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German toolmakers export sales up

fwi

 

Last year German tool manufacturers sold products to the tune of 3.8 billion Euros – an increase of 1.4 percent on the previous year. And that, even though there was a general cooling of the economy in 2012, as reported by the German FWI Tool Trade Association. The traditionally healthy level of tool exports held up well in 2012, with export orders up by 1.8 percent on the previous year, though there was a later decline in the rate of growth. There was considerable variation in the markets. Tool exports to other European countries were down about 1.5 percent.  There was a sharp decline in sales to Greece (-19.9 %), Italy (- 12.5 %) and Spain (- 13 %), while sales were up in Russia (+ 18,2 %) and the USA (+ 12.9 %). At present, the USA is the biggest customer, accounting for 8.4 % of German tool exports in 2012. read more…

DIY-Retail Sales Steady in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

BHB

 

From 2009 German home improvement retail sales grew steadily, but there was a slight decline from 2011 to 2012: total turnover for German DIY sales was about 18.6 billion Euros, a slight nominal decline of 0.6 percent. Set against turnover per square metre retail space, DIY-sales were slightly down by 0.8 percent. read more…

DIY Lifetime Award for Manfred Maus

Maus_Obi

 

Manfred Maus is a leading pioneer in the DIY-business. Together with Emil Lux, he opened the first Obi-Markt DIY retail outlet in Hamburg in 1970, becoming one of the leading actors in the developing home improvement business. He stayed with Obi for more than 30 years, becoming chief executive and chairman of the board. He will be presented with the DIY Lifetime Award at the DIY-summit in June 2013, adding to his Bundesverdienstkreuz official German Order of Merit.
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Global DIY-Summit 2013

DIY_Summit

 

The second Global DIY Summit takes place on 6 – 7 June 2013 in Rome and has a line-up of top speakers, several of whom on day one will address the challenges to be faced by the rapid advent of digital markets. They include Ian Cheshire (Group CEO, Kingfisher), Sergio Giroldi (CEO, Obi) and Carlos Wulf (CEO, Easy), who will relate their experience with the multi-channel business. Representing the internet economy is Alastair Bruce (Director Google Germany), who will describe how the DIY-player can take best advantage of the web. His presentation will be entitled: ‘Making the web work for you’. read more…

Total Hotspots – March of the LED

 

Economic, ecological and with a highly promising future: when the discussion turns to energy-saving lighting, then the LED is a clear winner. A gigantic worldwide market is now opening for new technologies and lighting. read more…

BHB: Changes at the Top

 

Members of the BHB German Federation of DIY and Garden Product Retailers elected new members to the management board at their Berlin meeting on 5 December: the chief executive of Globus, Erich Huwer; Detlef Riesche, chairman of the Toom Baumarkt management; and Dr. Ralf Bartsch, chief executive of the Schlau/Hammer Group. These three join the existing four board members for the period 2013 to 2015. read more…

The Rawl Plug King

 

It may have been small enough to hide in your pocket, but this tiny invention revolutionised wide swathes of the DIY and building industries. Now, the King of the rawl plugs business Klaus Fischer, is to receive the DIY-Lifetime Award at the BHB Home Improvement Retail Conference on 5 December. The Award is made jointly by the BHB Association of Building and Garden Product Retailers and publishers Dähne Verlag. read more…

13th International BHB Building Market Congress

 

The BHB Federal German Association of Home Improvement Stores and Building Material Retailers will hold its 13th International Building Market Congress at Berlin’s Estrel Hotel on December 5-6. This year’s motto: DIY is everywhere. The Congress programme includes discussions and speakers describing new sales and distribution patterns, innovative marketing strategies, and the reasons why DIY is more than the sum of its individual parts. In addition to the DIY retail business, speakers will include trendsetters and experts from other commercial sectors. Subjects will include: the importance of social media; satisfaction derived from DIY projects; DIY on the crest of a wave; the multi-faceted customer King; don´t copy and paste – successful multi-channelling requires custom-designed solutions; and much more besides. read more…

DIY Goes Professional

 

 

Not so long ago many would call in a professional to paper the parlour, with the explanation that ‘I have two left hands’. But now, advice and a practical demonstration are easily obtained from the Internet and the job’s a snap. There are forums where manufacturers and those with professional knowledge will gladly pass it on. Modern materials are easier to use than earlier products and tools are designed with the unskilled in mind; so inexperience no longer really matters. In addition, many home improvement stores now run DIY-courses to show customers the basics.  Many retailers work through the DIY-Academy, whose main role is to pass on the essential knowledge, motivate the would-be DIYer, and supply a chunk of inspiration. Not least, many consumer magazines and television programmes have driven growing DIY interest. read more…

FWI Calls for Continued Effective Patent Laws in Germany

 

The FWI Toolmakers’ Association has criticised discussion on the proposed softening of German patent laws: “The discussion harms the interests of German tool and fixture manufacturers, their employees and end-users.” The Association points out that it is not only large corporations that benefit from patent rights; effective patent protection for products is also a vital lifeline for small and newly established businesses. The FWI chief executive Rainer Langelüddecke says: “Without such protection, innovative products would be immediately copied and introduced on a large scale, leaving smaller companies with no chance of growth or survival.” Small, innovative companies would be squashed by bigger companies, placing a brake on the design and development of new tools and fixtures.  read more…

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The INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE takes place from 9 - 12 March 2014

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Your contact persons for INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE.

Writers

Kristina Hölscher
Kristina Hölscher
Editor Holzmann Verlag

Rainer Langelüddecke
Rainer Langelüddecke
General Manager
FWI

Olaf Dechow
Olaf Dechow
Environmental- and Social Policy
Otto Group

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