To women with love

Manfred Maus has been presented with the 2nd Global DIY Lifetime Award. Within the framework of a gala dinner during the 2nd Global DIY Summit, staged in Rome by FEDIYMA and EDRA, he accepted the award as co-founder and chief executive of Obi for many years. The laudatory address was held by Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, former CEO of Kingfisher and himself a recipient of the DIY Lifetime Award. In his speech he traced the work done by Manfred Maus in making a significant contribution to the introduction and establishing of large-format DIY retailing in both Germany and Europe. Among the points he specially emphasized were the franchising concept fostered by Maus and the incorporation of the garden business into the DIY store. Naturally he also mentioned what Manfred Maus himself has always described as one of the key elements of his success: his “love of women” – and of course the recipient of the award also took up this cue in his brief speech of thanks. “It is a women’s business,” he said. “Women really understand what is going on in the home.” At the same time Maus stressed the importance of values in the business world. “The difference between a good firm and an excellent one is a management based on values.” Manfred Maus also received a present from Obi, apart from the official prize: against the spectacular backdrop presented by the Villa Miani venue with its magnificent views right across Rome, a lawn tractor rolled up to the stage in the open air, driven by an Obi beaver.