DIY is men’s business in Germany

Germany still constitutes by far the biggest individual market in Europe. In the year 2001 about 28 per cent of spending on DIY projects in Europe was carried out in the German market. These figures emerge from a survey published by Mintel, the UK market research institute. However, the authors emphasise that the Brits are on average much more often actively involved as DIYers than the Germans, who clearly still regard it as predominantly men’s business: German women reach much less frequently for a hammer or a paintbrush than do their French or English counterparts. Our trade magazine DIY in Europe will be publishing a detailed report on the survey.