Growth for international business  

Praktiker was able to increase sales by almost 25 per cent last year: the growth was provided by Max Bahr and the group’s international …

The strong and smart will survive

Germans love DIY

It was the Germans who spent the most money on DIY products in Europe in 2007, though doing building jobs yourself is becoming increasingly popular in both Russia …

Strong growth abroad

Kingfisher announces a sales increase of 8 per cent for the full 2007/08 business year, which is driven by the group’s international operations

What's happened to the DIY customers?

2007 was a challenging year for German DIY retailers

Growth of tool industry

The German tool industry remains on course for success, a fact that is proved by the figures announced by the Fachverband Werkzeugindustrie or FWI …

How do customers perceive prices?

The significance of price as a success factor in the do-it-yourself sector has increased noticeably in the last few years

New store growth

Last year the German DIY retailers realised far more than half of all their new openings at home, in spite of surplus floorspace and tough competition

New store layout

Ace Israel’s stores are undergoing a makeover. Certain product ranges which used to be stocked high up on the racking are now being grouped together in a type of …

The address for problem-solving  

Last year saw the reorganisation of Nicovij, the Dutch cooperative buying organisation. Its maxim: Every member will benefit from combining their…

Expansion abroad  

Sodimac, Chile's biggest DIY retailer, is going to further expand its international interests. The company already operates stores in Peru and Columbia, and e…

Trade fairs under scrutiny  

Sylvia Herzog, DIY in Europe, Germany Managing Editor This year's International Hardware Fair/ Practical World will for the first time be opened to …

The world market in figures

The world DIY market achieved gross sales of € 400 bn in 2006, according to the latest world market report from Fediyma

Europe's DIY markets in figures

The DIY markets in the individual countries of Europe are performing in very different ways. While some markets are either stagnating or shrinking, …