“The crisis has made us stronger”

Spain has been seriously hit by the crisis. How would you describe the current situation in your industry?The DIY and hardware market in Spain has suffered badly during this crisis due to the dramatic fall of housing starts in the construction industry. New housing starts have decreased by 83 per cent in the period from 2007 to 2013, from more than 700 000 in 2007 to about 90 000 in 2013.Although the professional and trade sector was worse affected, the consumer market was hit as well, and we calculate a fall of more than 40 per cent in our sector. The problem is aggravated by the great stock of housing for sale that not only needs to be regularized - we have a major problem in Spain concerning bank loans to consumers who cease payment - so that repairs and maintenance are a fundamental worry.The feeling in our sector is that in 2013, after the first terrible quarter, we actually began to recover and stabilize, so perhaps we can now believe that we have touched rock bottom.What are the strengths of Spanish DIY and hardware suppliers?Manufacturers and distributors like us have gone through difficult times and some have not managed to survive. The positive side is that, because companies have been forced to make great efforts, they have become more efficient and competitive, with innovation being the key to their survival. In addition, in order to make up for some of their losses in the domestic market, many companies have decided to enter foreign markets, which is raising their exports significantly. All in all, the situation has made us stronger.A factor that has been able to limit the damage caused by the fall of the market is the close collaboration developed between many manufacturers and distributors to improve their offer to the consumer. This year the whole sector, both distributors and manufacturers, are initiating a special "Home Improvement Day" in May, with the aim of taking steps towards enlarging our market. The only initiative of its kind in Europe, I believe.What are the expectations and forecasts for the Spanish industry in 2014 and the years that follow?We hope that 2014 will be the year of recovery, the year of certain growth. The macroeconomic figures indicate slight growth for the Spanish economy, but we have a great deal of ballast in the high level of unemployment that is going to ease only very slowly. Consumer confidence will be a key factor for our sector. We have to remember that per-capita consumption of our products is much lower…