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By BOB
VEREEEN, Director Emeritus
News from around the world
Members of the Worldwide DIY Council will be exhibiting in two international trade fairs in the next six weeks. Feb. 17-18-- a number will be at the Hardware/Housewares Show of the Caribbean, some in a Council pavilion, others on their own or with local agents. In March, some members also will be participating in Ferroforma in Bilbao, Spain, as that show shifts to a spring date on the years when Practical World in Cologne will not be taking place.
Kingfisher, the UK giant doing £8 billion and the world's 3rd largest home center chain, has leading market positions in its home country, as well as in France, Poland, Italy, China and Taiwan. It operates 707 stores in 11 countries, and has a 21% interest in--and strategic alliance with--Hornbach, Germany's leading DIY warehouse retailer, which operates more than 120 stores across Europe. Its best-known names are B & Q and Castorama.
The 3e AG Group is comprised of 300 companies in 9 European countries. The Austrian member is planning 6 Let's Do It stores in Serbia and 5 Toolpark DIY stores. In all, there will be 88 Let's Do It neighborhood stores--64 in Austria, 18 in Hungary and 6 in Serbia. Future plans call for store openings in Slovakia.
Lowes, America's second largest home center chain, announced in late January that it plans to enter the Mexican market in 2009 by opening stores in Monterrey. It is already scheduled to open stores in Canada later this year.
Kesko, which operates in the Scandinavian countries and Russia, reported a 10.6% sales gain last year to 9.32 bn Euros. It also says it plans more hardware stores in Russia. Already operating 6 in St. Petersburg, it will open its first in Moscow this year and will be in Kazan in 2008.
Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd., a chain with multiple formats doing $450 million, operates Got It stores in 19 cities, which sell tools, hardware and other products for maintenance. Some of those products also are stocked in its hypermarkets and general merchandise divisions.
Tesco, the UK giant supermarket chain operating supermarkets and hypermarkets in other countries as well, did 150 million pounds with Tesco Direct, its web-based venture, during the Christmas season. It is expanding this non-foods activity now and will promote it more aggressively. One of its big sellers over the holidays was pink tool kits for women.
Metrika, a Russian DIY chain with 4 large stores in St. Petersburg and a medium-sized store in Moscow, has ambitious growth plans for this year, according to DIYglobal's website. Twenty stores of different formats and sizes are planned for this year, of which 4 will be in St. Petersburg.
German's Metro is now active in 31 countries around the world, making it one of the most international (if not THE most) retailers in the world. It now operates 2,200+ stores, and is active in 8 of the world's 10 fastest growing markets.
Be sure to check out our Bulletin Board for news and pictures of the Council's annual meeting and table-top exhibition in Costa Rica held in early December.
Click here for more international news.
Meet our members in person
In coming months, members of the Worldwide DIY Council will be participating in a number of industry trade shows, where you can meet them personally and have face-to-face discussions of mutually beneficial relationships. Click here for more information about forthcoming industry events
Click here for more details and exhibitor listings.
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