DIY stores in Austria grow in 2017 by two and a half per cent

The DIY store trade in Austria made total gross sales of EUR 2.53 bn in financial year 2017, thus achieving growth of 2.6 per cent. When adjusted to retail space, the increase in sales was 0.7 per cent. These market figures were announced by BHB as part of its annual press conference at the International Hardware Fair in Cologne, based on the current market figures from the GfK consumer research association.
"In a year which was once again marked by the digital transformation of the trade, the digitalisation of existing business models and sustainable interlinking, the DIY store traders in Austria have proven that they are well equipped for the challenges of the years ahead," says BHB Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Wüst.
DIY stores achieved the highest total annual sales with the assortments construction chemicals/construction material (EUR 360.5 mio), sanitary/heating (EUR 221.0 mio), garden equipment (EUR 168.9 mio), household goods (EUR 164.4 mio) and tools/machines (EUR 159.1 mio). When looking at the product range development compared with the previous year, an on the whole solid growth, spread over a wide range of assortments can be seen: sales increases were recorded in roughly three quarters of the 22 assortment ranges. Growth drivers were in particular the product groups automotive (+8.7 per cent), garden equipment (+5.5 per cent), wood (+5.4 per cent) and construction chemicals/construction material (+4.7 per cent). On the other hand, there were clear declines in sales in the product group home/decorating (-7.0 per cent) and for furniture (-4.8 per cent).