Global DIY Summit tackles uncertainty - and visions

With more than 1 000 participants from 55 countries, the Global DIY Summit started its two-day congress programme in Berlin today. "Visions of DIY in the age of uncertainty" is the congress motto, which the first speakers of the day also addressed. The congress was opened by John Herber and Piet de Coninck, the CEOs of the international industry associations Edra/Ghin and Hima, which organise the annual meeting of the global home improvement industry.

Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher and president of the European DIY trade association Edra/Ghin, named three trends that are giving the industry a tailwind: working from home, the young generation of DIYers and the topic of energy efficiency. In this context, he also presented the new initiative on Scope 3 (see separate news item).

An overview of the current state of the global economy with its impact on the industry was given by Ira Kalish from the consultancy Deloitte. The outlook, as he predicted, is not so bad: inflation in the USA has already fallen sharply and is also declining in Europe, and the economies in both regions have proved resilient in the current crises; in contrast, growth in China is proving weaker.

Erich Harsch, CEO of Hornbach Baumarkt AG, addressed the topic of responsibility in detail in his presentation and emphasised that both companies and leaders, but also each individual, are called upon to act responsibly - for the benefit of mankind and the environment.