DIY Retailing - Europe

DIY Retailing - Europe

In Western Europe the major growth phase for DIY retailers is over. There is too little scope for opening new warehouse style stores. Nor will there any longer be the beneficial effect from new stores that they expand the market. Most new outlets from now on will be infilling.

But there is scope for new, smaller stores, as the development of Brico Depot in France demonstrates. But the publisher argues that there is scope for more clearly targeted DIY formats that will be complementary to the Warehouse-style outlets. The development of such specialists would open up new avenues for growth. The growth opportunities are in the South and East of Europe. In southern Europe, DIY is not so popular and growth will be slower. But Eastern Europe is taking to DIY with some enthusiasm and that will be true moving even further East as the success of OBI’s stores in Russia or B&Q’s in China and Taiwan demonstrate.

The major challenge for the sector will be to cope with the impact of an ageing population and one that is less willing or able to undertake DIY projects.

In Western Europe the major growth phase for DIY retailers is over. There is too little scope for opening new warehouse style stores. Nor will there any longer be the beneficial effect from new stores that they expand the market. Most new outlets from now on will be infilling.

But there is scope for new, smaller stores, as the development of Brico Depot in France demonstrates. But the publisher argues that there is scope for more clearly targeted DIY formats that will be complementary to the Warehouse-style outlets. The development of such specialists would open up new avenues for growth. The growth opportunities are in the South and East of Europe. In southern Europe, DIY is not so popular and growth will be slower. But Eastern Europe is taking to DIY with some enthusiasm and that will be true moving even further East as the success of OBI’s stores in Russia or B&Q’s in China and Taiwan demonstrate.

The major challenge for the sector will be to cope with the impact of an ageing population and one that is less willing or able to undertake DIY projects.