N.A.A. – heritage you can build on
N.A.A. marks a century of service-led supply as the fourth generation drives a faster, modern evolution.
From left: Laragh Hickey – Managing Director NAA Applicances, Conor Hickey – Director, and Luke Hickey – Managing Director
For 100 years, N.A.A. has supplied Ireland’s makers with premium, European and unashamedly service-led fittings, materials, components, adhesives and appliances to Irish makers. John Legg went to meet managing directors Luke and Laragh Hickey to see how the fourth generation is shaping the next chapter.
On a rainy weekday morning in Ballymount – a prelude to storm Amy as it transpired – a van pulls away from the busy trade counter as another customer slips in for fittings, advice and a coffee and bit of chat. Upstairs, a live demo hums in the training room while someone from sales responds to a late-night Instagram query about a drawer system. It’s a small scene that captures what N.A.A. does best – serving Ireland’s makers in real time, with stock, knowledge, with consideration and the right tone.
“We’ve always tried to make things easier, more efficient and more successful for our customers,” says managing director Luke Hickey. “Efficiency is massive now – that’s what everyone’s chasing.”
The Hickey family’s approach has always mixed tradition and sharp pragmatism. “We’ve been around since 1924, so there’s history there,” Luke says. “But if you just trade on heritage, you’re finished. You’ve got to evolve with the people who rely on you.”
Laragh Hickey, who runs N.A.A. Appliances, agrees. “There’s still a family feel – a lot of customers know us by name – but the expectations have changed. People are more informed, they’re moving faster, and they want partners who can respond the same way.”
Sitting in reception is this 1948 BSA Goldstar motorbike which belonged to Philip Hickey – he used it to makecalls across Ireland, helping the business to survive a fourth generation
A modern classic
N.A.A. was established in the 1920s, when hardware distribution in Dublin was still a local affair.
Over four generations it has become a strong and dynamic national network – fittings, materials, components and appliances moving daily across Ireland and Northern Ireland from its Ballymount base.
The core of the business is fittings, representing a portfolio of respected European brands.
“We’ve always worked with manufacturers who innovate – who care about how their products perform for the trade over the long term,” Luke says. “The point is not to have every product; it’s to have the right ones and back them properly.”
Appliances form the other side of the operation, completing a product offer that mirrors how the trade actually works — fittings, systems and equipment all under one roof. “People come to us because they can sort both fittings and appliances through the same relationship,” says Laragh.
“And when you’ve got installers and designers who trust your technical team, it simplifies the whole process.”
The warehouse team runs a tight ship and keeps the orders flowing
Perpetually well-stocked with myriad fittings, materials and components
Getting things done
Reliability remains the cornerstone. The company’s next-day delivery reaches every county, supported by its own vehicle fleet and warehouse systems. The Ballymount trade counter is still busy with same-day pickups – often the place where advice, experience and troubleshooting meet. “You get a real sense of the industry just standing at the counter for a while,” Laragh says. “It’s where you hear what’s happening out there – what’s working, what isn’t.
“When someone rings at three o’clock, they don’t want to hear excuses,” Luke adds. “They want to know it’ll be there tomorrow. That’s where we win – on trust and speed.”
The company’s training room now hosts regular sessions for customers and suppliers alike, covering everything from new hardware systems to installation techniques. “It’s not just about selling product,” Laragh says. “It’s about helping people use it properly – that’s one of the ways how we add value.”
Part of N.A.A.’s appliances showroom features Liebherr and Monolith among premium brands
Adapting for a connected trade
N.A.A. has invested heavily in digital systems and communications – from online ordering to social media training clips – without losing the personal link. “You’ve got to meet customers where they are,” Laragh says. “That might be in person, but it might just as easily be through a message at 10pm about an appliance setting. The expectation of response is there – and we meet it.”
Luke notes that new tools make it easier to listen as well as talk. “You get instant feedback now. That’s a gift – if you’re prepared to hear it. And because we know the people behind the messages, we can act on what matters.”
Hettich’s innovative FurnSpin was voted ‘Best of Best’ at Interzum recently
A people-first legacy
The business employs around 30 staff and maintains remarkably low turnover. “That’s one thing we’re proud of,” Luke says. “A lot of our people have been with us for 15 or 20 years. They know the customers personally – they’re part of what makes N.A.A. what it is.” He’s quick to credit the culture that keeps it all together. “It’s about respect and consistency. When a fitter or cabinetmaker calls, they want someone who gets what they’re trying to do – not a script, not a queue. We give them that.”
Quite naturally, family stewardship remains part of the DNA. “We’re the fourth generation, and that means something,” Laragh says. “But it’s not just about us – it’s about the next generation of staff and customers coming through. The culture is what keeps it together.”
Luke and Laragh Hickey – successfully guiding the family business through the fifth generation and beyond
Looking ahead
As N.A.A. approaches its centenary, the Hickeys are less interested in nostalgia than in momentum. “It’s a landmark, sure,” Luke says, “but it’s really about setting up for the next 100 years. We’ll mark the moment – and then keep moving.”
That momentum is already visible in subtle ways – new systems, smarter logistics and closer supplier relationships, and potentially expansion. “You can’t stand still in this business,” Laragh says. “There’s always a faster way, a better fit, a new idea that helps customers work smarter. That’s what we’re chasing.”
She smiles when asked about the future. “People think of us as traditional – and that’s fine – but we’ve never stopped changing. That’s how you stay around for a century.”
