Hornbach invests in Romania

The German DIY multiple launched its first large-format store in Bucharest this June. Ten DIY stores are to be established in the major cities by 2015

TV as the new engine of growth

Growth of sun protection market

In 2006 the market for roller shutters and venetian blinds increased by 7.7 per cent in value terms in the five biggest countries of Europe

The decline of a leader

Sears continues to lose market share under its new ownership

Growth region of Eastern Europe

While the saturated markets of western Europe offer scarcely any opportunities for expansion worth mentioning, there are still tremendous prospects …

Success in market niches

NBB Dienstleistungssysteme Aktiengesellschaft has a positive balance sheet to submit on the occasion of the company's 25th anniversary

Home improvemenet is trendy

The DIY market in France is based on sound values: home and family have top priority for the French. Which means that DIY and gardening are now trendier…

Cusstom-made care

Thuisin is a retail format that has quite unobtrusively had four paint and wallpaper stores in operation in the Netherlands for three years already. But now …

Old idea in a new guise

Hardware retailers in the United States are again tending to look more closely at housewares

“Meeting customers halfway”

For the Italian FDT Group, service has a crucial role to play when it comes to customer loyalty. Regular staff training is also part of the recipe

Under new management

Home Depot is getting back to basics under the leadership of Frank Blake, its new CEO

Change as an essential requirement

Bob Vareen, DIY in Europe, USAIn the United States, as elsewhere in today's world of retailing, changes are happening faster than ever before. …

Hoppe-Gruppe: Functional design elements

The Hoppe group develops, produces and distributes window and door furniture, in which segment it lays claim to be the European market …

Obi: Formula for success

OBI opened its first DIY store in 1970. Today the company is number one in Germany and number two in Europe with its successful franchising formula