Doubling of online shops in Russia

During last year, 2011, the number of web shops for building materials more than doubled in Russia. At the start of 2012 there were 24 operational internet shops in the DIY field, plus four for housewares and one for garden supplies. However, the international DIY retailers are still holding back. This information emerges from a survey by the Infoline agency among 170 multiples working in Russia, 150 of them in the area of DIY and 20 concentrating on home and garden. The first Russian web shop went online in 2007. There were already nine in 2010, and their number rose to 22 last year. For the moment and in geographical terms, the DIY internet business in Russia reaches at best across the current network of stores belonging to the different DIY retailers, which means predominantly in the European part of the Russian Federation. Another striking fact is that there is only one active online shop (Akson) in Moscow and the capital region. The reasons given for this are the strong presence there of the local multiples, which are not yet actively involved in e-commerce, as well as the international competition: Leroy Merlin, Obi, Castorama, K-Rauta and Home Center. These companies have not so far supported the trend towards internet trading either. Only K-Rauta has been trialling a web shop since the beginning of 2012.