Accessibility Statement

Our Commitment to Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to help users with various disabilities access our website effectively.

Compliance Status

Our website strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. We also aim to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act requirements. These guidelines and regulations explain how to make web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. We acknowledge that some aspects of our website may not yet achieve full compliance, and we are actively working to address these areas.

Accessibility Features Available

Our website implements the Accessibly App, which provides a variety of tools to enhance website accessibility:

Visual Adjustments

Bigger Text: Increase text size up to 3x for better readability (WCAG 2.1/1.4.4)
Bigger Cursor: Enhanced cursor visibility for easier navigation
Color Adjustments: Invert colors, adjust contrast, brightness, and saturation
Grayscale Mode: Convert website to grayscale for users with visual impairments
Hide Images: Reduce visual distractions for easier reading

Reading and Navigation Aids

Reading Line: Adds a guide line to help follow text
Reading Mask: Places a mask over text to isolate lines and enhance focus
Readable Fonts: Converts to highly legible fonts for better comprehension
Highlight Links: Makes links more prominent for easier navigation
Dyslexic Fonts: Special typography for users with dyslexia
Page Structure: Simplified layout options for easier navigation

Assistive Technologies

Keyboard Navigation: Full website control using keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter)
Alt Text for Images: AI-generated image descriptions where manual ones aren't provided
Read Page Aloud: Text-to-speech functionality
Stop Animations: Pause motion content for users with vestibular disorders

Limitations and Feedback

Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility, there may be some limitations. Content provided by third parties, user-generated content, or certain legacy pages may not be fully accessible. We are continuously working to improve our website's accessibility.

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us. We are committed to addressing these issues promptly.

Technical Information

The accessibility features on this website are provided through the Accessibly App, which utilizes several technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various frameworks to enhance accessibility. Our implementation strives to be compatible with major screen readers and assistive technologies.

Legal Disclaimer

While we strive to adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and provide accessible content, we cannot guarantee that our website will be accessible to all users under all circumstances. This website is provided "as is" without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

In no event shall we be liable for any damages arising from or related to:

Inability to access or use the website
Any alleged non-compliance with accessibility laws or regulations
Any disruption or errors in the functionality of accessibility features

By using this website, you agree to hold us harmless from any claims related to website accessibility issues. We are committed to addressing accessibility barriers in good faith but cannot guarantee immediate resolution in all cases.

Invert colors

Invert the colors of the website content. For those with decreased vision, the high contrast greatly helps to read the site better.

Tweak Contrast | WCAG 2.1 / 1.4.6

This feature lets users manually select from two options: to enhance the contrast of the website or to decrease the contrast.

Tweak Brightness | WCAG 2.1 / 1.4.6

This feature lets users update the brightness on the site. The content can either be made brighter or darker.

Grayscale | WCAG 2.1 / 1.4.6

Users can turn on grayscale, making the website content appear only in shades of gray. This benefits people with visual impairment.

Reading Line

Add a supportive reading line to the site.

Readable fonts

Convert the fonts available on-site to one of the most easily readable fonts: Helvetica.

Alt Text and Images

Ability to read alt text of images. As of now, our tool has added a feature where alt descriptions for images without them are generated using Google's Vision AI. In the event that you haven't manually written these image descriptions yourself, this greatly helps people with visual impairment browse your site.

Tooltips | WCAG 2.1 / 2.5.3

Add labels to images that contain a written description of the image.

Highlight links

Highlight links to make them more prominent.

Hide images

Hide images on the site. This provides better site readability for people with visual impairment.

Read page

A feature that allows a voice to read the text on your site out loud to visitors.

Notes & Feedback

We always try to update our services and operate in the best possible manner to benefit all of our clients and their site visitors. If you experience any issues with the Accessibly App provided service, however, please email hello@accessiblyapp.com. We respond within 3 business days.

We cannot control or correct problems with third-party sites, but please let us know if you encounter difficulty with any sites we link to so we can pass the information along to the site owners. You may also want to address your concerns directly to these third parties.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about our accessibility efforts or encounter any barriers while using our website, please contact us.

Email: info@heavins.ie
Phone: 0906472772

Frequently Asked Questions About Us

About the Business

Who owns Heavins?

Heavins is owned and run by cousins Paul and Derek Heavin. Founded by Willie and Maureen Heavin in January 1984. It remains a fully family-owned independent Irish retailer.

Is Heavins the same as Euronics?

Heavins joined Euronics, which is Europe's largest electrical retail group, in 2016 to offer better pricing and service on electrical appliances. We trade in-store as Topline Heavins & Euronics, but Heavins itself is independently owned and family-run. Euronics membership gives us group buying power: the shop, staff, and decisions are all local.

Is Heavins part of Topline?

Yes. Heavins is a member of the Topline buying group, Ireland's largest independent hardware and DIY group, which is why our in-store branding is "Topline Heavins & Euronics." Topline membership covers our hardware, paint, and DIY ranges, while Euronics covers electrical.

How long has Heavins been in business?

Heavins has been trading since January 1984, over 40 years. We started as a small hardware shop at the McCormack Centre in Athlone, moved to a 5,000 sq ft premises in the early 90s, and opened our current 17,000 sq ft superstore at Shannon Retail Park in May 2007.

Is Heavins an Irish company?

Yes. Heavins is 100% Irish-owned, family-run, and based in Athlone, Co. Westmeath. We are a Guaranteed Irish member and have been recognised at the Irish Family Business Awards, Retail Excellence Ireland, and Digital Business Ireland Awards.

Visiting & Shopping In-Store

Where is Heavins located?

Our store is at Units A1 & A2, Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 E763. There's free on-site parking and we're easily accessed from the M6 motorway, making us a convenient stop for customers across the Midlands.

How do I contact Heavins?

You can reach us by phone on 090 647 2772, by email at info@heavins.ie, or in person at Shannon Retail Park, Athlone. For online orders, our website team responds via the contact form on Heavins.ie.

Does Heavins offer in-store consultations?

Yes. We offer free expert consultations for two of our larger ranges: a Bathroom Consultation with our design team, and a Paint Colour Consultation at our Paint & Décor Centre. Both can be booked in advance through our website.

Buying from Heavins.ie

Does Heavins deliver across Ireland?

Yes. Heavins.ie delivers nationwide across the Republic of Ireland. Standard delivery is free on orders over €499 (excluding bulky items), and bulky items like washing machines, fridges, and large garden furniture have specific delivery options outlined at checkout.

Does Heavins offer Click & Collect?

Yes. You can order online and collect for free at our Athlone store, usually within an hour of ordering during opening hours. You'll receive an email confirmation when your order is ready.

What is Heavins' returns policy?

Heavins accepts returns in line with Irish consumer law. Full details, including the timeframe, condition requirements, and how to start a return, are available on our How to return my order page. For faulty items, we handle the manufacturer warranty process for you.

What payment methods does Heavins.ie accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. We also offer Humm (Buy Now, Pay Later) and Klarna (Flexible payments) at checkout, so you can spread the cost of larger purchases. In-store, we additionally accept cash.

Why choose Heavins.ie?

Heavins.ie is the official e-commerce site of Topline Heavins & Euronics, a family-run Irish retailer trading since 1984. We've earned over 10,000 verified 5-star Reviews in Trustpilot and other platforms, and were named Electrical & Technology Website of the Year at the 2022 Digital Business Ireland Awards. We're also a Guaranteed Irish member, and in 2022 we hand-delivered an order to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.