As the competition heats up for the 2024 Octabuild Builders Merchant Excellence Awards, The Hardware Journal caught up with the expert judges to seek their advice for Builders Merchants entering the Awards.
The two judges are well known industry professionals – Liam O’Gorman and Joe Harlin. Liam O’Gorman is a former Chairman of the National Insulation Association of Ireland and former Council Member and Chairman of the Irish Building Materials Federation.
He also served for over ten years as committee member and two terms as Chairman of Octabuild. Liam was employed for over thirty years at Moy Insulation / Moy Isover (Part of the Global Saint- Gobain Group) in Ireland and the UK.
Joe Harlin is well known to builders merchants, having retired from Wavin in 2018 as Business Development Manager after 47 ears of service. During that time he also spent some years in Saudi Arabia with Wavin Overseas. Outside work Joe was an Inter-County GAA Football Referee and Referee Assessor.
Speaking on behalf of the judges, Liam O’Gorman said: “Use the written submission to tell us about all the great work being done instore. We look forward to meeting those merchants who make the shortlist in person, to see first-hand all that you have achieved.
While you will want to shine with innovative brilliance, make sure to answer the questions provided in each category.
“From our experience, we know that there is great work being done in builders merchants` across the island and we look forward to earing more about this work and meeting the teams responsible at the shortlisted stage. We know the competition will be fierce and we look forward to the challenge.”
For further information please visit www.octabuild.ie/awards
Tips from the Judges
- Give yourself the best chance of winning! Read the Awards Brochure in its entirety.
- Read the small print.
- Judges can’t score what’s not there.
- Answer the question you were asked!
- Be concise.
- Don’t just say it, Prove it.
- Make it shine.
- Don’t leave it to the last minute.
