Set-up in 1980, RB Coogan Ltd is one of the leading builders’ merchants in Co Monaghan and its surrounding areas. Building Ireland caught up with one of its two store managers, Kieran Smith to learn all about the company and the state of business today.
Business is good these days at RB Coogan Ltd and the plan for the team up in Castleblayney is to try and keep things that way right through 2021.
This year marks 41 years in business for the company, which has origins dating back to the 1800s, and has built up an excellent reputation in that time for supplying top quality products, competitive pricing, reliable delivery and excellent customer service.
RB Coogan Ltd provides both contractors and self builds with the essential building products for their projects and have as much experience as any of its competitors when it comes to this.
Building Ireland touched base with co-store manager Kieran Smith to find out more about this well-established business.
“We have 20 staff here and myself and Mark Rice would be managing the store together,” Kieran outlined.
“Mark’s sister Sabrina is also involved in the company and altogether here we’d have 13 to 14 different departments under the one roof.”
Indeed, the business has come a long way since the Rice family purchased RB Coogan in 1980 and decided to continue trading under the same well-established name.
The original hardware store was said to be based on the Main Street of Castleblayney as far back as the 1800s before the decision was taken to relocate the company’s premises in 2006.
The move to the nearby Lakeview Business Park along the Keady Road on the outskirts of ‘Blaney has provided a more spacious location and one which has allowed RB Coogan Ltd to expand its product range to cater for a broader range when it comes to customers’ needs.
The company now provides customers with every product that they need to build a house, from the first foundations right through to choosing which colour of paint to put on their walls.
Kieran, who has been part of the team at RB Coogan Ltd since December 2019, explained that business these past 12 months have been somewhat different to past years given the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and the government restrictions which have followed.
“It has been a bit of a strange year alright between construction being shut down and everything else,” he said.
“Because people are at home, there has been a massive uptake in gardening and painting so we’ve seen a big increase from that end.”
RB Coogan’s Garden Centre is both indoor and outdoor and supplies the essentials to keep customers’ gardens in excellent condition.
They also stock top brands such as Crown Paints, Waterford Stanley Stoves as well as Beleek and Ainsley in the giftware department and EVO Stick adhesives.
As members of Associated Hardware, one of the country’s leading independent buying groups, it gives RB Coogan Ltd access to the best buying terms which ensures that they can sell products at very competitive rates.
Through being members of Associated Hardware, the family-run concern is able to source the Homevalue range of products which has become well known for their great quality and value at all times.
There’s more to it though when it comes to the secret behind RB Coogan Ltd’s success down through the years.
While having a wide range of products on offer goes a long way, much of it comes down to the relationships that the company has built with its customers over the past four decades.
“I think a lot of it comes down to the range of stock that we have here,” said Kieran.
“We deal with all the main brands when it comes to paint, roofing supplies and we’re always looking at new suppliers to try and expand our product range.
“Retention has always been a big thing here and we’d like to think that we have a good relationship with our customers.”
As well as the customers, some of the company’s staff have been with them over 30 years so they certainly have the experience when it comes to their chosen field in the hardware department.
As for RB Coogan’s delivery service, which currently sees them with three lorries on the road, there is no charge to local customers as Kieran explained.
“We provide a free local delivery service and, even to date, the deliveries have increased with a lot more local builds now going on in comparison to previous years,” he said.
Looking towards the coming months, Kieran is optimistic with vaccines for Covid-19 being rolled out worldwide.
This past year has been one like no other but the general feeling is that a corner could be turned soon and, if it proves the case, it’ll no doubt be back to business as usual for RB Coogan Ltd.
“Hopefully, we see a good year come out of it,” he said.
“The vaccine is being rolled out now and it puts everything in a better position than this time last year.
“Hopefully everyone can stay safe and, with regards to the business, hopefully we’ll have a busy year.”
Open Monday to Saturday (8.30am to 5.30pm), RB Coogan Ltd is committed to excellent customer service at all times. You can contact Kieran, Mark and their team (details below) for the best of brands, competitive pricing and reliable delivery.
RB Coogan Ltd
Lakeview Business Park,
Keady Road,
Castleblayney,
Co Monaghan.
Tel: 00 353 42 9740062
Fax: 00 353 42 9740218
E-mail: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, June, Vol 7 No 6
