Home Improvement Forum expects record number of retailers
2nd European Home Improvement Forum 2012
A record number of CEOs and top managers from European home improvement companies are expected to attend the second European Home Improvement Forum in Paris on 31 May to 1 June 2012. With still three months to go before the event, CEOs and top managers from 33 retailing companies have already registered for the 2nd European Home Improvement Forum, which this year is taking place at the Disneyland Congress Centre in Paris on 30 May to 1 June. The initial response has been extremely positive and more than 500 executives are expected to attend this event. This event offers an excellent opportunity to network, meet the European leaders in our industry and to hear about the new trends and innovations in the world of home improvement.
The offer to get 'Early Bird' tickets to the forum ends on 15 March 2012. To register online, please click on the following link: http://www.regonline.com/2ndEHIForum
For more information of the 2nd EHI Forum and to download the programme in 5 languages, please click here.
Strong growth for German DIY stores in 2011
Source: DIY Global
Last year saw strong growth in terms of retail area and sales for the 20 biggest German DIY companies and their stores both at home and abroad. Altogether these companies increased their combined sales area in 2011 by 3.0% (550 000 m²) after taking into account openings and closures. Since their sales grew by € 1.1 bn (= 3.9%) to more than € 29.4 bn (2010: € 28.3 bn) over the same period, the 20 biggest German DIY retailers and their stores at home and abroad achieved a like-for-like sales increase of 0.9% in 2011. These are some of the figures announced on Monday by trade publishers Dähne.
The German sales of these 20 biggest companies grew by around 3.2% in 2011 (€ 21.02 mio: € 20.37 mio 2010). Since the German retail area of the top 20 increased by 1.5% during the same period (220 000 m² ; 14.59 m² in 2011, 14.37 mio m² in 2010), that works out at a like-for-like increase of retail area for the 20 biggest DIY companies in Germany of 1.6% in 2011. The purely domestic space productivity of the “Top 20” rose from € 1.418 to € 1.441 (+ € 23).
DIY and Garden sales increase in France
Source: Unibal
According to the French DIY association Unibal, DIY and Gardening sales in French retail stores have increased by 3.4% (+2.4% like-for-like) in 2011. In builders’ merchants, these sales also grew (3.9%), but in hypermarkets they have declined by 11.1%. New housing building permits grew by 17.9% in 2011, while new housing starts increased by 21.8%.
Motor garden: Italian market shrinks in 2011
Source: BricoMagazine
The Italian market of garden machinery closed 2011 with a decrease in almost every compartment. The figures, presented by the manufacturer’s association Comagarden, indicate a reduction of 7% in lawnmowers sales, 4.4% for ride-on and 8.2% for brushcutters. Other product groups reported significant losses: grass trimmers -4.2%, hedge trimmers -2.8%, chainsaws -3.4%, shredders -4.3%. Overall the market suffered a decrease of 4.8% in comparison to 2010.
UK: DIY and hardware sales continue to fall rapidly
Source: DIY Week
The CBI has released its Distributive Trades Survey results for the first two weeks of February, which saw overall retail sales "stabilise." The survey showed little change in retailers’ sales volumes compared to this time last year, but the CBI said this was better than expected. 34% of participating retailers reported an increase in sales volumes while 36% reported a decrease. The resulting balance of -2% showed a significant improvement on last month's balance of -22%, and exceeded expectations of -10%. The balance for hardware and DIY sales was less optimistic at -90%. Sales of durable household goods were even worse with a balance of -100%, meanwhile.
Spain: Garden sales decrease by 9% in 2011
Source: Cuadernos de Ferretería y Bricolaje
According to the latest report issued by DBK, the gardening companies had a turnover of € 935 million in 2011, 8.8% less than in 2010. The main reason for this decline is the economic and budgetary constraints in the public sector. The business of public procurement contracts from last year was € 630 million, a decrease by 6.7% compared to 2010.
John Hatch new General Manager of OBI Italia
Source: BricoMagazine
“The opening of the new Rome store expresses the will of the OBI Group to fasten the rate of expansion in the Italian market”. These were the first public words of John Hatch as new General Manager OBI Italia. Previously Hatch held the same position at Darty, a French retailer of electronic goods, with 30 stores in Italy.
Garden industry valued at £893m last year in UK
Source: DIY Week
A new report by market research company Key Note estimates the industry has grown by 2.1% since 2010, and the firm predicts its value will hit £1bn by 2015. The research primarily focussed on sales of lawnmowers, powered tools and equipment, hand tools and water management equipment from home improvement stores, garden centres and online. Major brands reportedly dominated sales, and the industry's improved performance was credited to consumers' increased interest in gardening.
|
