From three strategically-positioned locations, SKC Providers Ltd. offers a comprehensive selection of quality heating, plumbing and bathroom products to both the trade and the general public – with the emphasis always on service, price and quality. Building Ireland interrupted proprietor Shane Connolly’s busy schedule to get an update.
Since its inception in September, 2010, SKC Providers has evolved from humble beginnings in County Wicklow to become synonymous nationwide with quality showrooms and stores, supplying a vast range of bathroom appliances and accessories as well as heating, plumbing and renewable energy products.
On the back of providing outstanding products and unbeatable customer service, SKC has enjoyed massive growth since founder Shane Connolly first opened for business in Rathnew eleven years ago, with further branches subsequently added in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim and Gorey, County Wexford.
Each branch features spacious showrooms with an extensive range of bathroom suites, baths, showers, shower trays, shower enclosures, traditional and modern heated towel rails, bathroom furniture, taps and bathroom accessories on display not to mention a comprehensive range of stoves. Operating a fleet of eight modern and immaculately-maintained delivery vans, SKC Providers Ltd. provide a free delivery service to private and business customers alike.
“I came from a trade background myself and would have worked for a distribution company before spotting an opening to go out on my own,” reflects Shane. “We specialise in plumbing, heating and bathroom products and are involved in both the domestic and commercial markets. We’d do everything from a tap washer to supplying major commercial / residential developments. All trade is welcome and we never turn any customer away.”
Thus, SKC has an ever-expanding retail and wholesale customer base encompassing home owners, developers, contractors, heating and plumbing subcontractors and merchants, DIY-ers and everybody in between. Quality, price and service are the cornerstones upon which the business has been built.
Once you engage with customers and provide them with a personal and professional service, they are more likely to come back and do business again. This customer-focussed approach has allowed SKC to establish a considerable volume of repeat trade, which accounts for a significant percentage of turnover, although they also attract new customers on a daily basis.
Stocking and supplying everything that’s needed for a complete bathroom fit-out as well as a full range of heating and plumbing materials – including pipes, fittings, boilers, cylinders, pumps, heating controls, heat pumps, solar hot water systems, underfloor heating and radiators – SKC Providers enjoy a brisk and ever-growing trade business, offering a nationwide delivery service.
“Renewable energy has obviously become a big part of it and there are a lot of heat pumps and underfloor heating going into new builds,” Shane notes. “Having said that, there’s still big demand for gas and oil boiler replacements, going into refurbished or renovated buildings. Solid fuel stoves are extremely popular and we have a huge selection of those in our showrooms.
“In our bathroom showrooms, we have literally everything you need to install or remodel a bathroom, including a huge choice of attractive and durable sanitary ware. We have items here to cater for all the latest fashion trends – for example, vertical designer radiators are in big demand at the moment and we carry a large range of those.”
The fact that Shane set the business up at a time when construction in Ireland was still only tentatively emerging from a severe recession and has managed to grow it exponentially year on year ever since speaks volumes for the unrivalled products and services he provides, always at a competitive price. Direct employment is currently generated for a team of 18 and the proprietor assures us that there remains scope for further growth.
“So far, it has more than lived up to expectations and the plan is to keep it going now and to maintain our high standards,” he states. “Going forward, we’ll keep doing what we are doing and I believe we will expand. Hopefully, we’ll be adding new branches soon. That’s something I’ve been considering but this is a competitive market and there is no room whatsoever for complacency, so we have to keep our standards high.”
Despite the difficulties that have been presented over the past 16 months since Covid-19 arrived on Irish shores and public health restrictions were put in place, business at SKC Providers has remained brisk. “We’ve been very busy throughout, thankfully,” Shane confirms. “Obviously there was a bit of a downturn during the first major lockdown last April / May, but things have been flying in all three stores since. Last year ended up being our best ever and we remain on an upward trend this year. We are already well ahead of where we were for the same period in 2020, so things are looking up.
“We source very high-quality products and we have also been very successful in competing with the bigger names on price and service,” he concludes. “I’m lucky to have skilled and knowledgeable staff, too … they are all excellent and they play a massive role in the success of the business.”
SKC Providers Ltd. remains very much on an upward trajectory and the signs are encouraging that Ireland’s premier independent heating, plumbing and bathroom specialist will continue to go from strength to strength in the coming years!
SKC Providers Ltd.
Unit 8 Charvey Lane Industrial Estate,
Charvey Lane,
Rathnew
County Wicklow
Tel: 0404 20088
Email: [email protected]
Web: skc.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, October, Vol 7 No 10
