Mr. DIY moving to localise look of stores?

Mr. DIY, the ubiquitous home goods store that started in Malaysia and now has a presence in twelve other markets, appears to be moving to localise the look of its stores. The company, which until recently followed a distinct store design that had branches sporting similar interiors, has over the last two months started to differentiate the look of its outlets in some markets by incorporating elements that are closely associated with these countries into their design.

When Mr. DIY opened its first store in Poland 15 November 2024, it made sure to announce its minimalist design that was derived from Scandinavian influences. The outlet, located in Zabrze and touted as a “space that inspires”, used natural tones, had wider aisles, and incorporated bright lighting to create a “carefully designed environment that supports a positive shopping experience”.

“Minimalist Scandinavian design and natural tones create an atmosphere of calm and comfort, while striking yellow accents in the checkout area give the space dynamism to create memorable experiences,” Mr. DIY Poland explained. “[We] believe that the aesthetics and ergonomics of the interior play an important role in shaping the comfort and satisfaction of our customers. That is why we design our locations with the utmost care, making sure that each element of the interior responds to the current needs of customers,” it added.

Adding indigenous elements was also part of the company’s strategy when it opened its 900th store in Indonesia shortly thereafter. The outlet, which is Mr. DIY’s first flagship store in the country, opened on 22 November 2024 at the Lotte Mall Jakarta and features ornaments, wood carvings, and other accents made from rattan, a climbing vine that is used as material for making furniture and decor around Southeast Asia.

In a statement, Mr. DIY Indonesia explained that the use of indigenous elements in the flagship store is part of its commitment to “bringing ourselves closer to where our customers are”. “This store features rattan, an iconic material of Indonesia, to create a warm and modern shopping experience that feels close to its customers,” it said.

The company also collaborated with Wulang Suni, an artist from Yogyakarta, for wall-mounted displays that artistically depict Mr. DIY’s products and categories.

The company also produced merchandise designed by the artist, including cushions, notebooks, tote bags, t-shirts, stickers, and pop sockets, for purchase exclusively at the flagship store…