Octabuild announced as sponsor of HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting

HAI recently announced the launch of the Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting. Sponsored by Octabuild, the programme is now well underway with the 2021/2022 class progressing well in their learnings.

The mentor-based programme commenced in September this year with 20 students (new hires and current employees in the sector looking for more formal training) having completed the first three of their nine modules via interactive workshops on Zoom.

Modules completed to date are Communications Essentials, Selling Skills, Customer Service, Instore Finances and Credit Control, with Stock Control and Merchandising up next. The tutors in the Certificate come with years of experience in the hardware sector, and have been demonstrating the key strategies the students should know through discussion, role-play and break-out sessions.

After each module the students are given weekly and monthly assignments where they self-assess their own learnings and document how they will apply that learning in the workplace. The students mentors are also heavily engaged at this stage, working closely with their students to monitor their progress in the workplace.

Upcoming Modules:

• In-store Operations: Stock Control and Merchandising
• In-store Promotion: Digital Marketing and Social Media
• Management Development: Team Work and Team-Building

The students are also preparing for a number of Product Knowledge tutorials, where tutors will provide key product information on sectors such as Heating and Plumbing, Building Materials and General DIY Products.

OCTABUILD ANNOUNCED AS SPONSOR

HAI is pleased to welcome Octabuild as the official sponsor of the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting 2021/2022. As a group of major Irish building material suppliers – Dulux Paints Ireland, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Gyproc, Instantor, Irish Cement, Kingspan Insulation and Wavin Ireland – Octabuild is committed to promoting the benefits of high quality, Irish manufactured products for the building, construction and DIY sectors.

Octabuild Chairman, Ray Molyneaux of Irish Cement said: “Octabuild is delighted to sponsor the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail and Merchanting. Partnership and consultation have always been a feature of Octabuild’s relationship with the merchant trade and we see this programme as adding significant value in the development of skills and expertise in the industry. We look forward to seeing how participants progress over the coming months.”

For more information about this certificate in terms of pricing and how to enrol your employees, contact aoife@hardwareassociation.ie or call 01 2980969.