Hardware stores cater for all solutions...

HARDWARE and DIY stores have been an important staple of local life ever since the 1920s when the concept of catering for the needs of home maintenance started to gain traction. The evolution of time has meant hardware stores attained a near symbolic presence in society.

As more and more people purchased homes, so increased the idea of pride, upkeep, care and maintenance of a home’s interior and exterior. Local hardware stores are unique in the sense they cater for a multiple of different markets from the customer buying a paint brush, to one buying an entire bathroom suite.

At a customer level, hardware stores remain an essential backstop to the age of online sales and purchasing. Technology is important, but hardware stores offer consumers advice, knowledge and one-to-one solutions when it comes to sourcing and carrying out all manner of DIY jobs and for basic home furnishings.

In a 2018 report, The Hardware Association of Ireland (HAI) found that since 2014 the hardware market experienced a growth of around 10% every year. This increase is thought to be attributed to the availability of greater home improvement loans, home renovation schemes, and an ever increasing interest by people looking to improve the aesthetic appeal of their home and property.

Local hardware stores are constantly evolving in terms of service and supply as well. For example, hardware stores usually stock the latest in home security devices, solar appliances, keys and latest window and door locks, interior design products such as paints and furnishings are also widely available.

Utensils, cleaning agents, and gardening supplies also top the hardware shop’s list of supplies, as is equipment for recreational and outdoor enjoyment. However, one of the main reasons why so many people still avail of a local hardware shop is the interpersonal dimension. Obtaining the items you need after receiving the time and attention your custom deserves is what sets a truly great hardware store apart from an average one.

We can source many things online these days, but the one thing we can’t source is the kind of face-to-face contact and knowledge that a local hardware store provides. It’s important and well worth supporting.