L-R: Louise Duffy, host, with Brian Murphy, Instantor (sponsor), Keith Lacey and Jane Callan, Lacey’s, and Colm O’Regan, host.
L-R: Louise Duffy, host, with Shane Colleran, Heat Merchants, Brian Murphy, Instantor (sponsor), Mark Walker, Heat Merchants, and Colm O’Regan, host.
WINNER: Best Multi-Location Merchant of the Year LACEY’S PLUMBING AND HEATING SUPPLIES LTD
WINNER: Ireland’s Overall Merchant of the Year
HEAT MERCHANTS
KINDLY SPONSORED BY: INSTANTOR
KINDLY SPONSORED BY: INSTANTOR
Lacey’s impressed judges as a young, dynamic firm which is quickly expanding and making the most of ecommerce opportunities to achieve annual growth averaging 30%. Opening its first branch in Ballycoolin in 2015, the plumbing and heating supplier and bathroom and tile retailer has since opened two more branches. Its goal is to create a space where plumbing, heating, bathroom, and tile contractors can buy all their materials in one place, at the right price, from trained experts offering high-level customer service. It partners with more than 50 suppliers of popular, trusted brands and is Ireland’s only direct independent supplier of Bosch boilers. Since 2021, Lacey’s has developed its website into a thriving ecommerce marketplace offering thousands of products to customers across Ireland. Its social media following across Facebook and Instagram has increased by around 40%, boosting brand recognition amongst tradespeople and consumers. Within the past year, it has rolled out next day collections and nationwide delivery for online orders, and an open chat box on its website manned during work hours. Sustainability is also a focus for the company, coordinating deliveries to reduce emissions and using electronic signatures to cut down on paper waste.
Continual innovation has proved a recipe for success for heating and plumbing specialist Heat Merchants, named Overall Merchant of the Year. Trading for over 45 years, it was acquired by Wolseley in 2022, boosting investment across the business including renovation of its business support offices, staff training centre, warehouse, and distribution centre. A leading supplier of plumbing, heating, and renewable energy solutions to trade professionals across Ireland, Heat Merchants is due to complete a revamp of its 31 branches in early 2024. Three installer training facilities have been added in Naas, Athlone, and Cork to provide upskilling opportunities for trade customers. And earlier this year, Bathroom Merchants was launched and provides trade customers with a complete bathroom and showering product range which is readily available through the existing network of Heat Merchants branches. Heat Merchants has continuously increased sales and market share since 2012, by providing customers with efficient service and consistent product availability. Online account management allows customers to check stock availability in any branch, order, download manuals, view account details and access invoices and statements. Further support services include technical design, estimation and specification, commissioning, after-sales servicing and warranty support.
T: +353 (0)1 441 0165 E: showrooms@laceys.ie www.laceys.ie
T: +353 (0)90 644 2300 E: customersupport@heatmerchants.ie www.heatmerchants.ie
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