The awards keep rolling in for Heat Merchants who were crowned Overall Merchant of the Year at the recent 2021 Plumbing & Heating Awards held in Dec 2021.
The accolade was fitting recognition for a company which has dominated this category in recent years. Independently judged by an experienced panel of experts and celebrating the excellence which exists throughout the industry, Ireland’s annual Plumbing & Heating Awards honour the achievements of this specialist sector, which is at the very heart of construction in the country.
Mark Walker, Sales Director of Heat Merchants and Shane Colleran, Trading Director of sister company Tubs & Tiles, accepted the Overall Merchant of the Year Award at a virtual event. Heat Merchants received the prestigious award for impressing the judging panel for their technical and aftersales team who provide invaluable knowledge and support to the plumbing industry.
Heat Merchants Group is Ireland’s leading supplier of plumbing, heating and renewable energy solutions to trade professionals. The Group trades in 43 outlets nationwide as Heat Merchants and Tubs & Tiles. The Group has 31 Heat Merchants branches and 12 Tubs & Tiles showrooms which are supported by a central warehouse and distribution hub in Athlone. Heat Merchants Group’s business support services and technical design hub are based in offices in Athlone and Balbriggan.
Heat Merchants supplies a comprehensive portfolio of heating, plumbing and renewable energy solutions for both domestic and commercial projects. The company also provides technical support services to customers, including heating system design and specification, commissioning, ancillary certification, aftersales services and installer training.
Through its national network of branches and its central distribution hub, Heat Merchants always has an extensive range of stock available, either in your local branch or for next-day collection or delivery to ensure faster, more efficient customer service. The company’s focus on efficiency in all of its operations has resulted in a strong business and allows it to offer the best value and service in the industry. It is committed to continuously developing both its product range and the expertise it can provide.
Over the past decade, Heat Merchants has increased sales each year, grown at a higher rate than the construction industry and at the same increased market share and profitability. With a nationwide reach, the business is in an ideal position to provide quick and convenient service in any location, ensuring its clients get what they need, when and where they need it.
The Plumbing & Heating Awards judging panel was impressed by the glowing testimonials, one of which noted how the company provides access to a wide range of stock and can organise special orders for any non-stocked items quickly. “The service has always been reliable and deliveries can be depended on to be on time and complete,” the testimonial read. High praise indeed!
In addition, Heat Merchants Group was awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Star Accreditation for a third successive year in 2021. This is an independently verified standard mark for businesses based on rigorous selection criteria, performance, trust and customer centricity. None of this would have been possible with the company’s wonderful team, customers and suppliers, whose support is greatly appreciated.
Corporate Social Responsibility is at the core of Heat Merchants Group’s business and they are fully committed to continuously improving in this area. Heat Merchants is a member of Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the national network for sustainability, which has convened over 90 of Ireland’s leading companies to work collaboratively to address social, environmental and economic priorities.
In 2018, Heat Merchants signed up to The Low Carbon Pledge – the first dedicated public commitment generated by Irish business to lead on the transition to a low carbon economy and reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2030. The Group has committed to making sustainability a central priority to help Ireland transition to a low carbon economy and achieve its international commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
On June 12, 2019, the first Low Carbon report was launched, recording Heat Merchants’ progress and confirming that they are on track with the Low Carbon Pledge’s commitment to reduce their direct carbon emissions. The report revealed that the Pledge signatory companies had seen an overall emission reduction of 42% between the baseline period and 2018, marking significant progress towards achieving the aforementioned 50% decrease in carbon intensity by 2030.
Furthermore, Heat Merchants Group is proud to support the Children’s Medical Research Fund (CRMF) and Focus Ireland, two wonderful organisations who work tirelessly to help some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Heat Merchants management and staff believe that every sick child deserves every chance, so it has partnered with CMRF to provide funding for the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin to help little patients have the best possible outcomes. The company hosts events from coffee mornings and bake sales to an annual Christmas raffle to raise vital funds.
Heat Merchants has also partnered with Focus Ireland to raise much-needed funds for people who are homeless by recycling your scrap boilers.
Heat Merchants Group,
Moydrum Road,
Athlone,
Co. Westmeath.
Tel: 090 6442300
Web: www.heatmerchants.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, August 2022, Vol 8 No 8
