62 • SECURITYSYSTEMS
PROUD SPONSORS
OF THIS PAGE
ERA and Locksmiths –
A Smart Combination
» » AS THE DEMAND FOR SMART TECH
moves from the techies to general
population, the need for someone to
install the products is growing, especially
when it comes to security. Locksmiths are
in a perfect position to capitalise on this
growth. They are trusted by customers
to gain entry in a lock-out situation and
protect a home with an array of locks; why
not with smart security as well instead of
calling in a separate alarm fitter?
For many Locksmiths, smartware
products can be daunting – you can’t see
wires and internal mechanisms, you can’t
simply look at the product and say whether
it’s any good or not, and what happens if it
goes wrong? Trusting in a strong brand is
the first step as you can have confidence in
the product and know the back-up service
is there if you need it.
GET TRAINED…
ERA is now offering a helping hand
with FREE Smartware product training.
The training sessions have been running
since October 2018 at the ERA HQ in
Wolverhampton and have been tweaked
along the way thanks to feedback from
locksmiths that have joined the sessions.
You don’t need to be a tech-genius to fit
smartware security systems, having the
right training and confidence in your own
ability is all you need.
TRAINING BENEFITS
Yateley locksmith, John Kelly, signed up
to one of ERA’s launch training sessions
and has become a valued ERA installer.
Following a successful career in the armed
forces, John set up his locksmith business
– www.notjustkeys.co.uk – in 2017
providing customers in Hampshire, Surrey
and Berkshire with traditional locksmith
services. Not particularly bothered about
venturing into smartware products, he
was quite happy focussing on traditional
security products, but he read about the
FREE training sessions in the trade press
and felt that he had nothing to lose by
signing up.
John said: “I was impressed by ERA’s
facilities and the professionalism of the
team on the day. I learnt a great deal
about the rise of smartware products and
definitely felt more comfortable about
talking about smartware and handling the
products after the session.
“Following on from the training,
I thought it would be useful for ERA
trainers to see first-hand the kind of
things installers are faced with on a day-
to-day basis when installing the systems
in customers’ homes. This has proved
invaluable for ERA who have taken on
ERA SMARTWARE TRAINING
– WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Visit https://www.eraeverywhere.
com/smartware-training/ to sign up to
a free session which includes classroom
training, hands-on product experience
and the chance to ask as many questions
as required. Key members of the ERA
team are available at the sessions from
product development, marketing and the
smartware help desk to answer queries
and talk about how they can support your
business. Sessions currently run from
9am-1pm and 4pm-8pm, once a month
at ERA’s brand new, purpose-built head
office at the prestigious i54 business park
just outside Wolverhampton.
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | JAN/FEB 2019
board their findings and developed the
training sessions further, especially in
terms of the practical element of the
sessions, to ensure maximum impact for
other installers attending the sessions.
“To be honest, when I initially signed
up for the session, I didn’t think it would
have much impact on me, but I’ve now
fully embraced smartware products and
have even made the move to have the new
ERA Intruder Alarm Installer logo put on
my van. Working with ERA, I will continue
to expand my product knowledge so
that I can offer this latest technology to
customers that request it or those I feel
would benefit from having it installed.”
“I am also pleased to be working with
ERA to develop their future training courses
as they are keen for a Locksmith to assist in
training other locksmiths – someone at the
coal face, who installs security products in
people’s homes every day”
WORKING TOGETHER
TO GET RESULTS
Tania Tams, ERA’s Head of Marketing,
said: “Spending time with John was
extremely useful and we appreciate his
time and support. We now provide more
practical, hands-on training during the