BAU+DIY, the German Association of DIY Manufacturers, was founded by a group of 11 manufacturing companies in July 1982. The Association had grown to nearly 130 member companies.

Based in Ratingen, near to Düsseldorf, BAU+DIY’s mandate is to support and protect the common interests of its members in four main fields: sales & marketing; fairs and exhibitions; public relations; and major issues relating to legal, to rules and regulations and to technical matters. The Association supports its members on various aspects concerning the distribution of DIY products. Because it caters for the varying requirements of its diverse membership, BAU+DIY operates not only as one group but internally also by different groups structured by assortments.

BAU+DIY provides a forum geared to the special requirements of German manufacturers serving the extensive DIY market. Companies eligible for membership are manufacturers which meet the criteria of European Product Liability Law - companies which supply products under their own brand name and which are liable for quality and application.

The membership of BAU+DIY convenes four times a year at meetings which generate plenty of enthusiastic debate and stimulating ideas.
In addition, regular discussions take place during workshops, working groups and conferences which address day-to-day and specific operational problems experienced in business today.

This communication network between members is completed by an internal information system, which is based on fast and lean e-mail solutions. The homepage (www.bau-und-diy.de) offers general information in the public area and details to use and download within the members sector.

BAU+DIY cultivates a close working relationship with - its office neighbour - IVG (www.ivg.org), the German Garden Industry Association. BAU+DIY co-operates also with BHB (www.bhb.org), the German Association of DIY Retailers and Garden Centres. These co-operations and dialogues address common business issues as electronic data exchange, market research, logistics, training and security and more.

In specially organised workshops and conferences, manufacturers and their trading partners discuss issues of common interest with a view to seek solutions to individual problems.

BAU+DIY also represents the interests of German producers of hard and consumer products gathered in the WSM association (www.wsm-net.de). Topics out of this sphere are also discussed within the BDI consumer task forces located in Germanys capital Berlin (www.bdi-online.de).

Recognising the increasing importance of pan-European and global trade, BAU+DIY is also proud to be a founding member of FEDIYMA, the Federation of European DIY Manufacturers Associations.