Garden tools suffered in the heat

In 2003 Bosch achieved sales to the tune of € 126 mio in the garden tools product category, which amounts to seven per cent less than the previous year after exchange rate adjustments. These figures were announced at a press conference by Volker Pruschke, head of the garden tools product category in the power tools division of Bosch. The general market weakness resulting from the hot summer was particularly pronounced in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Although Bosch actually lost 13 per cent here, the decline is less than the losses suffered by the market as a whole. Contrary to this trend, the company achieved a sales increase of seven per cent in France. According to the available information, lawnmowers made an above-average contribution to this result. Bosch also managed a six per cent increase in the Benelux states in contrast to the generally shrinking market there. The only industry-wide growth region in Europe in 2003 was the East: the manufacturer saw sales grow by 17 per cent in these countries. (See the separate DIYonline report for information on developments in the United Kingdom.) Further information about the development of the market can be found under the Countries and Markets heading at DIYglobal plus (v. Other Articles on this Topic as well).