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Hardware Australia.
THE
Protecting, Promoting and
Supporting You, Your Business
and Your Industry.

Hardware Australia | 1
Building Approvals Slow
in July

HIA Media Release : August 2018

the slowdown in approvals.
“The trend of a cooling housing market that has been evident
“In addition, a slowing in Australia’s population growth
throughout 2018 continued in July with a 5.2 per cent decline
since June 2017 coincides with changes to visa requirements
in building approvals,” stated Tim Reardon, HIA’s Principal
announced early last year.
Economist.
Since then Australia has experienced almost a year of
ABS data released today shows that building approvals in
slowing population growth.
July were 5.6 per cent lower than in the same month last year.
“Irrespective of all of these negative influences, the volume
“The housing market has been cooling modestly since a peak
of approvals for new detached houses have been tracking
late in 2017,” added Mr Reardon.
around their strongest levels in 15 years.
“The market is cooling for a number of reasons including a
“Weaker conditions in a number of states have typically been
slowdown in inward migration since July 2017, constraints on
overshadowed by strong activity in Victoria. With Victorian
investor finance imposed by state and federal governments
home approvals now showing signs of weakness we expect
and falling house prices.
the national trend – of declining building approvals – will
“Finance has become increasingly difficult to access for home continue throughout 2018,” concluded Mr Reardon.
purchasers. Restrictions on lending to investors and rising
Total seasonally adjusted dwelling approvals in July fell in
borrowing costs have seen credit growth squeezed. Falling
New South Wales (-5.2 per cent), Victoria (- 4.6 per cent),
house prices in metropolitan areas have also contributed to
Queensland (-6.0 per cent), South Australia (-26.5 per cent)
banks tightening their lending conditions which have further
and Western Australia (-14.7 per cent). Seasonally adjusted
constrained the availability of finance.
approvals increased in Tasmania by 13.6 per cent. In trend
“An increase in interest rates charged by banks will accelerate terms, total dwelling approvals in July increased by 4.5 per
cent in the Northern Territory and in the Australian Capital
Territory (12.2 per cent).
For further information please contact:
Tim Reardon, Principal Economist 0423 141 031
Shane Garrett, Senior Economist 0450 783 603

Hardware Australia | 11
South Australia Celebrates
Industry Excellence at the
SA Hardware Awards
The South Australian Hardware industry came together on the
2nd August to celebrate the Annula Hardware Industry Awards. Pinks

This years new venue, the Stamford Grand at Glengl, played Mitre 10
host to the over 100 attendees from all over South Australia for Winners
the Awards. Store of the
Announced on the night were the hotly contested store awards, year under
the supplier of the year categories, employee of the year, rising 2500sqm
star and the industry legend award.
The Store of the Year awards are judged via combination of
interviews and store visits across the key areas of business Glynde
performance, strategy, training, innovation, customer service,
Mitre 10
marketing and community engagement.
Winners
The 2018 Store Award winners were;
Store of the
2018 Hardware Store of the Year under 2500sqm year over
Pinks Mitre 10 2500sqm
2018 Hardware Store of the Year over 2500sqm
Glynde Mitre 10
2018 Trade Store of the Year Barossa
Mitre 10
Barossa Mitre 10
Winners
2018 Garden Department of the Year
Trade Store
McLaren Vale Mitre 10 of the Year
This years store winners receive a professionally written media
release to assist in maximising the promotion of their success
as well as coverage of the announcements in wider scale media
releases from Hardware Australia. McLaren Vale
Also awarded on the night were the Supplier of the Year award Mitre 10
categories with many of the industy’s top suppliers featuring. Winners
these awards are judged based on nominations from the stores
as to the best in each of the supplier categories. Garden
Department
of the Year.
The 2018 Supplier of the Year winners are;

Hardware Australia | 12
2018 Building Products Supplier of the Year
Adelaide Brighton
2018 Garden Products Supplier of the Year
Yates
2018 Timber Supplier of the Year
Gunnersens
2018 Paint Supplier of the Year
Dulux
2018 Tools Supplier of the Year
Makita Australia
2018 Hardware Supplier of the Year
ITW Proline
2018 Electrical & Lighting Supplier of the Year
HPM Legrand
2018 bathroom Supplier of the Year
Linkware
The overall supplier of the year with the most nominations
from stores across each of the supplier categories.
The 2018 Overall Supplier of the Year is Makita
Australia
The 2018 SA Hardware Awards individual awards
encompassed the Sales Rep of the Year, Employee of the 2 Rising Stars awards. This years 2018 Industry Rising
Year, Rising Star and the Hardware Industry Legend. Stars finalists were; Ben French - Barrow and bench
Mitre 10, Ammy Martin - Gunnersens, Alyssa Owen -
Sales Rep of the Year finalists were;
Adelaide Brighton Cement, Matthew Micale - Banner
Denise Collett from Yates, Maree Staehr from Selleys, David Mitre 10 Norwood, Thomas Roenfeldt - Banner Mitre 10
Horasio from James Hardie, Tim Gilbourne from ITW Norwood and Fraser Moore - Makita.
Proline, Luke Webb from Valspar/Sherwin Williams and
The 2018 SA Hardware Industry Rising Star’s were;
Mark Rowley from Spear & Jackson.
Fraser Moore - Makita and Thomas Roenfeldt - Banner
The SA Sales Rep of the Year 2018 went to Luke Webb from Mitre 10 Norwood. ( See picutres next page)
Valspar/ Sherwin Williams. Luke was humbled and surprised
The Rising Stars receive a trip to Melbourne for National
by the win, up against the other finalists, but pleased to know
Hardware Week in early 2019 inlcuding tours, training in
his hard work is recognised by his customers.
the Future leaders Program, 12 months mentoring and
The Employee of the Year category finalists were; special events throughout the week.. Congratulations to
Darryl Chaplin - Barrow & Bench Mitre 10, Kellie Mink both the SA Hardware Rising Stars and good luck for
- Banner Mitre 10 Norwood, Brett Joseph - Banner Mitre Melbourne.
10 Distribution Centre, Simon Beggs - Banner Mitre The highlight of the night sees the inducting of the
10 Millicent, Wandee Sabato -Banner Mitre 10 Glenelg, Hardware Industry Legend. This years legend joined
Anthony Butz - McLaren Vale Mitre 10, Lee Alty - Banner the industry in when he was 15 years old and has been
Mitre 10 Mt Barker and Rachel Newson - Banner Mitre 10 successful in building mulitple businesses throughout his
Naracoorte. career. He is also a huge community supporter with some
The Winner of the 2018 Employee of the Year is Rachel 35 years volunteering to the country fire bridge. The 2018
Newson - Banner Mitre 10 Naracoorte, unfortunately South Australian Hardware Industry Legend is Simon
Rachel couldnt attend the night so the award was accepted Henderson from Balhannah Mitre 10.
by Matthew Evins - Director, Banner Mitre 10. In his accepting the award, Simon recalled some of the
One of the key awards of the night is the Hardware Industry highlights of his time in the industry and the importance
Rising Star Award. This year this award had 6 finalists of the support from his wife Jodie and the all of the people
with the overall top two being so evenly matched that the he has worked with in the past 30 years. Congratulations
SA Committee took the unprecedented action to award to Simon Henderson as the 2018 Industry Legend.

Hardware Australia | 13
The 2018 South Australian Hardware Industry Awards was a
great success. The event is also an opportunity to raise money
for the Make A Wish foundation with the silent auction during
the night. South Australian events have been supporting Make
A Wish for the many years.
Thank you to the generous support of the event sponsors. We
encourage you to support those companies who are supporting
you and your industry.

(Above) Rising Star Winner Fraser Moore - Makita

(below) Thomas Roenfeldt - Banner Mitre 10
Norwood

2018 SA Hardware Industry Legend

- Simon Henderson

Hardware Australia | 14
New South Wales Hardware
Industry Legends and Awards
Luncheon.
The 17th August saw the NSW Hardware Industry Legends
and Awards Luncheon held in the exclusive Member Pavilion
at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
This is the 10th year of the event and with the room almost
bursting at the seams the hardware industry came together
to celebrate and acknowledge achievements in the industry.
Special guest speaker for the day saw the return of Kerry
O’Keeffe to the event, having previously been involved
many years ago. Kerry was his ever hysterical self having
everyone in stitches during his address.
The event is reportedly one of the best events so far, so if
you weren’t lucky enough to be there, sorry but you missed
out.
The awards announced as part of the event saw the winning
stores being;
Hardware Store of the Year - under 2500sqm
Cameron’s H Hardware
Hardware Store of the Year - over 2500sqm
Johnson’s Mitre 10 Mona Vale
Trade Store of the Year
Pulbrook Trade - Bowral
Garden Department of the Year
Gubbins Home Hardware Moss Vale
Congratulations to all of the store finalists and winners. As
part of the prizes for winning stores, they receive a media
release to assist them in maximising the promotion of their
success.
The Awards also recognise the relationships between stores
and suppliers working together to ensure strong independents

Hardware Australia | 17
survive. Thus the supplier awards are an important part of
the event.
Suppliers awarded on the day for being the best in their
categories as nominated by stores were;
Supplier of the Year – Building Products Category
Cement Australia
Supplier of the Year - Garden & Outdoor Products Category
Ames
Supplier of the Year - Hardware Category
ITW Proline Cement Australia celebrate as
2018 Building Category Supplier of the Year
Supplier of the Year - Paint Category
Wattyl
Supplier of the Year - Tools Category
Makita Australia
Supplier of the Year - Timber Category
ITI
Supplier of the Year - Electrical & Lighting Category
HPM Legrand Australia
Supplier of the Year - Bathroom Category
Linkware The Makita Australia team take out
Overall Supplier of the Year, which is the supplier who NSW Supplier of the Year
receives the most nominations from stores across all
categories, was awarded to Makita Australia. In accepting
the award Shane McMullen - National Key Accounts
Manager Makita acknowledged the hard work that the team
in NSW had been doing this year especially.
The next awards were the individual awards with ;
Sales Rep of the Year : Finalists were; Dylan Rae - Makita,
Brad Williams - Dulux, Lisa Cupitt - Bremick, Scott Kellett
- Ames, Ryan Covier - ITI Australia, Daniel David - Meyer
Timber, Warren Paull - Bremick, Trevor Joyce - Ox Group
International.
The Winner of NSW Sales Rep of the Year was Brad NSW Sales Rep of the Year
Williams - Dulux. Brad Williams - Dulux
Employee of the Year: Finalists were; Paul Pedron - Petrie’s
Mitre 10 Mudgee, Mark Bennett - HR King & Son’s Home
Hardware, Monica Wright - Petrie’s Mitre 10 Bathurst,
Nathan Bennett - HR King & Son’s Home Hardware,
Matthew Rombouts - Bungendore Rural Supplies
2018 New South Wales Employee of the Year winner is
Paul Pedron - Petrie’s Mitre 10 Mudgee
Rising Star Award: Finalists were; Christina Le -Bremick,
Andrew King - HR King & Son’s, Josh Holzheimer - Petrie’s
Mitre 10 and Russell King - HR King & Son’s.
The 2018 NSW Hardware Industry Rising Star is Josh
Holzheimer from Petrie’s Mitre 10. Employee of the Year Finalists with Winner
The Rising Star winner receives a trip to Melbourne for Paul Pedron - Petries Mitre 10 Mudgee
National Hardware Week in early 2019. Included in the
Hardware Australia | 18
week are industry tours, training in the Future Leaders Industry
Program, sponsors dinners and the National Hardware Awards
at the MCG.
Congratulations to Josh and good luck for Melbourne in 2019
The ultimate award of the event is the inducting of the Hardware
Industry Legend for 2018. The years legend has hardware in
his veins with some 63 years in the industry. He built his first
hardware store in 1955 which he ran 40 years with his late sister.
Now is his 90’s the legend for 2018 is Ron Taffa from Taffa’s
Mitre 10. Accepting the award was Ron’s son Anthony who read
a speech prepared in Ron’s words. He recalled the highs and lows Rising Star Finalists with Winner Josh
of the industry with countless changes over the 63 years but he Holzheimer
has always had the passion and it is as strong today as it was when
he began his career.
Congratulations to Ron Taffa as the 2018 NSW Hardware
Industry Legend.
This years event was one of the best events yet and enjoyed by all
who attended. Thank you to all of the generous sponsors. If the
event continues to grow as it has been, you’ll have to be quick to
book your seats next year or you’ll miss out.
Please support the companies who sponsor these events as they
support you and your industry.
Johnson Bros Mitre 10 Monavale
- Winner Store of the Year over 2500sqm

Rising Star Finalists with Winner Josh

Holzheimer
Gubbins Home Timber & Hardware
- Winner Garden Centre of the Year

Pulbrook Trade - Bowral

- Winner Trade Store of the Year

Hardware Australia | 19
Hardware Hotline 1800 44 55 22
Hardware Australia | 32