Hardware and builders merchant stores from around the country have been honoured for achieving exceptional standards in retailing at United Hardware’s annual ‘United in Excellence Awards’ ceremony 2024. The awards ceremony, which celebrated an exceptional year for United Hardware members, was hosted by Irish Mentalist, Keith Barry, at an event held at Lyrath Estate, Co. Kilkenny.
The overall winner of the 2024 United In Excellence Store of the Year Award, was Kean’s Homevalue, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. The Claremorris store won the overall and highly coveted award, beating competition from over 200 other exceptional stores in the process. Kean’s is a family-owned retail business which has served the Claremorris community for over 230 years. The store has recently undergone an expansion following significant investment to offer an even broader range of products and services to the Claremorris community.
Paul Candon, Group CEO of United Hardware, commented on the awards: “The United in Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding standards and customer service across the hardware industry. I extend my sincere congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their accomplishments, particularly this year’s overall winner, Kean’s Homevalue. They have made significant investments in their store standards, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence, which makes them truly deserving of this accolade. All our awardees have set new benchmarks in retailing excellence and have proven themselves to be the premier hardware stores in Ireland. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our headline sponsor for the evening Unilin Insulation, and our gold sponsors Velux, ECC Timber, Dulux Paint, Glennon Brothers, Instantor & Flair, Kilsaran, Einhell, Sonas Bathrooms, Irish Cement and Brett Martin.”
The event involved the presentation of 35 awards over various key business categories
such as paint, customer service, light hardware & DIY, merchanting and best regional
store. As part of the nomination process, every group member store across the entire network must comply with a strict set of criteria, to ensure that the highest possible standards are continuously upheld. This involves an assessment by United Hardware’s Store Operations which also includes an independent mystery shopper audit by an external third party.
The full list of national Overall Award winners are:
Best Regional Store Munster
Flynn’s Homevalue
Best Regional Store Leinster
Wallace’s Homevalue
Best Regional Store Connacht
Kean’s Homevalue
Best Regional Store Ulster
Donegal Town Hardware Homevalue
Best Garden Centre
Kean’s Homevalue
Guaranteed Irish Advocate of the Year
T .O’Higgin’s Homevalue
Best Online Presence
Sheehan’s Homevalue
Best Marketing Initiative
IBS Homevalue Kilcoole
United In Excellence Store of the Year
Kean’s Homevalue
Homevalue is one of Ireland’s leading DIY, Hardware, and Homeware groups with a network of over 90 Guaranteed Irish accredited stores nationwide that are committed to providing the best range of products at the lowest price. Whether building, repairing, improving, furnishing, or decorating, Homevalue has got you covered. Homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and professional tradespeople alike know that Homevalue means real value and real expertise.
Barry, Siobhan Crowe, Sinead & James Kean with Glenn Goodman from
Brett Martin alongside Patricia & James Kean from Kean’s Homevalue).
Barry, Ruairi Harpur, Ciara Roche, Sarah Delaney, Maryanne Quigley &
Joseph Wallace from Wallace’s Homevalue alongside Glenn Goodman
from Brett Martin).
Keith Barry, Paul Flynn from Flynn’s Homevalue with Glenn Goodman from
Brett Martin).
Barry, Karen Gaffney from IBS Homevalue Kilcoole with Martin Glynn from DIY
Academy, Dwayne Holt, David Macken alongside Andy Richards from Einhell).
Barry, Alan Hogan & Paul Sheahan from Sheahan’s Homevalue with Ray
Molyneaux from Irish Cement).
L-R is Keith Barry, Paul O’Shaughnessy from T. O’Higgin’s Homevalue with
Rowena Maher from Guaranteed Irish).
Kean, Siobhan Crowe, James Kean with Brian Collins from Kilsaran alongside
Patricia & James Kean from Kean’s Homevalue).
L-R is Keith Barry, Gerard McGowan with Glenn Goodman from Brett Martin
alongside Lee Whittington from Donegal Town Hardware Homevalue).
Keith Barry, Paul Flynn from Flynn’s Homevalue with Glenn Goodman from
Brett Martin).
