Trading for over 40 years, Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd is a leading independent wholesaler supplying to the trade and general public. Its inner-city location makes it highly convenient for contractors working in Dublin city centre.
The family-owned business was established in 1978 by the late Gerard Kelly Snr, who had over 25 years’ experience in the trade prior to then. When Gerard retired in 2012, his sons Gerry, Ken and Terry (general manager) took up the reins and have overseen its continuous growth since then. There are now 16 people employed, including three counter hand staff, two warehouse staff, four office staff, five sales representatives and two van drivers.
Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd acquired its current premises on North Circular Road in 1995 after originally operating from a premises just two doors away.
“We have evolved from supplying to the hospital and hotel maintenance sector to supplying to the whole trade and domestic market,” Terry Kelly explains.
“Since we started operations, we have built up tremendous relationships with our suppliers and customers, with our goal being to provide a first-class service of quality electrical products at competitive prices. We believe our role in the supply chain is important and is becoming more crucial to our customers and suppliers. We deal with small, medium and large contractors, and stock all the leading brands.”
A member of AEW (Association of Electrical Wholesalers), Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd is committed to satisfying its customers’ requirements by constantly investing in and maintaining a high level of quality stock, and to satisfying its suppliers’ needs by having and promoting their product at a local level. The company aims to exceed customers’ expectations with its highly-trained and friendly staff through great service, quality products and competitive pricing.
Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd is a founding member of Fegime Ireland Ltd, a group of like-minded independent wholesalers with branches across the country. Ireland’s largest independent electrical wholesale group, Fegime (Federation Europeene des Grossistes Independants en Materiel Electrique) was formed in Ireland to enable independently-owned wholesalers to compete and excel in a market where multinational wholesalers make up over 50%.
Fegime currently has 10 members operating from 27 locations across Ireland and a further 226 partners throughout Europe who have a combined annual turnover of €5.4 billion.
“By pooling our resources together, it has allowed the 10 members to compete against the ever-increasing foreign competition operating in Ireland. We are also a member of Fegime Europe which as an organisation gives us access to a global network of quality manufacturers of electrical equipment.”
Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd stocks a huge range of semi-commercial, commercial and industrial electrical products from leading brands such as Thorn, Schneider, Phillips, Robus Lighting, Click Litehouse, ABB and Hager. The company is also one of the few distributors in the country for Siemens motor control equipment. Everything is stocked, from lamps and lighting, enclosures and junction boxes, control and distribution, industrial plugs and sockets to cable accessories, switches and sockets, heat and ventilation, PIR motion detectors, energy saving equipment and tools.
“We’re always well stocked,” Terry continues.
“If in the unlikely event of us not having a particular item, we will have it the next day. In addition, we provide a nationwide delivery service between 8am and 5pm daily. Service and knowledge are everything in this business. Technology is advancing at such a rapid pace that we are required to constantly upskill and train our staff. If you don’t keep up to speed with technological advances, you will get left behind.”
The family business has built up a large and loyal client-base over the past four decades. Among its customers are leading contracting firms, facility management companies and government departments such as the OPW
One of Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd’s biggest selling points is its location just 2km from the city centre.
“We’re one of the very few wholesalers still operating in the inner-city. Most of the rest have moved out to the outskirts of the city. One of the benefits of being in the city is that we’re close to where a large amount of construction work is taking place. If an electrical contractor is working in town, we’re very convenient for them. They can pre-order and pick up their goods on their way to site the following morning from 8 o’clock onwards,” the affable general manager says.
“Our premises are open to everyone where our dedicated sales team will be happy to assist with any query. We can supply a solution from small domestic jobs to large industrial projects from our stock. We have a wide range of distributors at hand to supply an even wider range of stock with fast delivery times in case of short deadlines.”
Terry concludes by saying expansion could be on the cards depending on the outcome of Brexit. “We may open a second branch in Co. Dublin, but we’ll see what happens with Brexit first.”
Regardless of what the future holds, Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd will continue to provide the same great service which has made it one of Ireland’s foremost independent wholesalers over the last 40 years.
Opening hours are 8am to 5pm Monday-Thursday, 8am to 4pm on Fridays and 9am to 12 noon on Saturdays. Products can also be purchased online.
Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers Ltd
296e North Circular Road,
Phibsboro,
Dublin 7.
Telephone: 01-8682033
Fax: 01-8689310
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.pewl.ie
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, May, Vol 5 No 4
Phibsboro Electrical Wholesalers
