Praktiker’s plans for small stores in Hungary

The German DIY group Praktiker is planning to establish small DIY stores between 1 000 m² and 1 500 m² in size in Hungary. They are designed to fill a gap in the market within the foreseeable future and will be in addition to the classic DIY stores, which have a sales area ranging from 5 000 m² to 10 000 m². This was announced by country managing director Karl-Heinz Keth in an interview with a Budapest newspaper. Keth expressed cautious optimism about developments in the country: “In terms of sales in 2012 we want to be moving on the same level as last year. It must be understood that, since 2008, we have always lost out in comparison with the previous year.” The reason for this optimism is the stabilisation of the numbers of customers and employees. What is more, the proportion of private label products saw an increase in the first half-year from six to eight per cent. A total of between 15 and 20 per cent is the goal in the medium term.