The Hardware Conference 2025 – A Great Success

The Hardware Conference held on Thursday 3rd April at the Heritage Hotel, Killinard, Co. Laois, was
a great success with over 200 attendees participating in this premier biennial event for the sector.
Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) President, Paul Candon, opened the event with a review of the work of the association over the recent period and into the immediate future.
Economist Jim Power gave his own considered comprehensive overview of the World and National Economic outlook with a view to our sector.
Michael Stanley CEO, Cairn Homes, in a fireside chat format with HAI President, Paul Candon, gave his very insightful view of the current and immediate future Economic Outlook with a Focus on Housing.
Mathias Lönneker, Executive Vice President, Group CSO, STARK Group outlined
their group`s current focus in the markets in which they operate and a European
perspective on the sector with ‘A winning strategy for Merchants’ presentation.
Kieran McCarthy, Engineer, Founder KMC Homes and co-presenter of the RTE TV series, Cheap Irish Homes, explained ‘How a Bricks and Mortar Hardware Store saved me’.
Gina Schaefer, Founder of 13 Ace Hardware Stores in the USA, gave an inspirational talk on her journey over the past 20 years including how ‘People, Process and Profits’ have played a vital role.
Steve Collinge, Managing Director of the Insight Retail Group and Executive Editor of Insight DIY, in the afternoon session detailed ‘Trends and Opportunities impacting the hardware, building materials and DIY sectors here and in the UK’.
A lively Q&A panel discussion brought participation from the audience.
Denise McCarthy, Business Development Manager, Securitas Technology Ireland, outlined how ‘Security Technology for Your Business’ is critical to its future success.
Karen Hickey, Sales & Marketing Manager, SeaChange, an NFP company, brought people through the challenging area of ‘Managing Wrongful Arrest & Violence in the Workplace’.
Darren Gray, Head of Enterprise Sales Ireland, Intact Software encouraged participants to think ‘Technology, don’t just use it, employ IT’.
Tommy Smyth, Tommy Smyth & Associates, told delegates of the necessity and importance of ‘Creating Leaders – in Line Management in 2025’.
Participation numbers were up on The Hardware Conference 2023.

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