Established in 2014, Lacey’s is the one-stop shop for all of your heating, plumbing, tile and bathroom supplies. Building Ireland touched base with Managing Director Keith Lacey recently to hear more about the company, its plans for further expansion and the overall state of business at the moment in its Ballycoolin and Naas bases.
Since its inception, Lacey’s has offered its customers a diverse range of products and designs, stocking a comprehensive range of products and supplies that are sourced from the world’s leading manufacturers.
The company currently employs 20 full-time staff and delivers its Plumbing & Heating and Bathroom & Tile supplies all throughout Ireland.
Keith Lacey founded the business eight years ago and, unsurprisingly, has been the key figure behind its growth and success ever since.
Building Ireland caught up with the Dublin native recently to discuss the ins and outs of his company and its hopes going forward.
“It’s still fairly busy here at the moment and it was crazy busy during the lockdowns when everyone was doing their houses up,” Keith outlined.
“We’re still growing probably 30 per cent say month by month from that time and the plans are to add a third branch to the business this year.”
The new branch is set to be located in the south side of Dublin as Lacey’s continues its expansion, having opened its second base in Naas at the start of 2019.
Both the Ballycoolin and Naas showrooms were forced to be shut down during stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the government lockdowns which followed in order to fight the spread of the virus, but Lacey’s, as whole, remained open as an essential service for its customers.
Skeleton staff operated in both shops so as to meet the high customer demand at the that time, with business thriving as home improvements nationwide took off in a massive way.
As a plumber himself by trade, Keith entered into the market with Lacey’s having seen a niche during the economic downturn which kicked off in ’08.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Lacey’s has managed to evolve organically since ‘Day One’ and the past two years never saw the company as busy with homes being renovated like never before.
A one-stop shop for all bathroom makeover or renovation needs, Lacey’s offers its customers a diverse range of products and designs which are sourced from the leading international manufacturers and are produced to the highest of quality standards.
Its bathroom collection is made up of an array of durable yet refined ceramic and porcelain tiles, shower enclosures and trays, stylish bathroom furniture, taps, sanitaryware, and a whole host of other bathroom accessories.
As well as this, the company offer a consultation service, during which, the sales team can call to your location, listen to all your needs, wants and expectations and then make appropriate recommendations and offer product advice. At Lacey’s, they cater for every possible taste, style and budget.
Right now, it has eight vehicles on the road servicing its customers nationwide with the best heating, plumbing, tile and bathroom supplies.
As aforementioned, a third premises looks set to be on the way, which Keith filled us in on.
“We’re looking at a third branch south side at the moment and hopefully we can get that opened soon,” said the MD.
“It would’ve been signed up by now but there’s a bit of uncertainty going around with diesel prices and stuff like that, so we’ve held off on it for a month or two just to see which way it goes.”
These are indeed exciting times for Lacey’s as the expansion of the business continues to grow strong eight years on from its inception.
So, the burning question is, what has been the secret behind the continued success of the company?
How has a small start-up grown into a thriving business that holds a golden reputation amongst its customers for having all the best supplies from the big brands essentially under the one roof?
As Keith sees it, experience and the personal touch his company provides customers goes a long way in this line of work.
“We’re not like the bigger operations insofar as I’m always available on the end of the phone. I’d have lads ringing me all hours of night and morning!
“On top of that, the lads working on the counter at Ballycoolin have over 50 years’ experience between them.
“We’re small enough to care but we’re big enough to offer the right prices and be competitive.”
The Managing Director’s expectations have no doubt been surpassed since opening the doors at Lacey’s back in 2014 and now there are more ambitious plans in place to open branch number three.
It seems the sky’s the limit for this growing venture headquartered in the capital.
OPENING HOURS
Showroom – Ballycoolin
9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday
9am – 4pm Friday
10am-3pm Saturday
Trade Counter – Ballycoolin
7am – 5pm Monday to Thursday
7am – 4pm Friday
8.00am – 1pm Saturday
Trade Counter – Naas
7.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday
7.30am – 4pm Friday
Closed Saturday
Showroom – Naas
7.30am- 5pm Monday to Thursday
7.30am – 4pm Friday
Closed Saturday
BALLYCOOLIN
118 Millennium Trade Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 11
Tel: 01 441 0165
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
NAAS
Naas Industrial Estate, Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 397 340
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.laceys.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2022, Vol 8 No 11
