Baumax grows

In the first half of 2011, Baumax increased its sales by six per cent abroad and by three per cent in Austria. According to an analysis by the Austrian chain, this is attributable primarily to a strategy reorientation towards greater service and higher-quality ranges. The DIY chain opened its 150th store in the first half of 2011 in Karlovac (Croatia). New stores were also opened in Bucharest (Romania), Pleven (Bulgaria) and Izmir (Turkey). Two further Turkish stores are expected to follow in Bodrum and Ankara in the next few months. Baumax currently operates 153 stores in nine countries, comprising 67 stores in Austria, 24 in the Czech Republic, 15 in Slovakia, 15 in Hungary, three in Slovenia, seven in Croatia, 14 in Romania, five in Bulgaria and three in Turkey. Its total retail area is more than a million square metres, around 60 per cent of which is outside Austria.