Down but not out

Strength in the midfield

The merger of HDB (Hubo, Doeland, Big Boss) and Serboucom (Multimate) has resulted in the creation of the biggest group in the DIY sector in the …

Tough start

Market growth in France

The French garden market grew by 3.4 per cent in 2007 compared with the previous year, despite capricious weather during the main gardening season

Castorama invites customers indoors

April saw the inauguration of Castorama’s first outlet in a shopping centre. With this store the company, which is ranked second in France, is …

Slight increase in consolidation

The French DIY market continued to grow in 2007, when a turnover of € 21.5 bn was recorded. This development is dominated by the DIY stores, a…

The Top 20 in Europe anad North America

An impressive collection

Once America’s largest retailer, Sears has seen such enormous changes that the picture it presents today is completely different from even ten years ago

Strategic reorientation

The Spanish franchise organisation ATB, now under new management, intends to expand the number and size of its stores, revise its product ranges and …

Rapid rate of expansion

Marketing Trend has far more than 90 DIY stores in Italy under the Brico Io logo. The majority of these stores are run under a franchising system. The …

Steady growth

The Belgian DIY market continued to grow last year, though without managing to achieve the previous year's growth rates

Growth in the Netherlands

The DIY market in the Netherlands saw positive progress in 2007, with sales for the sector increasing by 4.6 per cent according to figures from GfK Benelux

Upwardly ambitious

The Mr. Bricolage Group intends to improve its position in the French DIY market. This includes overtaking Bricomarché to become number three by 2011

The green business

The American DIY and hardware trade is endeavouring to stimulate the sale of environmentally friendly products