New player in Australia

The arrival of a new competitor on the market in Australia is imminent. The Masters DIY and home improvement chain will be operated by a joint venture entered into by the Woolworths supermarket chain and Lowe’s, the US home improvement group that is number two on the global market. The partners announced the name of their new brand at the beginning of this week. The first Masters store is to be opened in a suburb of Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, in either September or October. The plans foresee an overall retail area of 13 500 m², which will include a separate trade department. Lighting, paints and varnishes, flooring, kitchens, outdoor furniture, domestic appliances, garden, walls and windows, power tools, storage systems, sanitary ware and bathroom fittings are the product categories that will be covered by the stores. According to the company, the range includes many products that will be available for the first time in one singe shopping venue in Australia. The CEO of Masters is the former head of Lowe’s in Canada, Don Stallings. The new DIY retailer intends to open 150 outlets within five years and so, in the opinion of industry observers, get the better of the Australian market leader Bunnings.