DIY stores are known for their extensive product selection for home improvement enthusiasts, gardening enthusiasts, and pet lovers. What kinds of items can you find in these stores? Everything from hardware, tools, and building materials to gardening supplies, pet food, and accessories… Below are a few facts and more about the industry in Belgium.
The DIY sector in Belgium:
The do-it-yourself sector is certainly thriving in the Belgian market, with sales of around 3.5 billion euros. In 2010, the average household spent approximately €499 on do-it-yourself products. This represents 1.4% of the annual budget. Of this amount, €173 went toward flowers and plants, €190 toward tools, and €136 toward other items such as barbecues, specialized maintenance products, etc.
In 2011, there were 1,609 do-it-yourself retail outlets on the Belgian market, including 586 large do-it-yourself centers, 224 small do-it-yourself stores, 366 hardware stores, and 433 ironmongers. In addition, there were 678 specialty stores for gardening supplies and 550 garden centers. A total of 14,097 people were employed in all of these businesses.
Fun facts about the do-it-yourself industry:
- At home improvement stores, consumers primarily value service, advice, price, and product selection.
- It is striking that people do not like to do home improvement projects. 64% will only do such projects when absolutely necessary, while 24% of consumers actually enjoy doing them. In 2012, 16% of consumers planned to do fewer home improvement projects, while 14% actually wanted to do more. In 2012, 20% of consumers wanted to spend less on materials, while only 8% wanted to spend more.
- When purchasing DIY supplies, approximately 70% of consumers will visit large DIY stores. When it comes to gardening supplies, about 25% prefer large home improvement stores, while more than half (55%) tend to prefer a garden center or specialty garden store. At large home improvement stores, garden supplies account for about 17% of total sales.
- The do-it-yourself sector is, of course, extremely weather-sensitive. The weather has a major impact, particularly on gardening products. The gardening season can start as much as a month earlier or later, depending on the weather.
- Suppliers and retailers will discuss issues together, exchange information, and organize industry events. This diverse range of products naturally requires a great deal of administrative work. With the right business software, this administrative work is processed very quickly and automatically. ERP for Construction Supply and Technical Wholesale is the ideal business software tailored to the do-it-yourself sector.
