derby and Steve Collinge on one of their many store visits.

News & Products

WAVIN BOLSTERS LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT Leading drainage and plumbing manufacturer Wavin has announced the appointment of Maxine Cornelius as its new Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland as it continues to bolster its senior team.

Maxine joins from City Plumbing, one of the UK’s largest builders’ merchants, bringing extensive merchant-side expertise. During her time as Managing Director for sales in the business, she played a pivotal role in driving growth and commercial performance.

Maxine Cornelius, Wavin UK & Ireland Commercial Director.

Wavin has appointed Maxine to lead its UK and Ireland Sales Operations, with a clear brief to strengthen support for merchants and installers. Overseeing the full Building & Infrastructure range, Maxine will focus on delivering cohesive customer engagement, and a commercial strategy designed to help the trade grow sustainably.

Commenting on the appointment, Maxine said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Wavin, an organisation whose purpose and values closely align with my own. I’m particularly excited to work with our merchant partners in the UK and Ireland, continuing to build upon the strong relationships the team has built over the years. I look forward to working with the sales team to deepen these collaborations, drive growth, and deliver even greater value with our partners.”

added: “Maxine brings a wealth of experience to the sales team at Wavin. Her previous roles on the merchant side of the construction supply chain give her a distinct edge, and I’m confident this valuable insight and experience will help to drive a meaningful impact across all areas of the business. Her appointment continues to enhance our team of expert leaders, putting us in a strong position to serve our customers, communities, and colleagues across the UK and Ireland.”

Dan Scott, Vice President for Wavin’s Northern Europe business unit

To learn more about Wavin and Orbia, visit: www.wavin.ie

Alongside her UK responsibilities, a key area of focus for Maxine will be the development of the Wavin Ireland business, working closely with the Wavin Ireland Sales team led by Declan Conlon, Sales Director for Wavin Ireland.

WAVIN IRELAND WELCOMES MICK COADY TO ITS SALES TEAM Wavin Ireland is delighted to welcome Mick Coady to its sales team, where he will support customers across South Leinster and Tipperary. Mick joins Wavin from Galco, where he spent nine years working closely with builders’ merchants throughout Leinster and Munster, making him a familiar face to many in the sector. He brings 30 years of sales experience to the role, including 20 years within the construction industry.

Mick join us on the Wavin team. He brings extensive sales experience, along with a strong understanding of the merchant sector and the needs of our customers. We look forward to working with him as we continue to support merchants across the region.” Commenting on his appointment, Mick said: “I am delighted to have joined Wavin Ireland. Wavin has an excellent portfolio of product solutions for the merchant sector, and I am enjoying getting out to meet customers and build relationships in my new role.”

In his new position, Mick will work alongside Wavin Sales Director Declan Conlon and the wider sales team, helping to deliver the high level of service, technical knowledge and customer support for which Wavin is known.

Originally from a farming background, Mick remains a countryman at heart and enjoys spending time outdoors, while also being a keen supporter of Ireland and Leinster rugby, and the GAA.

Welcoming Mick to the business, Declan Conlon said: “We are very pleased to have

Mick can be contacted on 087 739 4634 or at mick.coady@orbia.com

To learn more about Wavin and Orbia, visit www.wavin.ie

Mick Coady, Wavin Sales team.

July/August 2026

News & Products

EVERY MILLIMETRE MATTERS As jobs become increasingly complex and deadlines tighter, precision on site has never been more important. Across electrical installation, construction and industrial applications, professionals are expected to work faster, safer and more accurately than ever before. Whether measuring, marking or levelling, the right tools are essential to achieving quality results first time.

working environments. Leading the range are the new Laser Cross Level and Digital Laser Measure, developed to provide fast, dependable measurements while helping users work more efficiently. Ideal for electrical installation, interior fit-out and general construction, both products offer the accuracy professionals need to complete jobs with confidence.

Digital measuring technology is transforming the way tradespeople work. Faster, more accurate and easier to use than ever before, today's digital solutions help eliminate guesswork, improve productivity and reduce costly mistakes. Whether calculating room dimensions, setting reference lines or checking levels, digital tools are becoming an everyday essential on site.

Alongside these digital innovations, the expanded range includes a comprehensive selection of traditional measuring and marking tools. New additions include professional box levels, torpedo levels and speed squares, all engineered for accuracy, durability and ease of use. The range also features the innovative Electricians Marker Level, purpose-built to allow electricians to level and mark fixing points simultaneously, helping speed up repetitive installation tasks.

Recognising this shift, C.K Tools has expanded its Measuring & Marking range with a new generation of professional products designed to deliver speed, accuracy and reliability in demanding

Completing the line-up is an enhanced selection of professional marking solutions, including marker pens and fine nib markers

A NEW

LEVEL OF PRECISION

designed to produce clear, permanent marks on a wide variety of surfaces commonly encountered on site. Even the smallest measuring error can lead to wasted materials, unnecessary rework and costly delays. By combining robust construction with dependable accuracy, the latest C.K Measuring & Marking range has been developed to help minimise those risks while improving productivity across every stage of the job. From advanced digital measuring technology through to trusted everyday essentials, the expanded C.K Measuring & Marking range reflects the evolving needs of modern tradespeople. Built for accuracy, durability and real-world performance, it provides professionals with the confidence to measure, mark and level with precision whatever the task. For further information please visit www.ck-tools.com

SCAN HERE to check out the range

Meet the new C.K measuring and marking range

July/August 2026

Above the Shop Feature

The Viability Gap: Why empty buildings above our shops stay empty - and what can actually fix it Triona Stack, MRIAI BArch MArchSc, Architect and Research Scientist at the Centre for Irish Towns, UCD, shares findings from the Vacant to Viable research project - an 18-month study commissioned by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and funded by Enterprise Ireland through Construct Innovate. Phase 1 mapped the real and perceived barriers to converting empty buildings into homes; Phase 2 focus groups, led and authored by the Irish Green Building Council, co-developed mitigations to those barriers. Introduction Walk down almost any main street in Ireland and you will see them. Empty floors above perfectly good shops. Buildings that once housed families, that became offices, that became storage, that became nothing. The grants to bring them back are better than they have ever been. I was invited to speak at HAI’s Unlocking Housing Opportunities event in Athlone in June 2026, where I shared findings from Phase 1 of the Vacant to Viable (V2V) research project - a study commissioned by DHLGH and funded by Enterprise Ireland through Construct Innovate. The grants are not the problem. In many cases, neither are the regulations. What those we interviewed told us is that projects are being stopped by a combination of misunderstood rules, missing guidance, and a process that nobody has clearly mapped out for the people who most need it. Making the Numbers Work Real above-the-shop conversions were running at around "220,000 total project cost per unit - including professional fees, VAT and fit-out - at the time of the SCSI’s Real Cost of Renovation report (2023). Adjusted for construction inflation using the SCSI’s own Tender Price Index, current costs are likely "245,000 - "250,000 per unit. The Vacant Above the Shop Grant (VATS), which opened in March 2026, provides "95,000 for one unit, "115,000 for two, and "135,000 for three or more. The viability gap - before other grants are stacked - is approximately "150,000 for a single unit, rising to "615,000 for three. A full breakdown of available supports, including SEAI grants, the Living City Initiative’s new Living Over the Shop tax relief (up to "300,000), and heritage grants are generally available. Those we interviewed were clear that the viability gap is not fixed. It moves - sometimes significantly - depending on how a project is set up. We encountered projects at similar cost points, in similar buildings, where one completed and one did not. The difference was almost never the building. It was process.

"People didn’t just decide to leave them vacant. They became unviable - through changes in society, and changes in regulations." - Architect interviewed for the V2V research Hidden Myths and Genius Gems The V2V research, currently being finalised for publication in late 2026, identified two categories of problem: genuine regulatory complexity, and misunderstanding - barriers that do not legally exist but are widely believed to. These findings were mapped in consultation with DHLGH officials and cross-referenced against the updated Bringing Back Homes Manual (April 2024). The Building Standards Unit engaged with the barrier-mapping process with notable openness - working through anonymised case studies with patience and rigour to distinguish what was real from what was perceived. Three Hidden Myths 1. The lift myth Part M (Access and Use) is not triggered by a change of use to flats - it is not on the statutory list under S.I. 608/2022. A Disability Access Certificate is not required and a lift does not need to be provided. This misconception alone has caused projects to be abandoned at considerable cost. 2. The stairs myth Part K (Stairs, Ramps and Guards) does not apply to a material change of use to flats. Where an existing stair is retained, the test is straightforward: safe, navigable, and do not make it worse. It can be narrow, have winders, and be repaired rather than replaced. 3. The fire resistance myth Projects stall over 60-minute fire resistance requirements for existing floors and walls. What many do not know is that approved methodologies already exist. The difficulty is not professional competence - it is that the relevant documents are not free, not easy to locate, and not reproduced in the Technical Guideance Documents (TGDs). In conditions of uncertainty, with personal liability for certification, conservative approaches are rational. Which is precisely why making these tools accessible matters. Four genius gems 1. BRE Digest 128 and BRE Report 208 Cited in TGD-B as constituting prima facie compliance with Part B, these documents provide approved methodologies for upgrading existing walls and floors to the required fire resistance rating - often through a fire-resistant layer rather than demolition. They are not reproduced in the TGDs and not widely known. Asking your fire consultant whether they apply is one of the most valuable things an architect or building owner can do. July/August 2026

Above the Shop Feature

2. No new or greater contravention If an existing element, a stairs for example, already satisfies the relevant requirement and is fit for purpose, it can be left in place. You do not need to upgrade it. This single principle, properly understood, can save tens of thousands of euro on a conversion by avoiding unnecessary interventions. 3. The planning exemption (S.I. 75/2022) Since 2022, qualifying vacant commercial buildings - shops, offices, light industrial units and public houses - can be converted to residential use without planning permission, subject to conditions including two years’ vacancy and a maximum of nine units. Works must completed by the end of 2028. The planning barrier has effectively been removed - and most owners do not know it. 4. The Fire Safety Certificate as a positive Required for a change of use to multiple flats, the FSC is widely seen as a burden. In fact it is one of the most useful tools available: the local authority certifies that the proposed design complies with Part B, bringing the fire officer into the design team at the right moment and providing certainty before construction begins. What This Means for Merchants and Suppliers For builders merchants and hardware suppliers, every stalled conversion are materials that never get ordered and a fit-out that never happens. Those we interviewed consistently identified one intervention that costs almost nothing: get the right people around one table early - planning, building control, fire safety and conservation - while the design can still change cheaply. The updated Bringing Back Homes Manual is a valuable starting point, but practitioners are asking for one step further: specific guidance on how to achieve compliance in practice, with Acceptable Construction Details for the building types most commonly encountered. If a customer mentions a vacant building above a shop: get an architect in early; do not assume a lift is needed; do not assume the existing stairs must go; and do not accept second-hand opinions on what the fire officer will or will not accept - ask directly. The Expert Advice Grant of up to "5,000 exists precisely to fund that first feasibility step before any commitment is made. The buildings are there. The money is there. What is missing is a clearer map of the route through - and the confidence that one exists. Conclusion The reuse of vacant above-the-shop buildings is one of the most viable routes to increasing housing supply on our main streets. The grant supports are strong. The regulatory framework, while complex and in need of clearer guidance for existing buildings, is navigable - and in many cases less demanding than people believe. What those working on these projects told us is that the gap between a vacant building and a finished home is closed not by more funding alone, but by clearer guidance, earlier engagement, and a better understanding of what the regulations actually require.

July/August 2026

Triona Stack, Lead Investigator on the Vacant to Viable research project.

The lift is probably not required. The stairs can likely stay. The fire resistance problem almost certainly has an approved solution. The first step is finding a design team that knows where to look - and a local authority that is ready to sit down with them. Triona Stack MRIAI BArch MArchSc Triona Stack was Lead Investigator on Phase 1 of the Vacant to Viable (V2V) research project, covering the mapping of real and perceived barriers to the reuse of existing buildings, with particular emphasis on above-the-shop conversion. Phase 2 - focus groups to co-develop mitigations - was led by the Irish Green Building Council, who are currently authoring and polishing the final report. Triona is an architect with over 25 years’ experience in practice and a Research Scientist (Architect) at UCD’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. She is a member of the RIAI Urban Design Taskforce and the Vacant to Vibrant Building Alliance (VVBA) Steering Group. The V2V project was commissioned by DHLGH and funded by Enterprise Ireland through Construct Innovate. Principal Investigator: Dr Philip Crowe, UCD. Lead Investigator (Phase 1): Triona Stack, UCD. Project Managers: Marion Jammet and Joselyn López Pelayo, Irish Green Building Council. The V2V research was awarded the RIAI Architecture Award 2026 in the Research category. Further findings will be published in late 2026. triona.stack@ucd.ie

News & Products

TURNING VACANCY INTO OPPORTUNITY How Tipperary’s Vacant Business Re-open Grant is Using Data, Digital Innovation and AI to Revitalise Commercial Property.

need to search multiple websites and agencies to identify a property, calculate rates, assess planning considerations, understand grant eligibility and investigate available business supports. The VBR platform addresses this challenge by integrating a diverse range of public and private datasets into a single online portal. Rather than simply displaying vacant properties, the system transforms raw information into actionable business intelligence. The platform was developed around a simple principle: make it easier for people to move from considering a business idea to making an investment decision. The Data Sources Powering the Platform One of the most innovative elements of the project is its comprehensive use of integrated datasets.

Across Ireland, the challenge of vacant and underutilised commercial properties continues to feature prominently in discussions around town-centre regeneration, economic resilience and sustainable development. For local authorities, developers, property owners and construction professionals alike, the question is no longer simply how to identify vacant premises, but how to transform them into viable, investment-ready business opportunities. Tipperary County Council's Vacant Business Re-open (VBR) Grant represents an innovative response to this challenge. More than a traditional grant scheme, the initiative combines financial support, relevant datasets, property intelligence, digital technology and artificial intelligence into a single platform designed to stimulate the reoccupation of vacant, and in some cases derelict commercial buildings throughout the county. By bringing together property data, planning information, grant supports and AI-powered business development tools, the project demonstrates how local government can use digital transformation to accelerate town-centre renewal and unlock investment potential. A Grant Scheme Designed Around Regeneration The Vacant Business Re-open Grant was established to encourage businesses to occupy vacant commercial premises by providing significant rates-based financial assistance. The scheme supports premises that have been vacant for at least three months and can provide assistance equivalent to up to 100% of commercial rates, with additional supports available in certain circumstances, including businesses operating within designated town-centre zones or sectors that contribute to the night-time economy, tourism and creative industries. The scheme operates over a three-year period, allowing businesses to build resilience as they establish themselves. From a regeneration perspective, the rationale is straightforward. Every vacant shopfront, office or commercial unit represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Empty buildings reduce footfall, discourage investment and diminish the attractiveness of town centres. Conversely, when these properties are reoccupied and refurbished, they generate employment, increase economic activity and contribute to the long-term vitality of towns and villages. Turning Data into Opportunity A recurring challenge for entrepreneurs and investors is the fragmented nature of information. A prospective business owner may 18

Rather than creating a new property database from scratch, Tipperary County Council partnered with MyHome.ie, enabling commercial properties listed for sale or lease to automatically populate the platform. This provides users with live, market-facing property information while eliminating the need for duplicate data management. The platform also incorporates information from Tailte Éireann, who provide a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State, enabling users to better understand existing property uses, rates calculations (Annual Rate on Valuation, ARV) and associated commercial information. Grant Eligibility and Zone Mapping The platform incorporates VBR zone mapping, identifying whether a property is located within a Core Retail Area, Main Street, Town Centre, Urban Area, Village or Countywide eligibility zone. Based on location and business type, users can quickly determine the level of grant support potentially available. Planning and Location Intelligence Beyond property data, the platform integrates information that is critical when assessing business viability. This includes: – – – – – – –

Planning considerations Transport infrastructure Schools and educational facilities Parking availability Leisure amenities Retail services Community and local amenities

This location intelligence provides a more complete understanding of a property's commercial potential and catchment area. Business Support Data The portal brings together information from national enterprise support programmes and business-development resources, including supports available through enterprise agencies and government programmes. This ensures prospective business owners can identify financial, mentoring and development supports from the same platform where they discover suitable premises. July/August 2026

News & Products

Franchise and Market Opportunity Data Recognising that not every entrepreneur wishes to start from scratch, the platform also includes franchise opportunities relevant to the Tipperary market. By combining available commercial properties with franchise information, the system helps connect vacant premises with proven business models and established brands. API Partnerships and Open Data The project also leverages Places API technology alongside local government and departmental datasets, creating a wider data ecosystem that supports evidence-based decision-making for both investors and local authority staff. Specialised AI Agents: Bringing Vacant Buildings to Life While data integration is a major achievement, the platform's most innovative feature is arguably its use of specialised AI agents. Vacant and derelict properties often suffer from a perception problem. Potential occupiers may struggle to visualise how an empty unit could be transformed into a thriving business. To overcome this obstacle, the platform uses AI-powered visualisation tools to generate concept imagery tailored to specific business categories. An empty premises can be digitally reimagined as: – – – – – – –

A café or restaurant A retail store A tourism business A creative workspace Professional offices Health and wellbeing services Artisan or specialist retail operations

These visual outputs provide prospective occupiers with a realistic impression of the building's future potential, helping move discussions from vacancy to opportunity. For construction professionals, these visualisations can also act as early-stage design references that help communicate possibilities to clients, investors and stakeholders. AI-Generated Business Brochures and Opportunity Reports The platform extends AI functionality beyond visualisation. Custom AI agents have been developed to generate tailored business brochures, property prospectuses and business-planning supports based on individual premises and proposed business types. Rather than requiring users to compile large amounts of information manually, the system can assemble relevant property data, local supports and opportunity assessments into easily understood reports. These AI-generated outputs help entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities more quickly while enabling property owners and regeneration stakeholders to present vacant premises in a more attractive and professional format. What previously required significant manual research can now be produced in minutes, creating a valuable tool for investment attraction and property marketing. Operational Benefits for Local Government The platform has also transformed how Tipperary County Council supports economic development and regeneration activities. Previously, staff often dealt with enquiries across multiple departments and information sources. Today, the VBR platform serves July/August 2026

as a centralised resource that combines property information, grants, rates calculations, business supports and AI-generated outputs into a single user experience. This reduces administrative burden while improving consistency and service quality. Rather than responding to individual enquiries in isolation, Council staff can direct entrepreneurs and investors to a comprehensive digital ecosystem that supports informed decision-making from first enquiry through to business establishment. Supporting the Reuse of Derelict Properties The platform's focus extends beyond vacancy to include underutilised and derelict commercial properties. Through enhanced grant supports, data-driven opportunity analysis and AI-enabled business-planning tools, the platform seeks to reduce the barriers associated with bringing more challenging buildings back into active use. A Blueprint for Future Regeneration Perhaps the most significant achievement of the VBR platform is its potential scalability. The project demonstrates how local authorities can combine publicsector datasets, private-sector information, grant supports and artificial intelligence to create practical solutions for place-based challenges. Because the platform is built around reusable datasets, automated property feeds and modular digital services, the underlying model could be replicated across other local authorities. Conclusion The Vacant Business Re-open Grant is far more than a rates support scheme. It represents a comprehensive digital regeneration platform that combines live property data, geospatial intelligence, planning information, business supports and specialised AI agents to transform vacant premises into compelling investment opportunities. By integrating property listings, rates information, franchise opportunities, planning datasets, business supports and AI-generated visualisations into a single online system, Tipperary County Council has created a powerful model for revitalising town centres and encouraging investment in existing commercial buildings. For developers, architects, surveyors, contractors and regeneration professionals, the initiative demonstrates how technology can accelerate the journey from vacant building to thriving businessturning commercial vacancy from a challenge into an opportunity for economic growth and sustainable development across County Tipperary. For further information visit www.tipperarycoco.vbrgrant.ie 19

News & Products

DELIVERING ON HOUSING Homes created in 2025 as a % of Population in 2022 Homes Completed in 2025 Apartment

Scheme house

Single house

Rejuv. Empty Homes

Total Homes

Homes created per 1,000 population

South Dublin

2,189

1,277

3,576

11.9

Louth

382

1,031

127

1,622

11.6

Fingal

1,611

1,900

3,648

11.0

Meath

225

1,565

344

2,214

10.0

Laois

629

119

912

9.9

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown

1,498

492

116

2,156

9.2

Kildare

187

1,809

178

2,267

9.1

Wicklow

233

948

197

1,419

9.1

Westmeath

130

455

155

790

8.2

Dublin City

4,324

107

271

4,790

8.1

Sligo

288

103

136

528

7.5

Cork City

279

1,157

1,596

7.1

Wexford

703

309

107

1,167

7.1

Cork County

1,504

629

222

2,446

6.8

Monaghan

141

149

404

6.2

Clare

320

265

156

781

6.1

Galway County

543

492

1,153

6.0

Waterford City & County

505

157

762

6.0

Tipperary

541

228

190

995

5.9

Donegal

206

454

303

986

5.9

Kilkenny

356

128

613

5.9

Galway City

165

205

454

5.3

Kerry

372

292

801

5.1

Cavan

163

137

416

5.1

Leitrim

178

5.1

Limerick City & County

500

286

106

975

4.7

Mayo

154

282

112

611

4.4

Offaly

140

157

358

4.3

Roscommon

100

117

301

4.3

Carlow

129

242

3.9

Longford

150

3.2

State

12,042

18,303

5,901

3,065

39,311

7.6

LA Area

This data is part of a suite of insights focussing on housing delivery by Local Authorities (LA). Initially HAI will report the position by LA and then look for solutions.

July/August 2026

Training

HAI Training Schedule Autumn 2026 Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) is delighted to announce its classroom/virtual training schedule for Autumn 2026. This Autumn, HAI will be welcoming members back to the physical classroom, with the return of some of its most popular workshops, tailored to the hardware & building materials sector, delivered in an interactive, central setting.

This schedule also includes the launch of our virtual Marketing Series, which comprises a series of short, sharp marketing workshops, delivered via Zoom. These 90-minute sessions are available to book individually or as a package.

COST:

HAI Member €

Non-Member €

1 Day

275

325

Portlaoise

1 Day

275

325

Terry Harmer

Portlaoise

1 Day

275

325

Leadership & Communication Skills

Noel Davidson

Portlaoise

2 Days

450

500

Tuesday 13th October

Stock Control

James Burke

Portlaoise

1 Day

275

325

Thursday 15th October

Merchandising

James Burke

Portlaoise

1 Day

275

325

3rd November

Customer Service Excellence

Terry Harmer

Portlaoise

1 Day

275

325

DATE

COURSE TITLE

TRAINER

LOCATION

DURATION

Tuesday 15th September

Selling Skills: Retailers & Merchants

Terry Harmer

Portlaoise

Tuesday 22nd September

Profit Maximisation

Declan Flood

Wednesday 23rd September

Selling Skills for Suppliers

30th September, 7th October

Marketing Series Wednesday 14th October

AI for Sales & Marketing

Denis Jastrzebski

Zoom

90 minutes

100

Tuesday 20th October

Social Media for the Hardware Sector

Denis Jastrzebski

Zoom

90 minutes

100

Wednesday 21st October

Email Marketing for the Hardware Sector

Denis Jastrzebski

Zoom

90 minutes

100

Thursday 22nd October

Video Marketing for the Hardware Sector

Debbie Ringwood

Zoom

90 minutes

100

Want to attend all 4 Marketing Series sessions? Available at discounted rates per person: HAI Member:!"275 Non-Member:!"375 To book places or for any queries about training email aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969. July/August 2026

News & Products

RETROFIT FOR SALES BRINGING RETROFIT KNOWLEDGE TO THE COUNTER As Ireland's retrofit programme continues to gather pace, hardware retailers and builders' merchants have an increasingly important role to play. Every day, customers rely on hardware store and builders merchant staff for trusted advice on retrofit products and solutions including insulation, heating, ventilation, grants and energy-efficient products. Having knowledgeable, confident teams at the counter can make all the difference. Developed in partnership with Hardware Association Ireland and SEAI, and delivered by The National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas, Retrofit for Sales has been designed specifically for merchant teams. This fully funded, one-day programme combines practical retrofit knowledge with realworld sales scenarios, giving participants the confidence to ask the right questions, understand customer needs and recommend appropriate retrofit products and solutions. The course covers the key principles of home energy upgrades, including insulation, heating systems, ventilation, airtightness and SEAI grant supports, while explaining how these elements work together to improve the energy performance of a home. The emphasis is on practical knowledge that can be applied immediately in-store, helping businesses provide an even higher level of customer service.

Recognising the needs of retailers across the country, the programme offers flexible delivery options. – – –

Training can take place at the National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas It can be delivered regionally using LOETB's mobile NZEB Training Rig Or even in your own store, allowing your team to learn in the environment where they support customers every day.

Ready to equip your team for Ireland's retrofit future? Whether you're looking to train staff from a single branch or across multiple locations, Mount Lucas would be delighted to work with you to deliver the programme in the way that best suits your business. Please get in touch to discuss the delivery option that best suits your business, contact Ireland`s National Construction Training Campus, Mount Lucas, phone 057 936 2508 or email info@mountlucas.ie.

July/August 2026

News & Products

HALO TILES & BATHROOMS BRINGS EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN DESIGN BRANDS TO FIRST DUBLIN SHOWROOM Halo Tiles & Bathrooms has opened its first Dublin showroom in Sandyford, creating a new destination for exclusive European tile, stone and bathroom brands and marking the latest stage in the growth of the Irish family-owned business. A Legacy Built on Quality and Trust Founded in Camolin village, Co. Wexford in 1972 by Tom and Sheila Doyle and now led by their son, Patrick Doyle, Halo has grown from a local family business into a nationwide supplier of tiles, bathrooms and interior surfaces, with showrooms in Wexford, Cork and now Dublin. The Dublin opening follows continued demand for premium tile and specialist bathroom solutions, creating a dedicated destination where customers can view products and receive expert guidance for residential, hospitality and commercial projects. The new Dublin showroom showcases a range of tiles, natural stone, terrazzo, and bathroom solutions sourced from established European manufacturers giving Irish customers access to recognised manufacturers and specialist surface collections not widely available in the Irish market. Patrick Doyle, Managing Director of Halo Tiles & Bathrooms, said: "Our new Dublin showroom represents a significant investment in both our customers and the future of the business. While we have grown over the past five decades, our focus remains unchanged, providing quality products, expert advice and a personal service that reflects our family-owned values. The opening allows us to bring our superb range of international collections closer to customers in Dublin while supporting architects, designers, developers and homeowners seeking distinctive products for their projects." Exclusive Design Brands Halo offers a curated selection of leading international brands. Among them is Salvatori, the Italian design house known for its use of natural stone, alongside Living Ceramics, a European manufacturer recognised for providing unique ceramic solutions to interior design projects. The showroom also features Veniston, based in the heart of Verona's marble district and specialising in sustainable surfaces, and La Pietra Compattata, which creates recycled natural stone recovered from Italian quarries, and for whom, Halo is proud to be the exclusive Irish stockist. Customers can also view collections from Portuguese tile maker New Terracotta, known for its handmade tiles and limited-edition ceramics, and Milan-based tile company Mutina, internationally recognised for its collaborations with some of the world's leading designers. The showroom also features Casabath, specialists in July/August 2026

bespoke bathroom solutions, alongside Bleu Provence, the Italian design brand renowned for its refined approach to bathroom furniture. This investment reflects Halo's focus on supplying high-quality products from leading European producers to homeowners, architects, interior designers, developers, and commercial clients. Halo Tiles & Bathrooms Collection Alongside its selection of international brands, Halo has its own Halo Tiles & Bathrooms Collection. This features a carefully curated range of their own brand premium sanitaryware, including toilets, vanity units, showers, baths, and brassware. Built on long-standing relationships with established suppliers, Halo ensures all products meet recognised quality standards and certifications. This commitment underpins a range defined by quality, design, and durability. The Halo Tile & Bathrooms Collection continues to evolve, reflecting global interior trends and providing customers with access to a regularly refreshed, contemporary offering. To book a consultation and visit the Dublin Showroom phone (01) 908 8398, or email sales@halotiles.ie. Unit T10, Maple Avenue, Stillorgan Business Park, Sandyford, Dublin A94 P9X9. 23

News & Products

SKIL - OVER 100 YEARS OF POWERING THE CONSTRUCTION TRADE For more than a century, SKIL has been a trusted name in power tools. Since the launch of the original circular saw in 1924, better known around the world as the iconic SKIL Saw, the brand has built a reputation for innovation, reliability, and performance. As the official distributor for SKIL across the island of Ireland, International Tool Industries (Monaghan) is proud to offer an extensive range of SKIL power tools to resellers nationwide. Don O'Toole, General Manager at International Tool Industries (ITI), believes the SKIL brand continues to evolve while meeting the demands of today's market. "SKIL has successfully adapted to the needs of modern users, offering a comprehensive range of power tools for professional tradespeople, the independent contractor, and DIY enthusiasts alike. Our philosophy is simple - a power tool for every job and every home." The SKIL portfolio now includes more than 300 power tool products, featuring combi kits, drills, saws, table-top machines, and accessories. These are supported by three advanced cordless battery platforms, all available from ITI's extensive stockholding for fast and reliable supply. Quality You Can Trust A strong in-store presence is essential to showcasing the SKIL brand, but the real investment is in the confidence customers gain when they choose SKIL.

That's why SKIL backs its products with one of the strongest warranties available in Europe: – –

5-year warranty on brushless power tools 3-year warranty on batteries

This outstanding guarantee, combined with quality engineering and highly competitive pricing, delivers exceptional value for professionals and home users alike. Partner with ITI Following the continued success of the SKIL range, International Tool Industries welcomes the opportunity to work with reseller stores throughout Ireland. ITI can supply a fully merchandised SKIL display package, designed to maximise in-store visibility and help customers easily select the right tool for every application. Backed by industry-leading warranties and comprehensive product support, SKIL offers retailers a compelling brand that continues to grow in popularity. Visit www.internationaltoolindustries.com to explore the complete SKIL range, or contact their sales team on 047 30650. They are ready to help you find the right SKIL solution for your business and your customers.

July/August 2026

Our intelligent tools deliver optimal performance and maximum power. Patented battery technology means that they run longer and charge faster. SKIL tools have the power to empower - they’re always the right tool for the right job.

Gets the Job done For any enquiries please contact... Killyleen, Ballinode, Co. Monaghan, H18 HT63 Tel. 047 30650 sales@internationaltoolindustries.com www.internationaltoolindustries.com

News & Products

WESTLAND COMPLETES ITS TOOLS PORTFOLIO WITH TWO MAJOR NEW RANGE LAUNCHES Westland have launched their Agri Master and Landshaper tool range in July at this year’s GLAS Trade Show, creating one of Ireland’s most complete capability-led tools offering and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Irish gardening and landscape market. Launching Agri Master (available September 2026) and K&S Landshaper (available December 2026), Westland becomes one of the only suppliers in the country to offer retailers a complete capability-led tools portfolio, designed around the way consumers really work outdoors. The Westland portfolio now comprises: – Kent & Stowe Garden Life: Endless Capability - lightweight tools for effortless gardening. –

Kent & Stowe Stainless Steel: Growing Capability premium tools for passionate gardeners.

–

Agri Master: Enduring Capability - purpose-built for landowners, smallholders, equestrian users and customers maintaining larger outdoor spaces.

–

K&S Landshaper: Serious Capability - professional-grade tools engineered for landscaping, groundworks and demanding outdoor projects.

Built Around Irish Consumers Ireland's unique mix of urban gardeners, larger rural gardens, landowners, equestrian users, smallholders and professional landscapers demands a more intelligent approach than the traditional good, better, best product hierarchy. Instead, Westland has developed its portfolio around four distinct capability platforms, enabling retailers to merchandise tools around consumer needs rather than price points. From the occasional gardener to those who shape and care for the land, Kent & Stowe and Agri Master provide a clear pathway through every stage of capability. Assumpta Meally, Country Manager at Westland Horticulture Ireland, commented: "Our ambition is simple, to build the strongest tools category in Ireland. Rather than asking retailers to choose between disconnected brands, we've created one complete portfolio that serves every type of customer. Combined with local stockholding, outstanding merchandising and a fully funded marketing programme, we're making a long-term investment in the category and in our retail partners' success." For further information, merchandising solutions or ranging discussions, contact marketing@westland.com.

Together, these four ranges provide retailers with a clear merchandising strategy, enabling shoppers to select the right tools for their level of capability and application, while remaining within one trusted supplier. Investing in the Future of the Category Westland believes the Irish tools market deserves more than simply new products. The company has developed a complete category solution designed to help retailers grow sales, simplify ranging decisions, and create stronger in-store destinations.

Agri Master Grain Shovel.

Agri Master Irish Pattern Shovel.

KS Landshaper Microshovel.

KS Landshaper Spade.

The launch of Agri Master and K&S Landshaper are supported by significant investment, including: – Local stockholding in Ireland – Comprehensive POS conversion kits – Premium merchandising systems – National marketing campaigns – Consumer PR and communications – Digital and social media activation – Retail training and launch support This integrated programme gives retailers confidence that the category will be supported throughout the season, and not just simply supplied.

July/August 2026

News & Products

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING HARDWARE, NOW AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Contico brings a proven range of commercial-grade cleaning equipment to Ireland's hardware and builders merchant network. Tough, reliable, and ready to stock. For years, Contico has supplied trade-quality cleaning and janitorial equipment into the commercial cleaning sector across Ireland including durable buckets, mopping systems, waste and

recycling solutions, and industrial-grade squeegees and brushware built to withstand daily commercial use. Now, as a member of HAI, they are bringing that same reliability directly to Ireland's hardware and DIY retailers, builders’ merchants, and trade distributors. If you’re looking for a proven brand of cleaning and maintenance products that complements your existing hardware offering, then get in touch today to explore stocking Contico products. Why choose Contico? – Robust, commercial-grade products built for durability – Competitive trade pricing and flexible supply options – Irish-based support you can rely on As an inaugural offer, all new enquiries will have access to their seasonal outdoor cleaning products at a specially discounted rate when you give the code CON1124. For further information visit www.contico.ie or phone 01 4111509 / 01 4111515 or email sales@contico.ie

CMY

July/August 2026

News & Products

WD-40® COMPANY LAUNCHES FIRST EU ECOLABEL-CERTIFIED MULTI-USE LUBRICANT IN IRELAND WD-40® Company Limited, a global leader in maintenance and lubrication products, is proud to announce the launch of WD-40 Specialist® Bio Lubricant Multi-Use. Innovation has defined the WD-40 Brand for more than 70 years, and WD-40 Company continues that legacy with the launch of the first multi-use product in our category certified under the EU Ecolabel lubricant criteria (Decision(EU) 2018/1702). Made with 85% biogenic renewable ingredients, the product becomes one of the first in the Irish market to meet the strict environmental standard of EU Ecolabel, all while delivering the professional-grade performance expected of WD-40. The versatile formula is suitable for lubrication, penetration, and protection and is ideal for use in the home, workshop, and garden, as well as for bike maintenance. Concern around the climate crisis and sustainability has been growing over the years, and as many as 81% of Irish people are highly concerned about climate change, with 74% willing to make changes in order to live more sustainably*. In line with the international trend, younger generations are more concerned with sustainability, and as the trade workforce continues to get younger, it’s important to provide options to those looking for them. For those tradespeople who are more environmentally conscious, WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use fits perfectly into their daily jobs and tasks. Formulated for frequent, hands-on maintenance, the bio-based formula is designed to be more comfortable for prolonged handling and use in well-ventilated workshops and construction sites. The formulation doesn’t carry the CLP exclamation mark hazard pictogram, meaning it’s not considered hazardous to health or the ozone layer, and it doesn’t contain any solvents that are classified as causing dizziness or drowsiness. WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use is ideal for removing grease from exposed metal and lubricating fixings.

Spray on Bike chain and gears.

This new multi-purpose formula displaces moisture and protects against rust and corrosion, making it a valuable addition to the toolbox. Compatible with metals as well as most rubbers and plastics, it will protect chains, scaffolding, pliers, and hinges, as well as wrenches, cable cutters, and other tools. Steve Brass, president and CEO of WD-40 Company, said, “For more than 70 years, WD-40 Company has helped people solve everyday problems. With the launch of WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use, we are extending that legacy and proving that our product can meet strict sustainability standards without compromising effectiveness. This launch is also a demonstration of our commitment to environmental stewardship, practical innovation and doing the right thing.” WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use is available to buy now, distributed by LKQ Ireland, For more information on WD-40 Specialist Bio Lubricant Multi-Use please visit www.wd40.co.uk. To become a stockist, please contact info@wd40.co.uk. * Full article: Assessing public awareness, barriers, and skill needs for climate action and sustainable practices in Ireland https://tinyurl.com/climate-actionsustainable25

Protect Work Tools Cutters.

July/August 2026

News & Products

VELUX LAUNCHES NEW PARTNER PROGRAMME TO RECOGNISE INSTALLER EXCELLENCE VELUX has launched its new VELUX Partner Programme, a tiered initiative designed to recognise, reward and support professional installers as they install VELUX roof windows and engage with the brand. The programme is built around strengthening relationships with installers and supporting them in delivering the highest quality outcomes for homeowners. It is not a test or accreditation, but a recognition of installer loyalty, commitment and excellence. Through a clear tiered structure, the more active installers are within the programme, the more benefits and rewards they unlock. This approach is designed to create stronger partnerships, enhanced support and better customer experiences. “The VELUX Partner Programme is about recognising the professionalism, skills and commitment of our installer partners,” said Greig Allan, Installer Partner Manager at VELUX. “By rewarding engagement and loyalty, we’re strengthening relationships and supporting installers to deliver the best possible service to homeowners.” The VELUX Partner Programme is exclusively for VELUX installers, acknowledging their skills, effort and ongoing commitment to the brand. The five key benefits available to Partner Programme members include:

Sharpen your skills

Grow your business

Earn member benefits

One portal for all VELUX services

Be part of a professional community

Access training and stay up to date with the latest techniques, products and standards.

Get marketing tools, digital & physical to attract more customers.

Turn your engagement into real rewards and exclusive opportunities.

Manage product registrations, training, projects and rewards in one place.

Connect with other skilled installers and gain recognition for your expertise.

For more information, installers can contact VELUX or visit velux.co.uk/partner

July/August 2026

News & Products

RECORD YEAR FOR IRISH E-WASTE RECYCLING BUT OUTDATED EU TARGETS FAIL TO CAPTURE THE FULL PICTURE Consumers recycled a record 21.1 million electronic and electrical waste items in Ireland in 2025, up from 18.8 million in 2024, new data shows. But despite the record performance, the country’s largest e-waste recycling scheme warned that the European measurement system fails to capture the full picture of the nation’s recycling progress. Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Ireland said that by measuring recycling as a percentage of sales, the system does not properly reflect longer product lifespans or emerging waste streams. The organisation’s annual report, detailing progress in its 20th year of operation, showed that close to 39,000 tonnes of e-waste were collected nationwide last year - or 7,425 truckloads. The report also revealed that 84% of counties increased their WEEE recycling rates year-on-year, while an average 82% of materials collected were recovered for reuse in manufacturing, exceeding EU recovery requirement of 80%. The e-waste haul included 18.5 million small appliances, 1.9 million lighting products, 278,222 TVs and monitors and 123,060 fridge-freezers. 1,284 tonnes of portable waste batteries were also collected, achieving the EU’s 45% battery collection target. Lithium battery collection more than doubled in five years, while more than 1.4 million vape devices were recycled through WEEE Ireland’s national takeback scheme. WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan said the current system measures e-waste collection against the volume of new electrical goods placed onto the market over the previous three year period, with Ireland falling short of Europe’s 65% collection target. “In 2025, Irish producers placed 25kg of household electrical equipment per person on the market. Ireland is recycling more electrical waste than ever before and consumers are making a real effort to do the right thing. But Europe’s current measurement system was designed for a very different market,” said Leo. “Current collection rate targets do not adequately reflect modern consumption patterns, long product lifespans, or

Leo Donovan, CEO WEEE Ireland.

emerging technologies such as solar PV systems and heat pumps. These products may not enter the recycling stream for decades, yet they are already included in today’s sales-based targets. With the re-evaluation of the WEEE Directive in progress, WEEE Ireland supports a more modern approach to measuring the effectiveness of national recycling systems”. Leo Donovan went on to say “quality recovery is becoming just as important as collection volumes as Europe seeks to secure critical raw materials needed for renewable energy systems and future manufacturing technologies. Europe is moving towards a model where circular economy performance will matter just as much as collection volumes,” he said. “The focus now has to move beyond simply collecting waste to ensuring valuable materials including lithium, copper, cobalt and aluminium are recovered to strict standards and kept within the circular economy.” “Ireland is well positioned to respond to those changes due to sustained investment in our recycling infrastructure, compliance systems and public awareness campaigns over the past two decades.” Consumers are encouraged to recycle old and broken electricals and waste batteries free of charge through local authority civic amenity centres, participating retailers and WEEE Ireland collection events nationwide. For more information visit www.weeeireland.ie.

July/August 2026

News & Products

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: HOW ONE COMBILIFT HAS DELIVERED SAFE OPERATIONS FOR 28 YEARS In June as National Forklift Safety Day highlighted the importance of safe material handling practices, the story of the first-ever Combilift C-Series demonstrated the lasting value of choosing the right tool for the job. Still in operation after 28 years at J.G. Kelly Supplies in Monaghan, the original multidirectional forklift has helped transform the company's handling of long loads, improving safety, increasing efficiency, and proving that purpose-built equipment can deliver exceptional returns for decades. Before the company started operating a Combilift, traditional forklift methods created significant operational and safety challenges. Long PVC loads measuring up to six metres had to be moved through a doorway only four metres wide. Conventional counterbalance forklifts could not handle the task safely or efficiently. The C-Series' multi-directional capability provided the ideal solution, allowing operators to move long loads sideways with greater control and stability, while navigating tight spaces and narrow doorways safely and efficiently. For nearly three decades, the C-Series has transformed the site operations and the way the company used to handle long loads. And the benefits extend beyond traffic disruption. It has also shortened unloading times and significantly improved

safety for operators, pedestrians, and passing vehicles. An additional safety feature is the forklift's integrated platform, which has further enhanced load stability when handling such long products. Operators can now safely support lengthy loads during transport, reducing the risks associated with moving oversized loads and making the entire process more controlled and efficient. Forklift operator Tony McManus said, “We know that it’s a lot safer, once you get the load on the platform, you can almost relax. You've got that stability of it being on the rest beds." Safety on site has been greatly improved by the introduction of the C-Series, but equally remarkable is the machine's longevity. Managing Director Paul Kelly highlights: “I never expected we'd still be using the same forklift nearly three decades later. But it’s a testament to the build quality of the machine as it's still running after 28 years. It's continued performance is attributed to robust engineering, regular preventative maintenance, and responsive local support”. Tony McManus mentions: “It doesn't really take much maintenance. We have changed filters or timing belts over the years, but it’s still got the original engine from when it arrived here.” Routine checks of oil, coolant, hydraulics,

J.G Kelly Supplies Ltd, Operator Tony McManus and Managing Director Paul Kelly.

tyres, and greasing have helped keep the machine operating reliably, while major repairs have been rare throughout its 28year lifespan. Having a machine out of action can have a major impact on day-to-day operations. However, according to Tony, that has rarely been an issue. The success of the original C-Series led J.G. Kelly Supplies to expand its fleet with additional Combilift products, including other Combilift models, such as the pedestrian Combi-CS and an Aisle Master in their Limerick warehouse. The company continues to value Combilift's ability to tailor equipment to specific operational requirements rather than offering a onesize-fits-all solution. Paul Kelly highlights: “Combilift are very good at having a look at what you need and then they can tailor the product to suit you. We had the height of the mast and weight limit tailored to what we needed in our Combi-CS. Today, the first-ever multidirectional C-Series stands as a powerful example of how investing in the right material handling solution delivers lasting returns”. “Nearly three decades after it was manufactured and operated for the first time, the forklift continues to enhance operations, driving productivity, improving safety and maximising storage space while proving that quality engineering and preventative maintenance can stand the test of time”.

July/August 2026

News & Products

PROTOOL INTRODUCES NEW 18L CORDLESS BACKPACK SPRAYER The continued shift towards battery-powered equipment is transforming every corner of the outdoor maintenance market. While cordless technology has become well established in lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and chainsaws, demand is now growing rapidly for battery-powered spraying equipment that offers greater convenience, consistent performance and reduced operator fatigue. Recognising this trend, John Stafford & Sons Ltd. is pleased to announce the forthcoming arrival of the Protool 18L Cordless Backpack Sprayer, designed to provide professional performance for agricultural, horticultural and landscaping applications. Unlike traditional manual sprayers that require continuous pumping, the Protool cordless model delivers a consistent spray pattern at the touch of a button. This improves application accuracy and also allows users to work more comfortably over extended periods, making it particularly suitable for larger gardens, farms, estates and commercial grounds maintenance. The new sprayer combines practicality with user comfort through a lightweight backpack design and an integrated rechargeable battery system. Its generous 18-litre capacity minimises refilling while providing ample coverage for larger spraying tasks. Key features include: – 18L high-capacity tank – Rechargeable cordless operation – Consistent spray pressure – Multiple interchangeable spray nozzles – Comfortable ergonomic backpack design – CE and TÜV certification

physical effort while improving efficiency. Cordless sprayers represent a natural extension of the battery-powered gardening category and provide an excellent opportunity for merchants to expand their outdoor equipment offering. The Protool 18L Cordless Backpack Sprayer will be available shortly and will be distributed exclusively through John Stafford & Sons Ltd., further strengthening the Protool range of dependable, value-driven products for professional and domestic users alike. Brendan Stafford, Managing Director said "The cordless garden equipment market continues to evolve beyond traditional power tools. The arrival of the Protool 18L Cordless Sprayer reflects growing customer demand for products that save time, reduce effort and deliver consistent performance. We believe it will be an excellent addition to our expanding Protool range." For further information please visit www.stafford.ie and www.protool.ie.

As labour-saving equipment continues to grow in popularity, retailers are seeing increasing interest in products that reduce

July/August 2026

News & Products

KASK WINTER PROTECTION Enhancing worker well-being and performance in the challenging cold season Working outdoors during the winter season exposes workers to a combination of low temperatures, wind, rain, and sudden weather changes that can significantly affect comfort, concentration, and overall performance. Cold stress is not only a matter of discomfort but a concrete safety risk, as reduced thermal comfort can lead to fatigue, loss of dexterity and slower reaction times. In this context, personal protective equipment must go beyond basic compliance and actively support worker well-being, enabling individuals to remain focused and productive even in the most challenging conditions. KASK addresses these needs with its Winter Protection range, a dedicated collection of accessories designed to integrate seamlessly with its helmet systems and enhance protection, comfort, and performance throughout the cold season. Among the solutions available, the KASK Neck Shield and the KASK Winter and Merino Cap. The KASK Neck Shield provides fleece-lined neck protection designed for all-day comfort in rainy and windy weather, helping to shield one of the most exposed areas of the body during winter work. Available in high-visibility colour options, it supports both thermal comfort and visibility requirements and is compatible with KASK Zenith X, Primero, and Superplasma series helmets, making it suitable for a wide range of outdoor applications.

and designed specifically for the Zenith X series, it guarantees precise integration and reliable performance in cold weather environments. When full coverage is required, the KASK Winter Balaclava delivers fleece-lined insulation that protects the head, face and neck from wind and rain, offering comprehensive coverage without compromising compatibility, as it can be used with all KASK helmets and is also available in high visibility versions for enhanced safety. Through this range, KASK demonstrates a clear understanding of the real conditions faced by outdoor workers across industries such as construction, infrastructure, utilities, forestry, and maintenance, where winter does not stop operations but increases the need for reliable, well-designed PPE. For safety professionals and buyers, KASK Winter Protection represents a system-based solution that simplifies PPE selection and standardisation while improving worker acceptance and compliance and for end users it translates into tangible benefits in terms of comfort, protection, and the ability to maintain performance despite harsh weather. As winter approaches and environmental challenges intensify, KASK confirms its role as a trusted reference in winter head protection, offering solutions that combine technical performance, ergonomic design, and a strong focus on worker wellbeing. For more information visit www.kask-safety.com Hashtags for Social Media #KASK #kasksafety #KASKhelmets #performanceisabeautifulthing #safety #comfort #design.

The KASK Winter Cap offers an additional level of insulation through a replaceable padding system that enhances water resistance and windproof protection, attaching easily via a hook-and-loop system and allowing workers to adapt their helmet configuration quickly as conditions change. Designed to work with KASK helmets equipped with hook-and-loop padding attachment systems, it represents a practical solution for fluctuating winter environments where versatility is essential. For colder and more demanding scenarios, the KASK Merino Cap provides natural winter insulation thanks to merino wool, combined with wind and water resistance to ensure consistent comfort over long shifts. Using the Click-In attachment system

Primero Air Balaclava.

Primero Winter padding.

July/August 2026

Primero Air Neck Shield - Orange Fluro.

News & Products

ARE YOU STILL BUYING BOTTLED DRINKING WATER? Enjoy refreshing, great-tasting Water straight from the Kitchen Tap! Every day, many households spend time and money buying bottled water, carrying heavy packs home, storing bottles, and dealing with plastic waste. But what if you could enjoy clean, fresh, great-tasting drinking water whenever you turn on your tap? With an Elvion Drinking Water Filter, you can! Designed to suit your home, Elvion provides a convenient, reliable and cost-effective way to enjoy high-quality filtered Drinking Water directly from your kitchen tap. Their compact, stylish filters are installed underneath the kitchen sink & fit seamlessly into your home delivering filtered water for drinking, cooking, beverage prep, ice making, washing fruit/veg, etc. Using advanced filtration technology, Elvion Drinking Water Filters help reduce unwanted tastes, odours, and impurities including chlorine, PFAS, and microplastics, giving you peace of mind and confidence in the quality of the water you and your family drink every day. Why choose an Elvion Drinking Water Filter? – Fresh, filtered water available instantly from your tap – Reduce/eliminate your dependence on bottled water – Less plastic waste and more sustainable living – Improved taste and quality for drinking/cooking/ice/ washing fruit & veg, etc. – Compact design that suits any kitchen – Easy & affordable to maintain in the long-term With over 30 years of experience in water treatment across Ireland and the UK, Elvion combines trusted technology with contemporary design to create water solutions that are practical, efficient, affordable and built to last. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen, improving your home’s water quality, or looking for a smarter alternative to bottled water, Elvion provides a simple solution for better everyday living. Make the switch to better water today. Elvion ~ Better Water. Better Living. Contact Elvion to learn more about Elvion Drinking Water Filtration. Email info@elvionwater.ie, phone 061 210095 / 085 859 8580 or visit www.elvionwater.ie.

July/August 2026

News & Products

RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF CREDIT CONTROL We all know about the importance of credit control within Hardware and Building Materials businesses, both to ensure adequate cash flow and to maintain excellent customer relationships. Sometimes the credit control function is either taken for granted or goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. Hardware Association Ireland are delighted to be sponsoring the Hardware Credit Team of the Year Category. This recognises excellence in credit and will be presented at the forthcoming Irish Credit Team Awards. There is no charge for applications, and application forms are available on www.irishcreditteamawards.ie or from declan@icmt.ie. The awards are very motivational from your team’s perspective. If shortlisted, they are invited to attend the Awards Lunch, where they get to meet all the top credit teams from all over Ireland and get to celebrate their successes. Your team doesn’t have to be perfect to enter, the awards are judged on their role within the business and the contribution and improvements made in the current year, there are no limits on team numbers so if you have a team of two or a team of fifty, you are still eligible to apply. In addition to the Credit Team Awards there are special Awards for the top Credit Controller and Credit Manager, who have made a difference to their companies and deserve to be recognised.

HAI’s Aoife Kinsella O’Reilly with the O’Reilly Precast Credit Team at the Credit Management Awards 2025.

This is your opportunity to build a stronger team and to increase your focus on excellence in credit management, that can have a major impact on your sales, your customer engagement and your overall profitability. The deadline for applications is Friday September 11th. Finalists will be announced on Friday October 2nd, and winners will be announced at the Awards Lunch on Friday November 20th at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Visit www.irishcreditteamawards.ie for more details.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN ACTION IN BRAY The team at Wavin was so privileged to have been able to get involved, in a small way, with a very special DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland project in Bray, Co. Wicklow recently. Watching a community come together to support a family who has gone through the unimaginable was something very special. Wavin was delighted be able to donate product to the project and send warm congratulations to everyone in involved in creating something really special for an incredibly brave family, in just nine days. Keep an eye out for the episode on RTE One this autumn. (L-R) Paul Farreller, Farreller's Plumbing, Bray, Baz Ashmawy, DIY SOS show presenter, Tomasz Lawniczak, lead plumber DIY SOS and Paul Morris, Wavin Ireland.

July/August 2026

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TRADE DAY 2026 AT HÄFELE IRELAND On June 25th, Hafele proudly hosted their third Trade Day, welcoming customers, suppliers and special guests for a memorable celebration that marked Häfele Ireland’s 40th anniversary. Despite the intense heat on the day over 400 customers, suppliers, colleagues, and friends joined Häfele to celebrate another successful Trade Day and also a significant milestone in their history. The support, enthusiasm and good humour throughout the day made the event the tremendous success it was. Mick Smith, Managing Director said “It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces, including customers who have been with us since the very beginning. Their continued loyalty and support over four decades is something we are immensely proud of”. A highlight of the day was special guest, Dermot Bannon, TV Personality and Architect, who shared an engaging and personal insight into his long-standing relationship with Häfele. His stories about working with their products over the years were both entertaining and heartfelt. The company were particularly pleased to hear that the Häfele catalogue was always one of the most sought-after resources in his office - a testament to the value and inspiration it continues to provide to designers and industry professionals alike. Dermot was joined by Hardware Association Ireland CEO Martin Markey for a Q&A session. The 40th anniversary celebrations also gave Häfele the opportunity to recognise the remarkable people who helped establish the foundations of the business. Mick Smith announced on the day that it was a privilege to reunite the three original directors whose vision and commitment played such a pivotal role in shaping Häfele’s success: Brendan Smith, the first Managing Director of Häfele Ireland; Mike Smith, founding Managing Director of Häfele UK and Hans Nock, former CEO of Häfele Worldwide. He went on to say, “Seeing these industry pioneers together once again was a fitting tribute to the journey that began in 1986 and continues to thrive today”. The event was further enhanced by the presence of 27 supplier partners, whose impressive displays, product innovations and expertise generated countless conversations throughout the day. Their participation highlighted the strength of the partnerships that underpin the business and demonstrated why collaboration remains so important to Häfele’s ongoing success.

L- R Glenn Carthy, Head of Sales, Mick Smith, Managing Director and Joseph Cryan, Head of Supply Chain & Operations.

Dermot Bannon was joined by Hardware Association Ireland CEO Martin Markey for a Q&A session.

Mick concluded by saying that “Events like this remind us of the strength of our community and the relationships that have been built over many years. To everyone who attended, exhibited, supported, and celebrated with us, thank you for helping make our 40th Anniversary Trade Day such a memorable occasion. We look forward to welcoming you all again in 2028”. For more information on Häfele’s full range visit www.hafele.ie

July/August 2026

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TOPLINE MURTAGHS NAMED FINALIST IN RETAIL EXCELLENCE IRELAND AWARDS Topline Murtaghs is celebrating after being named one of the Top 5 finalists in the Small Online Retailer of the Year category at the Elavon Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2026. Family-owned since 1887, Topline Murtaghs has invested significantly in the growth of its eCommerce offering in recent years. Today, www.murtaghs.ie serves customers across Ireland with nationwide delivery and Click & Collect from its Ashbourne and Sandymount stores. Commenting on the achievement, Managing Director Colin Murtagh said: "We are delighted to be named among the Top 5 finalists in the Small Online Retailer of the Year category. Our website now offers more than 5,000 products, all picked, packed and delivered by our dedicated online team to customers throughout Ireland. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, commitment and customer focus of our entire online team. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and wish all the finalists the very best of luck at the awards ceremony in October." The Retail Excellence Ireland Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in Irish retail, recognising businesses that

July/August 2026

The Murtagh`s online team are Jena Aboltina, Patrick Murtagh and Marika Kalnina.

demonstrate excellence in customer experience, innovation and operational performance. The awards celebrate outstanding retailers, leaders and teams that continue to raise standards across the industry. The winners of the Elavon Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2026 will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kilkenny this October.

News & Products

COMPLETE 2-PERSON DELIVERY SOLUTION FOR BULKY AND HEAVY GOODS Aramex Ireland is one of Ireland’s leading logistics and delivery partners, with more than 40 years’ experience providing air, sea and road freight services and connecting businesses across Ireland and internationally. Alongside its wider logistics capabilities, Aramex Ireland provides a dedicated Two-Person Home Delivery Service for retailers requiring the collection and delivery of large, heavy or bulky items. Designed for goods weighing more than 30kg or requiring specialist handling, the service supports the delivery of furniture, white goods, homewares, electrical products, leisure equipment and other oversized items. It provides retailers with a complete end-to-end solution for deliveries that can be difficult to manage through traditional networks. The service is supported by a purpose-built facility in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, with strategic access to Ireland’s key transport routes and nationwide delivery coverage. Retailers benefit from real-time order tracking, proof of delivery and photographs taken at the delivery point. Customers are kept informed throughout the delivery journey by email, SMS and direct telephone contact, with clear updates on their expected delivery date and time.

Dedicated account management and customer service teams are also available to support retailers and their customers throughout the process. Delivery is completed within one to five working days from receipt, with more than 80% of orders currently delivered within three working days throughout Ireland. A fully compliant WEEE collection service is also available, helping retailers meet their obligations for the responsible collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment. For retailers looking for a reliable and scalable solution for large and bulky home deliveries, Aramex Ireland would be delighted to discuss your requirements. For more information please contact, Liam Hennessy, Senior Business Development Manager, liam@aramex.com.

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, and three key regulations have recently been introduced or significantly updated that are likely to impact the day-to-day operations of many HAI members. Staying informed and compliant is essential, and HAI is committed to supporting members through these changes. To assist, we have provided contact details and support information for each of the three subject areas, giving members direct access to expert guidance and practical resources: EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will come into effect on 30 December 2026 and will impact businesses placing relevant timber and wood products on the EU market. Members trading in these products should familiarise themselves with the new due diligence and compliance requirements. Contact: Colin Gallagher Forestry Sector Development Division Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine T: +353 53 916 5552 | M: +353 87 191 9160 E: colin.gallagher@agriculture.gov.ie Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reporting requirements continue to evolve, with businesses now required to account for carbon cost liabilities introduced from January 2026.

Export Edge provides practical guidance to help businesses understand emissions reporting, compliance obligations and ongoing CBAM requirements. Export Edge provide Advanced CBAM Courses covering virtual interactive training. Contact: Austin Rutledge Export Edge Training & Consultancy T: +353 1 676 6894 E: austin.rutledge@export-edge.com W: www.export-edge.com Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) represents one of the most significant changes to packaging legislation in decades. The regulation introduces new requirements to support a circular economy and will have implications for businesses that manufacture, import, distribute or sell packaged products. Contact: Howard Mulligan HM Environmental Ltd M: +353 86 853 6456 E: howard@hmenvironmental.ie

July/August 2026

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GYPROC IN IRELAND MARKS 90 YEARS OF BUILDING BETTER WITH BARNARDOS REFURBISHMENT PROJECT Gyproc, part of Saint-Gobain, is celebrating a major milestone in 2026 as it celebrates 90 years of supporting Ireland's construction industry, reflecting on a legacy built on quality, innovation and trusted partnerships while looking ahead to the future of sustainable construction. To mark this occasion Gyproc is supporting a refurbishment project at Barnardos' central hub in Christchurch, Dublin 8, helping to create an enhanced space for children, young people and families. Barnardos children’s charity supports vulnerable children, families and individuals across Ireland for a better future for all - because childhood lasts a lifetime. In 2025 Barnardos supported almost 35,000 families across its 56 service locations in Ireland. As part of its 90th anniversary celebrations, Gyproc is partnering with long-standing charity partner Barnardos on its Building a Future of Change campaign.

Mary Gamble, CEO of Barnardos Childrens Charity in Ireland, added: "The support of partners like Gyproc plays a vital role in helping us continue our work with children, families and individuals across Ireland. This refurbishment will create a more welcoming and effective space for our teams and those who rely on our services. We are incredibly grateful to Gyproc for marking its 90th anniversary, (and 10 years with Barnardos!) through a project that will have a lasting impact. "Our partnership with Gyproc is built on a shared commitment to positive change. This investment will help ensure we have the facilities needed to support children and families both now and into the future." The project underscores Gyproc's commitment to giving back to communities and creating a legacy as the brand celebrates nine decades of helping to build better spaces across Ireland. For more information on Gyproc visit www.gyproc.ie

This project will see the renovation and modernisation of two floors of the building allowing for further child and family services to be accommodated alongside support staff. As the building is the national office for the country, the impact of the renovation will be felt across Ireland for Barnardos staff, children and families. The refurbishment reflects Gyproc's long-standing commitment to creating spaces that have a positive impact on people's lives and communities. By providing products, expertise and support, Gyproc will transform the floors into a more functional, welcoming and future-ready facility. Commenting on the project, Kieran Holohan, Managing Director for Gyproc, Saint-Gobain in Ireland, said: "As we celebrate 90 years of Gyproc, we wanted to mark this milestone by supporting a partner that shares our commitment to building stronger communities. Over our 10-year partnership, we have seen Barnardos work make a real difference to the lives of children and families across Ireland. We are proud to support its Building a Future of Change campaign by helping create a space that will enable its important work to continue for years to come."

July/August 2026

Kieran Holohan, Managing Director, Gyproc, Saint Gobain in Ireland, Halina McNabb, Corporate Fundraising Executive and Rosemarie Fox, Human Resource Business Partner, Barnardos Childrens Charity in Ireland.

News & Products

LAYDEX ANNOUNCES AGRÉMENT® CERTIFICATION FOR PERMABASE CEMENT BOARD Laydex is pleased to announce that PermaBase Cement Board has achieved Kiwa BDA Agrément® certification (BAW-25-386-P-A-UK), making it applicable for use in both the Irish and UK markets. The certification is an important achievement for the PermaBase range, providing builders, contractors and specifiers with independent assurance that the product has been assessed for a wide range of internal and external applications.

The addition of Kiwa BDA Agrément® certification further strengthens the PermaBase range and reinforces Laydex's commitment to offering quality, independently certified products supported by expert technical advice. Commenting on the achievement, Peter Woods, CEO of Laydex, said: "At Laydex, we're committed to supplying high-quality building products that our customers can trust. Achieving Kiwa BDA Agrément®

certification for PermaBase reflects that commitment and gives our customers added confidence in the product's quality and performance." PermaBase Cement Board combines strength, durability and moisture resistance, making it an ideal substrate for a wide range of interior and exterior applications in both residential and commercial construction. For further information visit www.laydex.ie

WOLSELEY IRELAND ACQUIRES PETER CURRAN ELECTRIC LIMITED Wolseley Ireland have recently announced the acquisition of Peter Curran Electrical Limited (PCEL), a well-established and highly respected electrical business headquartered in Galway. PCEL has built a strong reputation for service excellence, underpinned by its technical expertise, deep industry experience, and long-standing customer relationships. The acquisition further strengthens Wolseley Ireland’s position in the Irish market and enhances its overall electrical capabilities.

The transaction brings PCEL into the Wolseley Ireland portfolio, which includes leading brands such as Heat Merchants, Tubs & Tiles, Hevac, TubeCo, and Bassetts (Northern Ireland). PCEL will operate as a distinct business within the group, maintaining its established identity and market focus while benefitting from Wolseley Ireland’s scale, resources, and long-term strategic support. Importantly, the addition of PCEL complements Wolseley Ireland’s existing operations without altering the specialist positioning of its current brands.

The entire PCEL team will remain in place, ensuring continuity for customers and partners. Their expertise, strong relationships, and in-depth knowledge of the business will play a central role in maintaining high service standards and supporting future growth. Wolseley Ireland looks forward to supporting PCEL’s continued success and leveraging the combined strengths of both organisations to deliver enhanced value to customers across Ireland.

July/August 2026

News & Products

OWN YOUR AISLES: WHY THE KÄRCHER K-MOP 46 IS A RETAILER’S BEST FRIEND For retail owners, pristine floor space is a vital business asset. Yet traditional mopping is slow, physically exhausting, and leaves floors dangerously wet. Meet the Kärcher K-Mop 46 - a compact professional scrubber dryer designed to elevate your store's appearance while protecting your bottom line. Here is why the K-Mop 46 is the smartest investment for your business: High-Impact ROI The K-Mop 46 dramatically slashes resource consumption and labour times: –

Resource Savings: Uses up to 80% less water and detergent than a standard 15-litre mop bucket.

–

High Performance: Cleans large foyers and long aisles effortlessly, achieving an area performance of 1,200 m!/h.

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Efficient and Time-Saving: Thanks to its versatility, the K-Mop 46 replaces several devices, such as mops, walkbehind machines, and similar equipment. This means less retooling and greater efficiency in everyday work.

Effortless Manoeuvrability Packed aisles and tight corridors are no match for this machine’s nimble frame: –

Ultra-sleek, Agile Design: It glides easily under shelves, counters, and low partition walls.

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Asset Protection: Integrated bumpers and deflector rollers prevent scuffs and structural damage to expensive store fixtures.

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Built-in Work Light: Illuminates dark corners and under-shelf areas for a flawless clean.

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Compact Footprint: Requires 71% less storage space than conventional scrubber dryers, fitting easily into tight back-ofhouse areas.

Intuitive and Ergonomic With high staff turnover being a retail reality, the K-Mop 46 is built for instant adoption: –

Simple Operation: Kärcher’s language-free, colour-coded interface makes operation completely intuitive from day one.

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Ergonomically Certified: A height-adjustable handle and self-propelling brush drive carry the weight, reducing strain on your team’s backs.

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Easy Maintenance: Detachable 4-litre tanks allow for rapid, hassle-free emptying and refilling.

Legendary Reliability – Interchangeable Battery Power+: Swap Li-ion batteries seamlessly to enjoy continuous, uninterrupted cleaning. –

Fleet-Ready: An optional Plug-in Connect Module lets you track machine locations and run times across multiple retail locations in real time.

Own Your Floor Today Clean floors shouldn't mean backbreaking labour or endless "wet floor" signs. By replacing slow, hazardous manual mopping with the efficient K-Mop 46, you reclaim labour hours, cut resource costs, and invest in your store's future. Ditch the mop bucket, save your team's time, and elevate your standards from the ground up. Get in touch for a free demo today. Email carl.hand@karcher.com or brian.kavanagh@karcher.com

July/August 2026

Innovative Store Design

Why some hardware stores just feel easier to shop Understanding how your store influences customer behaviour. This article is part of our series exploring how independent hardware retailers can improve store performance through thoughtful retail design. In previous articles, we've looked at building strong store foundations and creating clear retail communication. This month, we're focusing on something less visible, but just as important: how store design influences customer behaviour. Walk into two hardware stores with a similar product range and you'll often have two very different experiences. One feels organised and easy to shop. The other feels confusing. Often, the difference isn't the products, it's how well the store has been designed around the way customers naturally think and behave. Understanding that behaviour is one of the first steps in every retail design project. Rather than expecting customers to adapt to the store, we design around their goals, habits and decisionmaking. –

Mission-based: Trade customers want speed. Clear navigation and logical layouts to help them get in, get what they need and get back to work.

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Project-based: DIY customers think in outcomes rather than products. They value inspiration and complementary products that help complete the job.

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Confidence-based: Many customers simply want reassurance they're making the right choice. Helpful signage and visible expertise build confidence.

Distinctive red overhead signage.

At Rigney Forge, we often say that great retail design should feel invisible. Customers shouldn't notice the layout, lighting or signage. They should simply enjoy shopping because the environment quietly guides them through the experience. That doesn't happen by accident. It starts with understanding people before designing the store. You Know Your Store. Your Customers Don't. One of the biggest challenges for any retailer is familiarity. As the owner, you've probably walked your shop floor thousands of times. You know exactly where every category is, which aisle holds plumbing fittings and where the seasonal displays have been moved. It's second nature. Your customers don't have that advantage. Every first-time visitor enters the store looking for answers to three simple questions: – "Where am I?" – "Where do I need to go?" – "If I get stuck, where can I find help?" Retail researcher Herb Sorensen found that shoppers don't move methodically through a store. Instead, they scan the environment for visual cues that help them decide where to go next. That's why clear sightlines and visible destinations matter so much. At Ferdia Homevalue, a distinctive red overhead framework identifies every key service area, from the Trade Counter to the Paint Studio. It acts as a consistent visual cue, helping customers instinctively locate expertise throughout the store while allowing staff to acknowledge customers as they arrive. The result is a shopping experience that feels more intuitive from the moment customers walk through the door.

Signage that identifies every key service area.

July/August 2026

Innovative Store Design

A welcoming service counter.

A highly visable trade counter.

The lesson is simple. Try looking at your own store through the eyes of someone who's never visited before. The experience may be very different from the one you see every day.

through the store. Seasonal inspiration at the entrance and a welcoming transition into the Garden Centre encourage customers to explore beyond their original shopping list without disrupting the overall journey.

Customers Aren't Looking for More Choice. They're Looking for Confidence. Independent hardware stores are proud of their product range, but customers rarely arrive hoping to compare twenty similar products. More often, they're looking for confidence that they're choosing the right one. Psychologist Barry Schwartz explores this idea in his book The Paradox of Choice, arguing that while people value having options, too many choices without clear structure can make decision-making more difficult. The answer isn't to reduce your range. It's to organise it. Logical product groupings, clear category planning and accessible advice all reduce the mental effort required to shop. Customers feel more confident because the environment helps them make decisions one step at a time. Good retail design doesn't reduce choice. It increases confidence. When customers feel confident, they're more likely to browse, seek advice and leave with the right solution for their project. The Best Stores Encourage Discovery One of the most enjoyable parts of shopping is discovering something you didn't know you needed. The best retail environments create these moments naturally, without making customers feel they're being sold to. Think about a customer buying exterior paint. Positioning brushes, masking tape and dust sheets nearby isn't simply about increasing basket spend. It's about helping them complete the job successfully. The same thinking can be applied across every department, creating a shopping experience that feels helpful rather than promotional. Good design also recognises when less is more. Not every wall needs a promotion and not every aisle needs supplier graphics. Stores that are visually calmer are often easier to shop in because customers can focus on what matters most. At Ferdia Homevalue, the customer journey has been designed around a series of visual focal points, destination displays and clearly defined departments that naturally guide movement July/August 2026

Great Retail Design Should Feel Invisible When we begin a retail design project, we don't start with colours, fixtures or signage. We begin by understanding people. How do customers move through the store? Where do they hesitate? What gives them confidence? How can we make shopping easier? At Ferdia Homevalue, the Trade Counter was positioned as a highly visible destination, providing trade customers with a direct route to expert advice and supporting a faster, more efficient shopping journey. The psychology of an easy-to-shop store is simple: help customers know where they are, find what they need and discover what they didn't know they wanted. When customers stop noticing the design, it's usually because it's doing exactly what it should. Your store becomes more than a place to buy products; it becomes a place people trust and want to return to.

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. The ideas explored in this series are informed by leading research in retail psychology and customer behaviour, including the work of Herb Sorensen (Inside the Mind of the Shopper), Barry Schwartz (The Paradox of Choice), Paco Underhill (Why We Buy) and our own experience designing retail environments.

Golf Society

HAIGS OUTING AT NAAS GOLF CLUB The Hardware Association Ireland Golf Society's second outing of the year, the Hardware Association Ireland President's Prize, was to the popular Naas Golf Club located at Kerdiffstown in Naas, kindly sponsored by Crown Paints Ireland. Naas is a traditional parkland course situated on rolling terrain and lush tree lined fairways. The strategically placed bunkers reward the accurate player. Fast, true and undulating greens provide a stern challenge.

prizes to Men`s first place winner Jim Cuddy with a score of 36 points and Ladies first place winner Kathleen Lynch with a score of 39 points. Clarke Blair, Commercial Director Ireland & Ken Kinsella, National Sales Manager Crown Paints Ireland represented the company on the day and presented the impressive array of additional prizes to the winners. Clarke 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.

Not our first visit but we will certainly be back in the future as access to and from the N7 is so easy. Hardware Association Ireland President Tara Brennan welcomed the large group and presented

The day was enhanced by a fantastic Hole-In-One by John Phelan, the first in many years at one of our outings, on the Par 3, 8th hole.

Men's overall winner Jim Cuddy being presented with his prize by HAI President Tara Brennan.

Ladies overall winner Kathleen Lynch being presented with her prize by Tara Brennan.

John Phelan accepting his 2nd overall prize from Ken Kinsella, National Sales Manager, Crown Paints Ireland.

Tim Lodge being presented with his 1st prize in class one by Ken Kinsella.

William Dixon receiving a token of appreciation from the members of the golf society from Captain Neil Parks on his retirement from his Hon. Sec. and Treasurer role with the golf society for almost 40 years.

Paddy O'Leary receiving his 3rd place overall prize from Ken Kinsella.

Aidan Rheinisch, David Brady and Alan Doherty preparing to tee off in Naas Golf Club.

HAI PRESIDENT TARA BRENNAN'S PRIZE

26th June 2026 - Naas Golf Club - Sponsored by Crown Paints Ireland

OVERALL First place Second place Third Place

Jim Cuddy John Phelan Paddy O`Leary

36 points 35 points 35 points

handicap 21 handicap 10 BB9 handicap 32

CLASS 1 First place Second place Third place

Tim Lodge Tom O`Connell Tim Burke

35 points 34 points 32 points

handicap 18 handicap 18 handicap 14

CLASS 2 First place Second place Third place

Paddy Kingham Les Ashley William Wallace

32 points 31 points 28 points

handicap 21 handicap 19 handicap 20 BB9

CLASS 3 First place Second place Third place

Eddie O`Shea James Wallace Neil Parks

34 points 33 points 31 points

handicap 24 handicap 26 handicap 29

LADIES First place Second place

Kathleen Lynch Aine Parks

39 points 34 points

handicap 24 handicap 34

VISITORS First Place

Tom Collins

38 points

handicap 25

July/August 2026

HAI Corporate Partners

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

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 July/August 2026

Galvia AI Karina Kelly 083 0905945 karina@galvia.ai www.galvia.ai GenetiQ Software Mark Gurney 042 933 1742 mark.gurney@genetiqsoftware.com www.genetiqsoftware.com .ie Seán Tobin 01 236 5400 stobin@weare.ie www.weare.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 45

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

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

July/August 2026

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

July/August 2026

– 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

Store Profile

Building West Donegal since 1906 This year, the Cope marks its 120th anniversary, celebrating twelve decades of serving the people and communities of West Donegal. Founded in Dungloe, West Donegal in 1906 by Paddy "the Cope" Gallagher, The Templecrone Co-Operative Society was established to improve the lives of local people through co-operation. While the organisation has evolved significantly over the past twelve decades, its commitment to community, service and value remains unchanged. Today, the Cope operates across Builders Providers, Foodstores, Furniture & Homeware, Clothing and Hubtec, providing products and services for almost every aspect of life across West Donegal. Supported by more than 100 employees with over 1,000 years of combined service, the organisation continues to invest in its people, facilities and customer experience. The Builders Providers division has developed into a modern 3.5-acre facility in Meenmore, supplying homeowners, selfbuilders, tradespeople, contractors and farmers throughout Donegal. "Our success has always been built on relationships," says John Paul McBride, Builders Providers Manager. "We're proud to combine quality products with knowledgeable people and dependable service, helping customers complete projects of every size."

Space and Selection The 3.5-acre Meenmore site combines a modern retail showroom with a fully stocked warehouse, builders yard and dedicated collection facilities, enabling the Cope to efficiently serve both trade and retail customers. The store offers an extensive range of products for construction, renovation and home improvement, supported by strong partnerships with Topline and many of the industry's leading suppliers. Backed by its own transport fleet, the Cope provides a reliable delivery service across Donegal, ensuring materials arrive where and when they're needed. Miles Better Whether serving a homeowner renovating a bathroom or a contractor managing a large-scale project, the focus is always on understanding the job and providing practical advice alongside quality products. "Many of our team have spent decades in the industry," says John Paul McBride. "That experience allows us to offer practical advice and solutions our customers can rely on."

July/August 2026

Store Profile

People Make It Possible People have always been at the heart of the Cope.

market trends, ensuring future investment is guided by the evolving needs of both customers and the wider industry.

Across the organisation, more than 100 employees contribute over 1,000 years of combined service, bringing generations of knowledge and experience to every department. Within Builders Providers, that expertise helps homeowners, tradespeople and contractors make informed decisions with confidence.

Hurdles and Horizons The builders' merchant sector continues to evolve, bringing both challenges and opportunities.

Knowledge Matters Continual investment in people remains a priority.

Fluctuating material costs, supply chain pressures and changing customer expectations require careful planning and strong supplier relationships.

The team regularly participates in training through Hardware Association Ireland, Topline, ETB and supplier partners, alongside health and safety certification, machinery training, apprenticeships and leadership development.

"Managing price volatility has become part of everyday business," says John Paul McBride, Builders Providers Manager. "Working closely with our suppliers allows us to plan ahead, secure stock where possible and continue delivering value to our customers."

Ongoing training ensures the team remains up to date with new products, legislation and industry best practice, allowing customers to benefit from knowledgeable advice and trusted expertise.

Demand across West Donegal remains positive, supported by new housing, home improvements, energy upgrade schemes and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, creating continued demand for quality building materials and expert advice.

Customer Evolution Customer expectations continue to evolve, and so does the Cope.

Future Focused Investment has always been central to the Cope's approach. Over the past year, around 80% of the Builders Providers showroom has been redeveloped, creating a more modern retail environment while expanding several key departments.

Recent investment has enhanced departments including bathrooms, flooring, appliances, tools and workwear. The introduction of electronic shelf edge pricing has improved pricing accuracy, allowing the team to respond quickly to supplier cost changes, promotions and new product launches. Working closely with suppliers, Topline and Hardware Association Ireland helps the business stay ahead of changing

Alongside improvements to the customer experience, investment has also been made in business systems, stock management, electronic shelf-edge pricing and technology, helping improve efficiency across the business and ensuring the Cope continues to evolve alongside the needs of its customers. Sustainability Steps Sustainability continues to play an increasingly important role across the Cope. Solar energy systems now power two Cope locations, reducing energy consumption while also generating renewable electricity for the national grid. Recycling initiatives operate across the organisation, while customers can recycle batteries and household electrical appliances through dedicated WEEE collection points.

Well stocked power tool display.

Garden & Outdoor section.

July/August 2026

Store Profile

Relay for Life Volunteers with Majella O'Donnell, Pat Ryan (The Cope) and Daniel O'Donnell.

Modern fleet providing excellent coverage.

Sustainability also influences product choice, with growing demand for insulation products, energy-efficient appliances and modern building solutions helping customers improve the energy performance of their homes.

Unique Selling Points! The Cope's strength lies in combining the values of a community-owned co-operative with the investment, facilities and expertise of a modern business.

Networking and Outreach The Cope is a proud member of Hardware Association Ireland, Topline Group, Retail Excellence Ireland, Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and IBEC.

As part of a wider organisation that includes Builders Providers, Foodstores, Furniture & Homeware, Clothing and Hubtec, the Cope supports almost every aspect of life across West Donegal. While the business has continued to grow and evolve, its commitment to knowledgeable people, trusted relationships and exceptional customer service remains unchanged.

These partnerships provide valuable industry insight, training opportunities and access to leading suppliers, helping the business remain connected to developments across the merchanting sector while continuing to invest in its people and services. Reaping Rewards The Cope's commitment to continuous improvement has been recognised through a number of industry awards and accreditations.

Top Tips John Paul McBride believes that while products, technology and customer expectations continue to evolve, the foundations of the industry remain the same. "Know your products, know your customers and never stop learning. Good service has always been the foundation of this industry, and I don't see that changing. If you invest in your people and build strong relationships, the rest will follow."

The business was shortlisted in the 2026 Octabuild Awards, achieved All-Star Accreditation from the All-Ireland Business Foundation and has also been recognised through the Gradaim Awards for its promotion of the Irish language. These achievements reflect the Cope's ongoing commitment to customer service, innovation and continuous improvement. Community First As a community-owned co-operative, supporting local people has remained central to the Cope since Paddy "the Cope" Gallagher founded the organisation in 1906. Today, that commitment continues through sponsorship of local clubs, festivals and community initiatives across West Donegal, including the Mary From Dungloe International Festival, Burtonport Festival and numerous sporting organisations and charities. Through The Cope Community Trust, more than "140,000 has been invested in local projects over the past decade, supporting initiatives that make a lasting difference across the communities the Cope serves.

Hand tools expertly merchandised.

July/August 2026

Taxation Feature

Small Benefit Exemption explained The Hardware Journal asked Michael O'Leary, Tax Partner at PKF Brenson Lawlor, to update and clarify some issues around the 'Small Benefit Exemption' incentive given by employers to employees during the year. Tax legislation currently allows for up to five tax-free incentives to be provided by the employer to an employee per year. These incentives must be non-cash benefits that cannot be redeemed for cash and usually are in a form of a voucher or other benefit (such as payment of a gym membership or other non-monetary benefit). Total value of the provided benefits should be within "1,500. If a sixth benefit is provided, that benefit is taxable. Similarly, if the total value of the first five benefits exceeds "1,500, the benefit that causes the aggregate value to exceed the "1,500 limit will be taxable, as well as any following benefits. In addition, it is required that a provision of the benefit does not constitute a salary sacrifice arrangement. Generally, these benefits are not treated as part of the remuneration package subject to tax. However, it appears that recently certain small benefits provided by some employers to their employees caught Revenue’s attention. Certain small benefits which do not satisfy the relevant requirements as outlined above, are deemed to be provided under a salary sacrifice arrangement. This is particularly relevant where an arrangement is established under which an employee forgoes the right to any part of salary or bonus due to them as part of their remuneration package in return for a small benefit provided by the employer. Therefore, an employee cannot agree to have their salary / bonus reduced in exchange for the receipt of same in a form of a ‘‘small benefit’’. This appears to apply to both written formal agreements and to informal arrangements by way of which a reasonable expectation to the small benefit is established. Any small benefits provided to the employee must be reported to the Revenue Commissioners in real-time under Enhanced Reporting Requirements (‘‘ERR’’). Therefore, in order to stay compliant with the rules applying to the tax-free small benefits paid to employees, the conditions as

July/August 2026

outlined above must be satisfied. It should be made clear by the employer that any small benefit is discretionary and cannot be guaranteed based on any arrangements made with employees. Below we outline examples of the benefits provided to employees being (a) a salary sacrifice and therefore does not satisfy the relevant requirements as a tax-free small benefit and (b) being a tax-free small benefit: a) Employee agreed to reduce their annual salary by a "1,000 knowing that the company would have a system in place where it would issue a voucher worth "1,000 to certain employees who agreed for their salaries to be reduced respectively. However, that employee has not entered into any written agreement with the employer for the salary sacrifice in exchange for the "1,000 voucher. Instead, they reasonably excepted for these conditions to apply. In these circumstances, it is reasonable that the voucher issue is treated as a salary sacrifice rather than a tax-free small benefit exemption. b) Employee joined the company at an agreed salary of "50,000. Employee’s salary was not subject to any reductions, and no formal or informal salary sacrifice agreement was in place. The company would gift their employees Christmas vouchers of circa "1,000. However, this was not a condition in the contract and has never been promised to an employee as part of their remuneration package. Employer made it clear that the issue of gift voucher was discretionary and is not guaranteed. Therefore, a simple fact of gift vouchers previously being gifted to the employee at an employer’s free will and under no obligation does not give a rise to a salary sacrifice arrangement being in place. For further information please contact Michael O’Leary, Tax Partner, PKF Brenson Lawlor, +353 87 8273317, michael@pkfbl.ie or visit www.pkfbrensonlawlor.ie.

51 51

A View from Europe

Key lessons from Hammertime² DIY retail isn’t changing. It’s already changed! Our great friend and regular contributor Thierry Coeman is retiring from his writing duties with The Hardware Journal after many thought provoking and innovative articles over many years. He has however left us a parting gift, a follow up to his initial critically acclaimed Hammertime Publication, we now have Hammertime².

when its various channels stop competing, or worst cannibalising each other, and instead work cohesively towards the same value creation objective.

We have asked Elisa Servais, PhD., RDI, a retail design expert based in Belgium with 19+ years of practice in Shanghai, London and Brussels, to give us an overview of same with some of her own research included and referenced to complement the learnings.

Placing customers at the centre The first step in this journey is understanding their target customers. Gone are the days of the one customer profile, that happy, savvy and willing home improver. The scope of DIY knowledge and willingness is much broader today. And it is impacted in part by personality and in part by motivation.

While most retailers in our sector were busy fighting a price war, customer expectations evolved, diversified and intensified. With instantaneous access to a world of information and solutions, they now expect much more from physical stores than reliable (enough) products at a fair price. DIY retailers who wish to remain relevant and, more importantly, future-proof should acknowledge this and act now. This is the opportunity statement and call at the core of Hammertime!, Thierry Coeman’s white paper based on his extensive industry specific expertise. It also perfectly aligns with my own academic research on “the value of in-store experiences”. In this article, I wish to share with you key lessons from Hammertime! as well as my own PhD, going from theory to practice, and placing them specifically in the context of the DIY and Home Improvement sector. A new role for the physical store Historically, customers had no alternative but to visit physical stores to purchase products. For the longest time brick-andmortar shops thus served the sole purpose of stocking and displaying products; at best assisting customers to choose between comparable options. In the new omnichannel norm, this approach is no longer viable. Why would customers make the effort of going to a physical store if they can achieve the same result from the comfort of their own home? There is simply no denying that online platforms now offer the most convenient option for price and productfocused shopping. Where does this leave the physical store? For some time, the retail sector feared online would simply kill offline. Thankfully, these projections have been proven wrong as customer research consistently shows that consumers still wish to shop in physical environments. They simply expect something different from these: something online cannot offer. Simply put physical stores need to shift their purpose to offer complementarity with what other channels are doing. Indeed, financial success for the entire company can only be achieved

Practically, what does this mean for DIY retailers? It is time to review retail strategies and ways of working.

The same customer may actually approach various DIY tasks completely differently. They may for some tasks be willing to work independently (e.g. changing a lightbulb), for others they might prefer to be assisted (e.g. tiling) and for others yet, they may wish to work collectively (e.g. learning to build a cabinet). The potential customer journeys to conceptualise a store experience around are thus much more varied today. DIY retailers aiming to remain relevant will need to begin their new strategy journey by studying and framing their targeted market to identify and prioritise key shopping missions. The goal should always be to anchor the projected customer journeys into specific and, where possible, individual realities. The Convergion model - a tool to rethink the entire value chain This focus on the customer is essential to guarantee the value chain. After all, it is widely accepted in marketing research that customer value generates value for the retailer and in turn for all its associated partners. Hammertime! rightfully invites our DIY sector to design the store of the future as a value engine. One where silo thinking is forever banished. Instead, all key aspects contributing to the delivery of a valuable customer experience should be integrated from the start: knowledge, product, service, community, technology, logistics and sustainability. This last point deserves a note. Indeed, the retail industry went through an existential crisis some years ago and “sustainability” became a buzzword for some time. Today we no longer hear it as much, which raises the questions: have sustainable practices become so mainstream they no longer require mention? Or has the “fad” died down? The future of our planet and society certainly hope for the first. As an academic, I can only remind the reader that to close the loop of the value chain we must include the world and society at the end. Only when value is available throughout the world and society are customers able to consider value creation for themselves.

July/August 2026

A View from Europe

Bringing it back to the ground A key strength of Hammertime! is how it brings the above theory to the reality of practice. The white paper offers many relatable applications and also closes with my favourite part, the below list of priorities for management teams to begin implementing the Convergion Model: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Move beyond functional silos Rebalance KPIs around customer value creation Strengthen retail-supplier collaboration Invest in operational capabilities Empower store and field teams Encourage experimentation and reinvention

My own key takeaways Though I genuinely love this list, as an educator, I personally like to leave my audience with questions to initiate critical reflections. Allow me to thus launch you on your own DIY “re-convergion” with the following: The Convergion Model by Thierry Coeman as illustrated in Hammertime!.

Playing to the physical store’s strengths In the Convergion Model, as in my own research, we see that it is essential to generate value through elements which are unique to physical environments. Of course, there is the multisensory dimension which other channels have not yet been able to replicate. The physical store remains at the moment the only channel able to offer a fully immersive 360° experience for customers to enjoy and connect with a brand. But more importantly, there is the human factor. All the research has shown that customers seek genuine human interactions when visiting physical stores. Sadly, what we currently witness is a drop in service quality throughout the retail industry; the exact thing customers are seeking. DIY retailers should consider carefully how they can re-dynamise in-store interactions and once again meet their targeted customer expectations. Collaborations, collaborations, collaborations One necessary shift in processes is the revision of partnerships. Whereas before DIY retailers and their suppliers focused on negotiations bringing themselves the most value, they must now focus on the shared objective of co-creating value for the customer. Only then will they truly benefit long term. This review of partnerships also concerns offer curation and management. There should no longer be competition between private labels and partner brands. Replications should be avoided and instead a coherent brand architecture designed. And beyond the product offer, careful consideration should be put on service offerings. The end goal should always remain to deliver a seamless customer journey from the moment the consumer becomes aware of his/ her need or want all the way to the moment of use. This will require close collaborations with a myriad of partners sharing a clear shared vision and mission. This is where data and tech become assets. Not customer facing, but instead to streamline that (preferably human-based) seamless customer service delivery.

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Are you clear enough on your brand identity? Are you sure you know and understand your target customers? Not necessarily the ones who shop with you now but those whom you wish to shop with you in the future. Based on the above, which channels should you be operating? And more importantly: which complementary purpose should each serve? Looking more specifically at the physical store: – how can you craft a product and service offer which meets your target customers’ expectations of a visit to YOUR store specifically? – and how can you rethink your existing partnerships or find new ones to guarantee value creation for your target customers through a seamless customer journey?

Wishing you a constructive and successful re-Convergion. A free copy of Hammertime! is available to the first five readers to contact editor@hardwareassociation.ie

Elisa Servais, PhD., RDI, is a retail design expert with 19+ years of practice in Shanghai, London and Brussels. She has also spent 8+ years in academia researching and teaching this specific discipline. Her doctoral thesis aimed to gain a better understanding of valuable in-store experiences, with a special focus on gathering insights to better design these. She currently offers various consultancy services as means to share her passion and expertise and call for a more strategy-driven, holistic, omnichannel, collaborative and (neuro-)inclusive approach to retail design practices with as wide an audience as possible. elisaservais.com

Inside the Retail Engine

The rise of professional demand in DIY retail: Evolution, not disruption A shift that was always there Professional demand in DIY retail is not a new phenomenon. Tradespeople have always used DIY stores as a secondary supply channel: a quick fix, a missing item, a last-minute solution. What has changed is not the behaviour itself but the intentional structuring of that behaviour into a commercially meaningful segment. The industry has moved deliberately from "incidental professional customers" to "strategically targeted segment." That change carries profound implications for retailers, suppliers, and the tradespeople caught between them. This is not a trend. It's a formalisation of an existing behaviour. Who are these "Professional" customers? The professional customer is not a large contractor or an industrial team. The core target is the independent tradesperson: the sole trader electrician, the two-person plumbing outfit, the self-employed installer juggling four jobs across the week. Time-poor, cash-flow sensitive, and seeking flexibility over optimisation, they cannot plan three days ahead, and so they buy accordingly. This profile matters because it fundamentally shapes how they buy. They do not operate with large contracts, negotiating prices on a part or product they will install over a hundred times in the year. Instead, they are driven by urgency, proximity, and the need to keep a job moving. Why Professionals choose DIY Retail Three structural drivers explain the shift. – First, accessibility: early opening hours, a dense store network and zero friction to purchase. No account setup, no credit approval. –

Second, speed: the "I need it now" purchase is the defining transaction of the professional DIY customer. Retail solves it. Specialist merchants, with restricted hours or slower logistics, sometimes cannot.

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Third and most significant, are new delivery models. Jobsite delivery, pioneered and refined in the UK market, allows materials to be delivered directly to the work address, in 20 minutes! The logic is straightforward: time saved on collection is margin protected on the job. The professional tradesperson now expects a level of service responsiveness that mirrors their experience as a consumer.

Convenience is becoming more valuable than price optimisation. 54

From DIY to Do It For Me (DIFM): A Structural Evolution The most visible retail response has been the creation of dedicated trade counters within existing DIY store formats. Retailers including B&Q, Wickes, Leroy Merlin, Castorama, etc. have built hybrid models serving both the weekend DIY customer and the professional tradesperson, often under the same roof, with distinct service architectures. The trade counter is faster, more transactional and built around the professional's relationship with time. This is more than cosmetic. It represents a fundamental shift from product-led to service-led retail. Retailers are no longer simply selling products to hobbyists. They are building channel infrastructure designed to capture professional spend at scale. The product paradox: Bargains vs. Performance There is a tension at the heart of the professional DIY purchase. On one hand, professionals are opportunistic buyers who respond to deals, promotions and multi-buy offers. On the other, they carry an entirely different tolerance threshold for product failure. A DIY consumer who buys a product that underperforms is frustrated. A professional whose product fails mid-job loses time, credibility, and potentially a client. Their definition of value is therefore dual: "cheap enough" and "reliable enough" must coexist in the same SKU. This paradox bargain-hunting behaviour combined with professional performance expectations, is one of the most underappreciated dynamics in this market. What this means for suppliers Four areas demand immediate attention. 1. Rethink the assortment. Not all professional ranges belong in retail. The temptation to lift and shift a trade catalogue ignores how differently products are discovered and evaluated in a retail environment. Think in edited tiers: DIY-orientated, pro-lite, and pro-core, each with distinct SKU logic and communication. 2. Design for speed. Products must communicate their value proposition within seconds of being picked up. Packaging adapted for quick recognition, compatibility information presented immediately, benefits expressed. 3. Build trust without a sales rep. In retail, the product must sell itself. Brand recognition, quality signals and shelf presence are not optional, they are the entire conversion mechanism. Suppliers who rely on trade advocacy at point of sale will find retail deeply hostile. July/August 2026

Inside the Retail Engine

4. Price with precision. Underpricing signals low quality. Overpricing for features the professional does not need loses the deal immediately. The pricing sweet spot is narrow and demands genuine understanding of the target customer's economics. Retail does not forgive unclear value propositions. A structural change The lines between DIY and professional distribution are blurring and that process is not reversible. Retail is becoming a critical touchpoint for tradespeople at every stage of their career. The retailers who have recognised this are already restructuring. The suppliers who recognise it next will capture disproportionate share. For brands historically focused on the trade channel, the opportunity is significant but must be intentional. Retail is not a dumping channel for slow-moving stock. Every product placed in retail is a brand statement. The question is not whether to be in retail, but how to be there in a way that is consistent with professional positioning. Those who understand how professionals actually buy in retail will win more than those who simply bring professional products into stores without adaptation. Adaptation: the real question Ask pro-brand suppliers about entering retail and the first reaction is almost always the same: "No way. My products don't belong there." It's a legitimate instinct. But it's not a strategy. The real question is not whether retail is right for your brand. It's which part of your portfolio is already becoming a commodity, and whether you'd rather manage that transition deliberately, or watch a competitor do it for you. History is consistent on one point: retail volumes are significant, and retail presence shapes brand perception at scale. The risk of dilution is real. So is the risk of irrelevance. The challenge for professional brands is to navigate that tension, not avoid it. It's a strategic dance between volume and value, accessibility and exclusivity. Getting the choreography wrong is costly. Not showing up at all can be worse. Practical Starting Point The practical starting point is simpler than most suppliers expect: map your portfolio honestly. Identify which product segments or categories are already commoditised in the market, where the professional customer is no longer buying on specification but on availability and price. Those are your entry points. Not your flagship lines, not your most technical products but the SKUs where the battle has already shifted to the shelf.

Fiorella Origlia is author of “The Retail Revolution” which is available from Amazon. She is also contactable by email, www.fiorella@la-revolution.fr or visit www.la-revolution.fr or on Linkedin: Fiorella Origlia.

None of this is simple. All of it is learnable. The suppliers who will win in this restructured market are not necessarily those with the strongest trade heritage. They are those who ask the right question early enough and build the retail muscle before they need it. If you're not sure where your portfolio sits on that spectrum, that's exactly where I can help you!

Fiorella Origlia tells suppliers what no one else will. Ex-buyer at ADEO and Kingfisher, she now helps DIY suppliers crack the retail code through LaRévolution, working strategically, structurally, from the roots up. Author. Podcaster. Retail Strategy Partner. Based in France, transforming suppliers worldwide. Fiorella Origlia is contactable by email at www.fiorella@la-revolution.fr or visit www.la-revolution.fr or on Linkedin: Fiorella Origlia. Her book ‘The Retail Revolution’ is available from Amazon.

From there, adaptation is a concrete exercise: right price positioning for a self-service environment, packaging that carries the sales argument without a rep in the room, clear compatibility information, and a range architecture tight enough to rotate. July/August 2026

Steve Collinge

Click & Collect isn't a channel - it's a stress test What Click & Collect reveals about a retailer's internal competence. For years, retailers have spoken about Click & Collect as though it were simply another sales channel, a digital initiative that bridges the gap between the website and the physical store. In reality, it has become something much more revealing. Today, Click & Collect is perhaps the clearest indicator of how well a business actually operates. Customers rarely judge Click & Collect in isolation; they judge the entire business through the ease of the purchase, collection or returns process. When a Trade or DIY customer places an order online for collection in a few days’ time, the same day or even an hour later, they aren't assessing the quality of the website or admiring the sophistication of the retailer's technology stack, they're subconsciously testing dozens of internal processes that should quite rightly, be completely invisible to them. Can the retailer locate the stock accurately? Are stock records reliable? Does the picking process work? Is the product data accurate? Are store colleagues communicating effectively? Can the customer collect or return the item quickly without queueing? Is the order complete, accurate and ready when promised? If any one of these individual processes breaks down, the customer doesn't blame stock management, the staff or the warehouse systems, they simply conclude that the retailer isn't particularly organised, probably hasn’t invested in their systems and the outcome is that they will probably purchase somewhere else next time. That's why Click & Collect has evolved into one of retail's biggest operational stress tests. 56

The modern customer wants friction free certainty In recent years, it’s become clear that convenience has actually overtaken price as one of retail's biggest competitive battlegrounds. Whether purchasing paint on the way home from work, collecting timber before heading to site or having replacement plumbing fittings delivered mid-job, customers increasingly value certainty above almost everything else. Every customer wants to know three things: Is the product in stock, when can I get it and will it actually be ready when I get to the store? Those questions sound remarkably simple yet answering them consistently requires almost every department within the business to perform flawlessly. The website depends on accurate product information, availability depends on reliable stock accuracy, collection depends on efficient store operations, communication depends on integrated systems and ultimately customer satisfaction depends on every one of those working seamlessly together. The customer only sees the final five minutes of the Click & Collect process, whereas the retailer or merchant may have spent years making those five minutes possible. Every weakness becomes visible One reason Click & Collect exposes operational weaknesses so effectively is because there is nowhere to hide. Traditional store shopping allows retailers to recover from problems. What I mean here is, if an item isn't on the shelf, a colleague may find one in the warehouse or suggest an alternative and if pricing is incorrect, someone can manually override it. Day in day out, up and down the country, good staff are compensating for weak systems. July/August 2026

Steve Collinge

Click & Collect removes much of that flexibility. If the stock files are wrong, unfortunately the customer has already travelled to the branch. If finding and picking the product is delayed, expectations have already been set and commitments have been broken. If communication fails, frustration arrives before the customer even reaches the store. The promise has already been made and breaking that promise damages trust far more than simply not offering the service at all. It's no longer just an online service Many retailers still measure Click & Collect through eCommerce dashboards. They celebrate order volumes, conversion rates and average basket values, yet these metrics only describe how successfully the order was sold. They reveal almost nothing about how successfully it was fulfilled. Customers don't judge Click & Collect on conversion rates; they judge it on whether the order is complete, ready when promised and collected without friction. The retailers that understand this have stopped treating Click & Collect as an eCommerce KPI and started measuring it as an operational one, because it behaves much more like an end-to-end business process. It starts with Marketing creating the interest, need and expectation, the Buying and Merchandising teams determine the range, Supply chain ensures availability and the IT and Digital teams enable visibility. Store operations then fulfil the promise, whilst Customer Service resolves exceptions. Every department owns a small, but crucial part of the customer experience. It is this that makes Click & Collect one of the few retail services that genuinely reflects how well an organisation works together. The branch becomes the fulfilment centre This is particularly significant within hardware, DIY and Builders' Merchants. Branches are no longer simply places where products are displayed and sold. Increasingly, they are becoming local fulfilment hubs, supporting trade account holders, site deliveries, walk-in customers and Click & Collect orders simultaneously. This creates new operational pressures for the business, store layouts must support rapid picking rather than simply attractive merchandising, whereas stock locations need to be logical and accessible. Store colleagues require new skills that combine customer service with fulfilment efficiency and Technology has to support staff rather than slow them down. July/August 2026

Many retailers and merchants are discovering that the physical branch now performs more roles than ever before, without necessarily having been redesigned to support them. Think how McDonalds outlets across the globe have been redesigned to meet the needs of the collection and delivery drivers and how this is likely to be the future direction for particularly Trade Merchants and Home and Garden retailers. The next competitive advantage As AI improves search, product recommendations and purchasing decisions, retailers may find that the competitive advantage shifts even further towards execution. Customers will increasingly arrive knowing exactly what they need and winning the sale will depend less on helping them find the right product and more on helping them obtain it quickly, accurately and without friction. That's where Click & Collect becomes far more than a convenience feature, it becomes a demonstration of operational excellence. The retailers that consistently deliver accurate online stock visibility, rapid fulfilment, transparent pricing, effortless collection and dependable service are also likely to excel across home delivery, trade fulfilment, replenishment and customer satisfaction. In many ways, Click & Collect is simply the visible tip of a much larger operational iceberg. Final Thoughts One of the biggest shifts in home improvement over the last decade is that customers increasingly value certainty over choice. They don't necessarily want fifty options, they want confidence that the product is available, ready, and can be collected exactly when promised. Retailers often treat Click & Collect as a digital capability. The best retailers understand it's actually an operational capability; the website may take the order, but it's the business behind it that keeps the promise. Perhaps it's time we stopped asking whether retailers offer Click & Collect and start asking how well they deliver it? Because in today's convenience economy, every collection is a measure of operational excellence, and every successful collection is another reason for a customer to come back. Steve Collinge is an international speaker, influencer, retail commentator and executive editor of Insight DIY. You can follow Steve on LinkedIn and X.

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From concrete mixers to digital systems: Making work better for people When I was growing up, it was normal to see people mixing concrete by hand. It was hard work. Then concrete mixers became common. They made the job faster, easier and more consistent. Today, on many sites, concrete arrives ready mixed and ready to pour. Nobody questions that evolution. The work still gets done, but people spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time applying their skills where they add the most value.

Digital systems can also contribute to safer workplaces. Many businesses now use digital tools to manage inspections, maintenance schedules, permits and safety records. Instead of relying on paper forms that can be misplaced, information is available when it is needed. Issues can be identified earlier, actions can be tracked and compliance becomes easier to maintain.

I believe we are seeing a similar evolution in offices, workshops and warehouses across the country.

Another area where digitalisation can have a real impact is burnout. As businesses grow, administration often grows with them. Processes that worked when a company had five employees become difficult to manage when it has fifteen or twenty. The traditional response is often to add more people to the process. Technology offers another option.

For years, digital projects were discussed mainly in terms of efficiency, productivity and cost reduction. Those benefits are real, but after working with hundreds of small businesses, I have come to believe that one of the biggest benefits of digitalisation is often overlooked. Done properly, it makes work easier for the people using it every day. Many businesses are struggling to recruit and retain staff. Yet when you look closely at how work is carried out, it is surprising how much time is still spent on administration. Information is written down, entered into a system, checked, corrected and entered somewhere else. Staff search for paperwork, chase missing information and deal with avoidable mistakes. One of the first questions I ask when reviewing a process is simple: "What is the most frustrating part of your day?" The answers are consistent. It is rarely customer interaction, technical work or problem-solving. More often, it is paperwork, duplication and administration. Many people feel they spend too much time managing processes and not enough time doing the work they were hired to do. This is where well-designed digital systems can make a difference. A digital form can ensure all the required information is captured before work starts. Data validation can prevent common errors. Dropdown menus can standardise information. Barcode scanning can reduce picking mistakes. Individually these are small improvements, but together they make life easier and reduce frustration. One of the biggest benefits is reduced stress. Most mistakes do not happen because people are careless. They happen because people are busy and overstretched. Every manual step creates another opportunity for something to be forgotten, misread or entered incorrectly. When systems are designed to support people rather than create additional work, staff spend less time worrying about mistakes and more time focusing on customers.

JOHN O`SHANAHAN Consultant, LeanBPI

Automation is a good example. There is often concern that automation is about replacing people, but most successful projects I see are about removing tasks rather than removing jobs. Generating documents automatically, sending reminders or transferring information between systems may only save a few minutes at a time. When those minutes are repeated hundreds of times every month, the impact becomes significant. Staff are freed from repetitive administration and can focus on work that requires judgement, experience and human interaction. The best digital projects do not start with technology. They start by listening to people. They begin by understanding where frustrations exist, where mistakes occur and where time is being lost. Often the biggest improvement comes from making one person's difficult job easier. When enough of those improvements are combined, the impact on culture can be substantial. Employees feel listened to, work becomes less stressful and customers receive a better service. Just as concrete mixers transformed physical work, digital systems are transforming administrative work. The technology itself is not the story. The real story is what it allows people to do. Businesses that use technology to support their people, rather than simply drive efficiency, will see benefits beyond productivity. They will create workplaces that are safer, less stressful and more attractive places to work. At a time when attracting and retaining good people is becoming increasingly difficult, that may be one of the most valuable benefits of all. 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.

July/August 2026

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ISEULT MCLAUGHLIN Director, Tactical Talent

How to make sure your role remains a priority with your recruiter

A lot of agency recruiters work on a contingency basis for most roles. No fee changes hands unless a placement is made, so every call, shortlist, and hour spent sourcing is an investment made on the basis that the process will reach a conclusion. When early signals suggest it won't, recruiters will redirect their energy toward clients and roles where the odds are better. That's not personal, it's practical.

usually the first time a candidate asks about flexibility, and it erodes trust for the rest of the search.

It's also why some searches, particularly harder-to-fill or senior roles, or niche roles specific to industries like Hardware and Building Materials work better on a retained basis: the recruiter's time is committed upfront, so the search doesn't compete for attention against easier wins elsewhere.

Recruiters can also tell when a search is still finding its shape Sometimes a role exists in principle but the approval isn't fully signed off, or the brief shifts once interviews start. That's not a criticism, hiring plans genuinely change, but it does change how a recruiter resources the search, so it helps to say it upfront rather than let it surface halfway through.

Four things worth checking on your side 1. How much feedback have you actually given? A recruiter submits a shortlist and hears nothing back, or gets a rejection with no explanation. No feedback means no ability to recalibrate, and after a round or two, even a good recruiter loses the thread of what you actually want. Even a brief response helps. If a CV isn't right, say why: too junior, wrong sector background, salary too high. That one sentence lets the recruiter sharpen the search. 2. Is the role out with more than one agency? When a recruiter calls a strong candidate who's already been approached by two other agencies on your behalf, it tells a story: the brief has been scattered rather than managed selectively. Good candidates notice, and it can make an employer look less organised than they are. A focused relationship with one specialist recruiter who knows your business usually outperforms a scattergun approach, and it protects how your employer brand lands with candidates. 3. Is the pace matching the urgency you asked for? The best candidates are rarely available for long. If a recruiter presents someone strong and two weeks pass without a first-stage interview, there's a good chance that person has taken another offer. Slow processes suggest the urgency wasn't real, and recruiters will read it that way even when it isn't. If there's a genuine reason for delay, such as decision makers travelling or sign-off pending, tell the recruiter. They can manage candidate expectations and pace accordingly.

Being clear about salary from the outset helps everyone: the recruiter presents candidates whose expectations are genuinely aligned, and you're not sitting across from someone who has already budgeted for more than you intended to offer.

At Tactical Talent, we're always happy to have an initial exploratory call before a search is fully live, to talk through candidate availability, salary benchmarks, and likely timelines. That conversation makes the eventual search faster, not slower. The straightforward fix Treat your recruiter as a business partner rather than a service provider. Respond promptly, give honest feedback, match the pace to the urgency you stated, and be straight about what you can offer. Recruiters owe you the same in return: honest updates, real effort, and a call when a search isn't working rather than silence. If your recruiter has gone quiet, it's worth a conversation before you assume you know why. For further information and to have an initial exploratory chat, contact Iseult McLaughlin, Director, Tactical Talent Recruitment, 086 102 8490 or 01 9079192, imclaughlin@tacticaltalent.ie, www.tacticaltalent.ie and Vinny Kelly, Director, 086 3360362, vkellytacticaltalent.ie or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Tactical Talent is Ireland's only specialist recruitment agency for the Hardware and Building Materials sector. We work exclusively within this industry, which means we understand the roles, businesses, and candidate pool in a way a generalist recruiter cannot. If you're hiring, or just starting to think about it, we'd love to hear from you.

4. Is the salary range actually a range? A salary of "50,000 to "60,000 that turns out to mean "50,000 and nothing more, isn't a range. Recruiters learn this quickly,

July/August 2026

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Training: The investment you can't afford to overlook Training is one of those areas that too often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Every business owner has heard the old line: "What if I train them and they leave?" But the flip side is just as risky, and far more common: what if you don't train them, and they stay? An undertrained team is a slow, quiet drag on a business and one that's easy to miss until it shows up in mistakes, poor customer experience, or a health and safety incident.

A Blended Approach Many companies are now moving towards a blended way of educating and training their teams, rather than relying on a single method. This typically includes: –

Self-directed learning, where employees work through a checklist at their own pace and report back once it's complete.

Part of the reason training gets overlooked is that it can feel complicated and intimidating to set up. The good news is that it doesn't need to be. With a bit of simple structure, a training programme can be easy to administer and largely self-policing by employees themselves. The key is breaking training down into clear, manageable groupings rather than treating it as one big, vague obligation.

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Company-led sessions, delivered in person, often in a meeting room setting.

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Outside consultancies, brought in for specific sessions where external expertise adds value.

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E-learning, partnering with a platform to offer a customised suite of training modules to colleagues.

Four Categories to Build Around Category 1: Legal compliance. This covers the non-negotiables - the training that's either required by law or expected across the wider hardware sector. Manual Handling and Forklift Training are standard, along with Dignity at Work training in line with the 2021 Code of Practice, and Protection from Violence and Aggression at Work, which Health and Safety Inspectors will often ask about directly. If your business offers food, HACCP and Safe Pass also fall into this category. Category 2: Good practice and positive culture. This is where businesses build the kind of workplace people want to stay in. Diversity and Inclusion, Disability Awareness, Communication Skills, and Customer Service Training all sit here. It's less about ticking a legal box and more about shaping how your team works together and how customers experience your business. Category 3: Management skills and HR tasks. Anyone with people-management responsibility needs support to do it well, conducting interviews, managing probation periods, running appraisals, and developing leadership skills and traits. This category is often the most neglected, yet it has an outsized impact on staff retention and team performance and could potentially cause legal disputes when matters are not handled appropriately.

Combining these approaches means training can flex around the realities of a busy hardware business, rather than requiring everything to stop for a full day of instruction. The Competitive Edge The hardware sector is competitive, and the products on your shelves can absolutely be a point of difference. But products can be matched by competitors. Knowledgeable, well-trained team members are harder to replicate. A staff member who can advise a customer confidently, handle equipment safely, and represent the business well is a genuine competitive advantage and one that's built, not bought. Don't let training slip down the priority list. Structured, wellorganised training doesn't have to be a burden on the business. Done right, it protects the business, strengthens the team, and gives you the edge over competitors who haven't made the same investment. Tom Smyth & Associates and Workplace Training are here to support the hardware sector on any of your training needs. If you have any questions about our services or general HR support, please email info@tsaconsultants.ie.

Category 4: Product and business knowledge. This is the technical, day-to-day knowledge that keeps the business running, datasheets, supplier catalogues, and product-specific information. It's the training your team relies on most often, even if it's the least formal.

TOM SMYTH Owner of Tom Smyth & Associates

July/August 2026

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Are you losing margin on overseas supplier payments?

IAN CRADDOCK Business Development Fexco International Payments

Irish businesses continue to rely heavily on overseas suppliers, with imports from China reaching $14.46 billion in 2025 and imports from India totalling $1.38 billion. For finance teams, the scale of these imports highlights a key challenge: foreign exchange costs and currency risk are often hidden in supplier payments when invoices are settled in EUR or USD rather than the supplier's local currency. Nevertheless, many Irish importers continue to pay overseas suppliers in these currencies, due to convenience and longestablished purchasing practices. Let us explore why paying in a supplier's local currency is often the smarter commercial decision and how Irish importers can reduce unnecessary costs without changing suppliers or renegotiating contracts. Supplier’s exchange rate is usually more expensive than yours. Many Irish importers assume that invoicing in EUR or USD removes currency risk. In practice, these funds still need to be converted somewhere along the chain, and that conversion can be expensive. On larger invoices, even a small margin can add up quickly, turning hidden FX costs into tens of thousands of euros. If a Chinese supplier invoices in EUR, those euros are usually converted back into Chinese yuan (CNY). That conversion is rarely done at wholesale market rates. Instead, suppliers often build a margin into the price to protect themselves against currency swings. The invoice may look cleaner, but the FX cost has not disappeared - it is simply buried inside the product price rather than shown as a separate charge. In effect, the exchange rate becomes hidden inside the product price rather than appearing as a separate bank charge and as a result, buyers often pay more for this “certainty” than they would by managing the currency risk directly. Suppliers often prefer local currency, even when they do not ask for it. Most of the time, an overseas supplier will quote in USD simply because they believe July/August 2026

that international buyers expect it. But when these suppliers pay staff wages, factory overheads or pay for local raw materials, the costs are paid in local currency.

cost, and payment cost. This makes it easier for businesses to benchmark suppliers, compare quotations, analyse procurement costs, and negotiate future pricing.

When you pay in local currency you are removing an operational step for the supplier thereby creating an opportunity for yourself.

The finance team gets clearer data while procurement gains stronger negotiating intelligence.

By removing the conversion cost for the supplier, you may get more negotiating power on product pricing and payment terms. Currency can therefore become a commercial advantage rather than a payment decision.

Fexco International Payments - Your trusted partner in local currency payments Paying overseas suppliers in their local currency can reduce hidden costs, improve pricing transparency, and even strengthen supplier relationships.

How invoice currency can strengthen your negotiating position Most procurement teams focus on unit price, but payment currency can also have a real impact on cost, supplier relationships, and overall buying power. For example, consider two wholesale businesses, one in Dublin and one in Cork, both sourcing the same power tools and materials from China for distribution across Ireland. The Dublin-based company pays in EUR. The Cork-based company works with an FX transfer specialist such as Fexco International Payments to pay in RMB (Chinese renminbi). For the supplier, this creates a simpler and more predictable payment process, with less concern around hedging, conversion fees, or exchange rate movement. That reduction in friction can make the Cork-based company a more attractive customer to deal with. In commercial terms, this translates into stronger supplier relationships, better pricing discussions, and improved payment terms over time. Create better cost visibility with local currency pricing Many Irish accounts payable teams prefer receiving invoices in EUR because accounting appears more straightforward. Local currency invoicing often provides greater cost transparency. Rather than having exchange costs buried within product pricing, businesses can separate product cost, FX

With access to more than 165 currencies, including Chinese renminbi, Indian rupee and many other specialist and less commonly traded currencies that traditional banks often struggle to support efficiently, Fexco International Payments helps Irish importers pay overseas suppliers the smarter way. As a Corporate Partner to Hardware Association Ireland, Fexco International Payments offers HAI members: – ZERO fees on all foreign currency payments. –

Lower FX rates than current provider.

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Free payments health check to discover savings and process improvement.

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Dedicated account managers you can trust.

Find out how you could save margin by speaking with your dedicated HAI account manager, Ian Craddock, for a noobligation consultation. You can also access a savings calculator at www.fexco.com/hai-savings-calculator/ Email: icraddock@fexco.com Mob: +353 87-9094392 Landline: 066 - 979 9072 Customer Service: 1800 246 800

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Why insulation isn’t just to warm homes When discussing insulation with customers, it’s natural to focus on lower heating bills and improved comfort during colder months. While these remain important benefits, insulation also plays a key role in maintaining comfortable indoor environments year-round, supporting healthier homes, improving fire performance and reducing noise transfer. As building standards evolve and customer expectations increase, understanding these wider benefits can help merchants offer more informed advice and added value. Avoiding overheating As our climate gets warmer, overheating is becoming a significant design consideration. Contrary to conventional wisdom, high levels of insulation and airtightness are not significant factors for overheating. Just as it helps keep homes warm in the winter, insulation limits heat transfer in the summer, but this needs to be combined with sufficient ventilation and strategic design of glazed areas. Technical Guidance Document F helps determine the level of ventilation needed to maintain reasonable indoor temperatures. Passive cooling measures, such as external shading and well-positioned glazing, can also significantly reduce overheating. Mechanical cooling systems may still be required in some buildings, but their efficiency and running costs can be improved when the building fabric performs effectively. Improving indoor air quality Indoor air quality is increasingly recognised as a major factor in occupant wellbeing, with mould one of the most common signs of poor indoor environments. Mould growth is often caused by condensation. A continuous layer of insulation, installed correctly and combined with effective ventilation, can help reduce this risk by maintaining warmer internal surface temperatures during colder months. It is also important to consider how some construction products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may contribute to irritation and discomfort for occupants. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool products use ECOSE®, a plant-based 64

binder that is low-carbon and low-VOC. As a result, the range has achieved the Eurofins Gold Certification for indoor air quality. For merchants, low-VOC products provide an additional point of differentiation as homeowners become more aware of the relationship between building materials and wellbeing. Simplifying fire safety In 2024, Technical Guidance Document B was updated to expand the definition of high-risk buildings and provide additional guidance on the use of non-combustible materials in façades. The document also states that combustible cladding frameworks and combustible thermal insulation used in over-cladding systems may present a fire risk. For buildings of any height or use, appropriate consideration should therefore be given to material selection. Using non-combustible materials throughout can simplify specification, while also providing reassurance for insurers, building owners and occupants. Euroclass Reaction to Fire classifications are used to assess how products contribute to fire spread, smoke production and production of flaming droplets. Ratings range from Euroclass F, which is easily flammable, to Euroclass A1, which is noncombustible. Glass mineral wool and rock mineral wool insulation products typically achieve a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification while also providing thermal and acoustic benefits. However, merchants should always advise customers to check the classification of individual products, as ratings can vary. Providing clarity around fire classifications and compliance requirements can help merchants support more informed specification decisions.

This has increased the importance of acoustic insulation in residential construction. Mineral wool insulation is particularly effective because its fibrous structure helps absorb airborne sound waves and reduce sound transmission through separating walls, floors and partitions. There is a common misconception that only rock mineral wool delivers effective acoustic performance. In fact, glass mineral wool can achieve comparable acoustic results, while also being easier to handle and install in many applications. For merchants, products that combine thermal efficiency, acoustic insulation and non-combustibility can simplify specification choices and help customers meet multiple performance requirements with a single solution. Supporting year-round conversations Insulation should no longer be viewed purely as a winter product. From managing overheating and improving indoor air quality to supporting fire safety and reducing noise transfer, insulation plays an important role in creating safer, healthier and more comfortable homes throughout the year. By understanding these wider benefits, merchants can position themselves as trusted advisors and have more valuable conversations with customers in every season. Visit www.knauf.com for further information.

Acoustic insulation in a noisier world Noise pollution is becoming a growing concern as homes are built closer together and urban areas become more densely populated. Increased rainfall and more extreme weather events are also contributing to higher background noise levels. July/August 2026

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Fabric first design: the smartest way to improve energy efficiency As energy efficiency standards continue to evolve, builders are under increasing pressure to deliver homes that achieve higher levels of thermal performance while maintaining cost effectiveness and buildability. Meeting today's energy performance targets is no longer simply about adding more insulation or incorporating renewable technologies. Instead, the greatest gains come from adopting a fabric first approach, prioritising the performance of the building envelope to minimise heat loss from the outset. Central to this approach is careful attention to detailing, particularly at junctions where thermal bridging can significantly undermine overall performance. Even in well insulated buildings, heat loss frequently occurs where continuity of insulation is interrupted. These thermal bridges increase heat loss, reduce occupant comfort and can contribute to condensation and mould. Lintels are one of the most overlooked contributors to thermal bridging. Positioned above window and door openings throughout a building, they represent multiple junctions where thermal performance can either be maintained or compromised. While each lintel may seem insignificant, their cumulative impact across an entire dwelling can influence overall energy performance and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. A successful fabric first strategy considers every component within the building envelope and how those components work together to help reduce heat loss. This means specifying products that actively support thermal continuity rather than relying on additional insulation or mechanical systems to compensate for weaknesses in the building fabric.

One piece thermally efficient lintels are designed specifically with this objective in mind. Unlike traditional multi part lintel arrangements, which can interrupt insulation continuity and create additional thermal bridges, a one-piece design helps maintain a more consistent thermal envelope around window and door openings. Improving junction details through the specification of thermally efficient lintels can reduce heat loss calculations used within BER assessments, supporting improved Building Energy Ratings. Importantly, this is achieved by enhancing the building fabric itself rather than increasing dependence on renewable technologies or more complex heating systems. Selecting thermally efficient structural components also provides long term value. They require no maintenance, consume no operational energy and continue delivering performance benefits throughout the lifetime of the building. For contractors, one-piece lintels can also simplify installation by reducing the complexity associated with multiple component systems. As expectations for energy efficient housing continue to rise, fabric first thinking remains one of the most effective strategies for delivering homes that perform as intended. By reducing thermal bridging and improving thermal continuity, one-piece thermally efficient lintels represent a simple specification decision that can make a measurable difference to energy performance, helping builders deliver homes that are ready for both today's standards and tomorrow's demands. Find out more about Keystone's Hi-Therm+ Lintels at www.keystonelintels.com

July/August 2026

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Wavin HepvO: The compact solution for unvented hot water cylinders Used with the Tundish Adaptor, the Wavin HepvO waterless waste valve provides a safe, compliant connection from an unvented hot water storage cylinder discharge pipe to internal sanitary pipework. This system directly connects to the temperature and pressure relief valve (TPRV) while preventing foul odours and gases from entering the building.

A straightforward solution for merchants For this application, merchants can offer the Wavin HepvO Tundish Adaptor Kit BV1/21, which includes a 32mm HepvO BV1 valve and tundish adaptor. A QR code on the packaging also provides quick access to installation guidance, giving installers the information they need on site.

For installers, this provides a simpler, quicker and more costeffective alternative to creating a long drainage run to an external discharge point.

This application highlights HepvO's versatility.

HepvOs advantage The key advantage is HepvO’s waterless design. Traditional water traps rely on standing water to create a seal and are not suitable for connection to the soil stack in this application, as the seal can be lost through evaporation during periods of infrequent use.

It is not simply a space-saving bathroom solution; it can also help solve a practical installation challenge around unvented hot water cylinders*. * Unvented hot water systems must be installed by certified and qualified installers.

HepvO uses a self-sealing membrane instead. It opens when water passes through and closes afterwards to form an airtight seal. As it does not rely on water, it will not lose its seal during long periods of inactivity and can be installed within the drainage run to help protect against foul gases returning through the system as a result of back pressure. Designed for compact installations Its slim, inline design is another practical benefit. Space around an unvented cylinder is often limited, particularly in hot presses, utility rooms and service areas. HepvO’s compact form makes it easier to install without adding unnecessary complexity.

For more information, visit www.wavin.ie

July/August 2026

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Pipelife obtains EPDs for its Qual-Pex Plus+ pipe range Leading pipe manufacturer Pipelife Ireland has gained Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its Qual-Pex Plus+ ‘Easy Lay’ pipe range - making them the first Irish-made pipes to have independently-verified embodied carbon data. A high-performance, multi-purpose piping system, Qual-Pex Plus+ is engineered for reliable distribution of hot and cold water, central heating, and underfloor heating, designed to last for a building’s whole life - and therefore reduce the building’s whole life carbon impact. Pipelife’s decision to obtain EPDs for all seven sizes of its Qual-Pex Plus+ pipe range comes as larger developers and public bodies face obligations to calculate and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings - with the rest of the industry set to follow imminently as new EU rules take hold. Conor Manning, Managing Director of Pipelife Ireland said: “Securing EPDs for our entire Qual-Pex Plus+ pipe range reflects our commitment to supporting developers and public bodies as they work to measure and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings. It ensures that Pipelife continues to stand firmly behind our customers as embodied-carbon reporting becomes a compulsory requirement across the industry under new EU directives.” Irish Green Building Council chief executive Pat Barry congratulated Pipelife, saying: “It is fantastic to see leadership in Irish manufacturers reacting to the imperatives of the EPBD and producing the data that will be needed in the coming years through production of verified EPD. It is particularly exciting to see data for components used in building services as this is one of the largest data gaps in whole life carbon assessment and we need more manufacturers to provide this data.” Policy changes such as the EU taxonomy on sustainable economic activities, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the 2024 revision of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings are placing pressure on building material manufacturers to produce reliable, independently-validated data on the embodied carbon of their products. Meanwhile in September the government’s low carbon construction procurement guidelines came into effect - including a requirement to conduct whole life carbon assessments on new buildings above certain budget thresholds, based on a new Life-Cycle Global Warming Potential Calculation Methodology published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The requirement also applies to infrastructure projects above certain budget thresholds. To enable accurate whole life carbon calculation, product-specific EPDs are the gold standard. The seven Qual-Pex Plus+ EPDs are published on EPD Ireland, a national platform set up by the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) to enable Irish manufacturers to create EPDs for their products and verify them to Product Category Rules (PCR) created for Ireland. These PCRs provide specific, localised rules for various categories of construction products, enabling meaningful comparison between products on the Irish market.

The EPDs were created to EN 14508+A2 based on life cycle assessments by Dutch experts EcoReview Netherlands, and verified by third party verifier Stephen Forson, who was independently appointed by the IGBC from its panel of highly accredited EPD and LCA experts. Why whole life carbon matters The whole life carbon emissions of buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions, with 28% coming from operational energy use, and 11% from embodied carbon, according to the World Green Building Council. Operational carbon emissions are falling due to tightening regulations, the decarbonisation of electricity and fossil fuel boilers being replaced with heat pumps, a cumulative shift which means the emphasis must start to shift to embodied carbon too. Consequently, embodied carbon has moved from obscurity to centre stage in Irish construction, due to new rules which mandate the calculation of the embodied carbon of buildings - including building services and all other construction materials used. While the second building services product of any type to be under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, it will be mandatory to calculate the whole life carbon of all new buildings of 1000m2 or more by 2028 - and all new buildings by 2030. Data on the embodied carbon of building services is relatively lacking, with some studies suggesting services can represent anything from 10 to 40% of the whole building total. While Qual-Pex Plus+ is made from polyethylene, a form of plastic, it has a number of environmental advantages over metal pipes. Compared to metal pipes, it offers significantly lower embodied carbon, it is corrosion resistant and comes with a 50-year guarantee. The Qual-Pex Plus+ EPDs include a 50-year reference service life. Ireland’s whole life carbon calculation methodology sets a reference study period for each building of 50 years - meaning calculations done with Qual-Pex Plus+ will therefore avoid projected emissions from replacement pipes. What is whole life carbon? It is all of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by a building across its entire life cycle. It is made up of embodied carbon and operational carbon. Embodied carbon includes emissions from manufacturing building materials, transport and construction, along with repair, replacement, maintenance and eventual demolition or - preferably - careful deconstruction. Operational carbon comes from energy and water use during the building’s occupancy. When you put together embodied carbon and operational carbon, you have whole life carbon.

July/August 2026

PIPELIFE OBTAINS EPDs FOR ITS QUAL-PEX PLUS+ PIPE RANGE In 2026, your clients are demanding measurable sustainability actions... We understand the pressures you face to design lower-carbon buildings to meet client and regulatory requirements. In a world full of misleading green credential claims, there‘s often a lack of clarity when it comes to specifying low-carbon materials. Pipelife Ireland has secured Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its Qual‑Pex Plus+ ‘Easy Lay’ pipe range — the first Irish‑made pipes to feature independently verified embodied‑carbon data. When you specify Pipelife Qual‑Pex Pipe, you can do so with confidence. Our newly published Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide transparent, independently verified data on environmental impacts across the entire product life cycle.

Pipelife supports your sustainability journey with high‑quality products and independently verified data you can trust. Our EPDs will help you: • Make informed product selection choices early. • Justify product selections with verified documents. • Meet your project sustainability targets. • Enhance clarity with unambiguous, measurable environmental product data.

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ANOTHER GAME CHANGER FROM PIPELIFE PIPELIFE IRELAND SOLUTIONS LIMITED Little Island, Cork, T45 TX05 T +353 21 451 0600 / +353 21 488 4700 E ireland@pipelife.com pipelife.ie

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Hot Water Storage for Modern Heat Pump Systems As modern heat pump systems continue to evolve, research and development is increasingly focused on the performance of the complete heating system rather than individual products. Heating system performance is no longer determined by the heat pump alone. Instead, manufacturers including Grant are developing integrated heating solutions, with every component designed to work together to deliver efficient, reliable heating solutions. For installers and specifiers, this means moving beyond selecting individual products and considering the heating system as a complete solution. The heat pump, hot water cylinder, controls and overall system design all play an important role in delivering the efficiency, reliability and comfort expected by homeowners.

Ease of installation was also a key consideration throughout the development of the range. Practical installer-focused features have been incorporated to simplify handling, positioning and system integration, while Smart pre-plumbed models include factory-fitted components to help reduce installation time and support consistent system set-up. Feedback from installers and electricians also helped shape the design, with particular emphasis placed on ease of installation, servicing and longterm reliability.

With this integrated approach in mind, Grant has recently launched its new Quick Recovery Hot Water Cylinder range. Designed and manufactured in Ireland, the range has been developed specifically for modern low-temperature heat pump systems and to complement the award-winning Grant Aerona R290 air source heat pump, helping installers and specifiers optimise the efficiency, reliability and overall performance of complete heating systems. A key component within any modern heat pump system is the hot water cylinder. According to Keith Scully, Training Manager at Grant, cylinder design plays an important role in overall system performance. "The length, construction and surface area of the heat exchange coil, together with the quality of the insulation all contribute to how effectively the cylinder performs as part of a heat pump system." Grant Quick Recovery Smart Intergrated Cyclinder and Aerona R290 heat pump.

As the heating industry continues its transition towards renewable technologies, the importance of a complete system approach will only increase. By designing heat pumps, hot water cylinders and controls to operate together, manufacturers can help installers and specifiers deliver heating solutions that meet the demands of both today’s homes and future heating requirements.

Keith Scully, Training Manager at Grant.

Developed specifically for low-temperature heat pump applications, the Grant Quick Recovery Cylinder range incorporates a high-performance DN25 stainless steel heat exchange coil engineered to maximise heat transfer and support rapid hot water recovery. Combined with an optimised internal design and high-performance insulation, the cylinders help minimise standing heat loss while supporting efficient system operation. 70

Grant’s investment in new cylinder technology and expanded manufacturing capability reflects this wider industry movement - supporting installers and specifiers with heating products designed to optimise system efficiency, reliability and longterm performance. 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

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The smarter choice for heat pump systems Introducing the new Grant Quick Recovery cylinder range - designed and manufactured by Grant for seamless integration with the Grant Aerona R290 heat pump. Designed to support efficient low-temperature heating performance. - Rapid heat recovery - Optimised for low-temperature systems - Smart pre-plumbed options available - Seamless Aerona R290 heat pump integration - Backed by Grant technical support

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Transform your Cash Handling & Payment Processes with GLORY Ireland Counting tills, checking floats, investigating discrepancies, preparing deposits, and completing reconciliation can take valuable time every day. In busy hardware and DIY stores, those minutes quickly become hours that could otherwise be spent supporting customers - shortening queues and helping staff serve more customers without adding pressure to already stretched staff. Improving Accuracy, Security and Loss Prevention Manual cash handling and payment acceptance, whether at the counter or in the back office, exposes hardware and DIY businesses to human error and heightened security risks. The traditional (manual) approach can put staff under pressure and distract them from providing the best experience for the customer, impacting overall business efficiency. Manual cash handling and payment processes can also create opportunities for error - a mistyped payment amount, incorrect change, misplaced note, or unreconciled refund can all affect the accuracy of daily takings. From small independent retailers to large DIY chains, GLORY’s automated cash management and payment solutions have significant benefits for hardware businesses. Helping you toefficiently manage your cash and payment processes, our solutions can improve security, accuracy, and efficiency, and can also enhance staff productivity, and help to reduce costs. If you’re looking to decrease your time spent on manual cash handling, minimise time spent investigating cash discrepancies, and provide customers with a fast, easy to use and secure payment option, our cash management and payment solutions can help.

Donal Clavin - GLORY Ireland Sales Manager.

GLORY’s solutions not only free up staff to focus on more value-added activities but also support both front of house payment points and back office operations. Streamlining reconciliation, speeding up start and end of day processes, and simplifying cash preparation for lodgement, our solutions can connect all your cash and payment processes. For hardware businesses with multiple tills or payment points, a portfolio of cost-effective solutions is available designed to cater for any hardware environment, including those with limited space. By optimising the number of devices required and centralising cash handling and payment acceptance, a business can save valuable time and reduce operational costs. Provide your customers with a fast, easy to use, secure payment option, or improve your back office cash handling processes, contact GLORY Ireland today. Donal Clavin - GLORY Ireland Sales Manager, donal.clavin@ie.glory-global.com, Mobile: +353 87 332 9653.

July/August 2026

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Is your online ordering working as hard as your Sales Team? Wholesale has always been built on relationships. Knowledge, service and trust remain the foundations of successful businesses, but one thing has changed dramatically over the last decade, the way customers want to buy. Today's business customers expect the convenience of online ordering alongside the personal service they've always valued. They want to check stock availability, view their agreed pricing, place orders outside normal business hours and access account information whenever it suits them. For wholesalers, meeting those expectations isn't always straightforward. Unlike retail, B2B trading is far more complex. Customer-specific pricing, credit terms, product catalogues, ERP integration and account management all need to work seamlessly behind the scenes. It's why many wholesalers have found that traditional eCommerce platforms designed for consumers simply don't always meet the needs of a wholesale business. This was the challenge that inspired Premio. Developed by Premier Stationery, one of Ireland's leading wholesalers, Premio was created after the business experienced these same challenges first-hand. Rather than adapting software built for another market, the team developed a platform designed specifically around the way wholesalers and distributors operate. Today, Premio enables customers to access live stock information, their own pricing, account details and online ordering through a platform that integrates with existing ERP systems. More importantly, it helps wholesalers enhance customer service by reducing routine administration and allowing sales teams to spend more time supporting customers and building relationships.

Digital transformation doesn't mean replacing the personal touch that wholesale is known for. It means giving customers another convenient way to do business, while making everyday processes more efficient for both your team and your customers. As customer expectations continue to evolve, wholesalers who embrace digital tools will be better positioned to strengthen customer relationships, improve efficiency and remain competitive in an increasingly connected marketplace. If you're considering how eCommerce could support your wholesale business, discover more about Premio and its approach to B2B digital commerce at www.premio.ie.

July/August 2026

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Payment inefficiencies cost distributors more than you think Lochan Sim, VP of Payments at Klipboard outlines the issue for The Hardware Journal. Many distribution businesses still treat payments as an administrative task rather than a strategic part of their day-today operations. Yet how payments are handled can significantly influence liquidity, productivity, customer satisfaction, and overall profitability. Distributors across Ireland are feeling the squeeze with tighter margins, rising costs, and more complex supply chains - all while trying to keep stock available, pricing accurate, and service levels high. Finance and operations teams are also expected to process high volumes of trade transactions efficiently, reduce unnecessary manual administration, and maintain real-time visibility across purchasing, invoicing, and cash collection. Yet many businesses still rely on disconnected payment systems which creates unnecessary manual work. This slows down reconciliation, making it harder to keep a clear picture of cash flow. Recent Klipboard Money research, Payments in Distribution Report and industry discussions, www.klipboard.com/payment-in-distribution highlighted the scale of payment-related inefficiencies across distribution: –

99% of distributors deal with late account payments.

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Over half spend more than six hours per week on manual payment admin.

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81% use two or more payment providers.

Finance teams often spend valuable time matching payments against invoices, handling payment queries, or manually updating records between systems. These processes slow operations down and increase the likelihood of errors and delayed cash collection. How integrated payments change this dynamic Payments taken online, over the phone, in branch, or through Pay by Link feed directly into the ERP system, helping automate reconciliation and giving accounts teams faster visibility of payments received. This creates several tangible outcomes: – Faster payment collection leading to improved cash flow. – Reduced manual reconciliation and administration. – Greater accuracy across accounts and reporting. – Simpler, more flexible payment experiences for customers. – Improved security and reduced fraud risk. Modern trade sector customers expect simple, flexible payment options, whether they're purchasing at the trade counter, through a webstore, or paying invoices remotely. Self-service portals, Pay by Link, QR code payments, and 24/7 online account access have become more common across the industry. When payment methods sit outside the core business system, significant challenges appear. Separate systems can create extra admin, gaps in reporting and increased compliance risk through manual card handling or inconsistent processes. Connecting payment activity directly into the ERP system helps bring everything into one place, giving accounts teams better visibility, less reconciliation work and customer account information that's always up to date.

When businesses review their payment setup, they often focus on the headline transaction rate. However, hidden costs frequently sit elsewhere within the process: manual reconciliation, time spent chasing invoices, payment errors, duplicate entry, delayed settlements, and fragmented systems all chip away at the bottom line.

For Hardware Association Ireland members, connected payment workflows can simplify payment processing, improve visibility and help speed up cash collection.

According to findings in the report, over nine in ten distributors believe that offering more payment options will encourage greater loyalty. That loyalty can be worth more than acquiring new customers.

www.klipboard.com/money

Discover a simpler approach to payments by speaking with one of our payment experts.

Distribution businesses in particular experience considerable friction from disconnected systems.

July/August 2026

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

How do you know you’re ready for ERP go-live? Go-live shouldn’t be the first time you discover whether your stock, orders, payments or everyday processes work. Jordan Parker, Migration and Integration Consultant at GenetiQ, explains what to check before making the final switch. Before go-live, what should you feel confident will work? Your team should be able to complete the everyday work customers depend on: processing orders, checking stock, raising purchase orders, taking payments and using connected systems. And how can you be sure the data has come across properly? We compare the new system with information the business already trusts. During a test run, stock balances, costs and opening figures are brought across and checked against the current ERP. Does everything from the old system need to come across? No. Migration is a rare opportunity to review what the business still needs. Obsolete products, inactive suppliers, duplicate records and outdated customer information can make the new system harder to manage. What should teams be testing before go-live? The situations they deal with every day, including the awkward ones. That could include different product types, discounts, payments, website orders, purchase orders and connected systems.

July/August 2026

Should all the knowledge sit with one person? Ideally no. Two or three people should understand the important data processes. How do teams know what needs to happen as go-live gets closer? A clear cutover plan sets out what needs to move, when each task will happen and who owns it. What if some staff still do not feel ready? They need more time using the system. That could mean further testing, more time in the test environment or another walkthrough with the project team. What support should you expect around go-live? Regular communication throughout the project makes a big difference. Finally, how does a team know it is ready? The key processes have been tested, the figures have been checked, knowledge has been shared and everyone understands their responsibilities. The final switch should follow a process everyone has seen, tested and understood. GenetiQ was previously known as Intact. The name has changed, but the company, people, products and commitment to customers remain the same. Find out more at www.genetiqsoftware.com.

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1973 - 2023

LIFTING IRISH INDUSTRY FOR

50 Years

July/August 2026

Dear Trade Colleague, ers have been through the support of our board and memb Recently Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) areassociation.ie hardw www. see built s Home y Famil more Rural heavily involved in leading the drive to see for more details. igns. All of these Empty Homes and Above the Shops campa This campaign follows on from our successful tunities in housing. campaigns have the aim of unlocking oppor what varied forms is a very significant market. So, For most of our members housing in all its us. to tant impor is very housing, or what doesn’t happen in housing

happens in

below will increase at €4 billion. Increasing the three markets According to the CRO our market is valued years. our marketplace by 40%+over the next three ials. Last year there ge they buy €70k per home in building mater 1. Rejuvenated Empty Homes - On avera per year = next few years we would expect to see 5,500 were 3,066 completed – this year, and for the €385 million per year. ials = €625 million per year at €125k per home in building mater 2. Rejuvenated “Above the Shops” - 5,000 growing in 2027. per year. This sector of the market will start d this would add 5,900 in 2025. When the regulations are relaxe 3. Rural Family Homes/one off houses ng = €750 million per year. This will start buildi 5,000 per year at €150k in building materials momentum in 2028. So, together these three sectors will create every year.

g 50,000 people an extra 15,500 housing units potentially housin

ess of €1,760 million per year.

The prize to the sector is an increase in busin

and services. 15,000 households spending money on goods There will also be the added benefit of an extra year. per n household spend is €61,100 - so €947 millio According to the CSO, the average annual rt of our members. opportunities in the market with the suppo HAI’s plan is to continue to press for these

performance by ry of all types of housing and focus on the To enable this, we will measure housing delive you at local ed of progress and we may request help from Local Authority. HAI will you keep you inform delivered. level to ensure that the required changes are become involved, any of our lobbying campaigns or if you can If you would like any further information on please let me know.

lapsed members your continued support, it is invaluable. To To current paid up members, thank you for real impact at a strong and representative lobby to have please reconsider your decision as we need will help you little as the price of a cup of coffee a day, national, regional and local level. For as of joining, ht thoug not To those in our sector who have safeguard your business and our industry. support now and help your need d membership today. We please consider Hardware Association Irelan rship embe .ie/m iation assoc ours, www.hardware so that we can support you, when you need

Yours Sincerely, Martin Markey, CEO.