USA

There’s more to come

Major American retailers are focusing more effort on web sales. DIY retailers are achieving remarkable growth rates online

The future is British

Everyone’s biggest competitor

Who could have guessed, back in 1995, that a guy selling a few books online, almost out of his garage, would develop into the world's most aggressive…

Saturated markets - Ace Hardware

In the face of giants

Surviving in a large chain dominated and often saturated market: The new concept from Ace Hardware and other examples from the USA

Saturated markets - Switzerland

Holding its own

Switzerland has had DIY stores right from the start and the international competition came later. Different formats and concepts are now fighting to win over …

Saturated markets - Great Britain

World of endless choice

When one talks about the subject of “home”, it’s more about emotion than function. This is also the chance for retailers and suppliers in the fiercely …

Saturated markets - Germany

Germany is the new New York

In spite of really tough competition, Germany is an interesting target for foreign DIY chain operators. In the words of the old Sinatra song, “If I can …

Baumax

A possible sale is looking more likely

Will Baumax be sold or not? Will the brand remain or will it be dissolved? A lot of questions about Austria’s number one DIY retailer

Russia

Lingering uncertainty

The Russian economy is feeling the weight of sanctions. Is that true of the DIY trade too?

Saturated markets - USA and Canada

The housing market is key

The DIY sector in the USA and Canada is benefiting from a reinvigorated housing market. But service and knowledge transfers could be decisive factors in …

Lowe's

R2D2 now selling hardware

– but under a different name: Lowe’s is testing two robots in sales and has called them OSHbot

Hungry for more innovation

The UK DIY market in 2013

2013 saw a boost to the housing market as mortgage lending improved and house prices rose in some geographical regions, helped in part by the UK …

Turkey - Euromonitor International

DIY still a novelty

The infancy of the Turkish DIY market means there is room for growth, says Cruz del Barrio, head of home and garden research at Euromonitor International. But …