Originally Turkish

The DIY trade came to Turkey from distant Germany. But the two countries are really not so far apart: the historically close links in politics, economy and science stretch way beyond the recruitment of labour in the sixties. Even the first DIY store in Turkey originally had a German name: Götzen, opened in 1995. The ope­rating company was a 50:50 joint venture between Tekfen Holding, a diversified Turkish conglomerate, and Götzen, a German DIY retailer. Following the latter’s bankruptcy in 1998 Tekfen took over all the shares, then gave the young DIY chain the new name of Tekzen. In the year 2000 Tekfen, in turn, sold part of its shares to Murat Gigin, who still remains on the board of Tekfen. Consequently Tekzen is the only DIY retailer in Turkey whose capital comes 100 per cent from the home country – something that is of great importance to the company. Today Tekzen operates the biggest network of stores in the country. It has 74 DIY stores of between 1 000 m² and 8 000 m², as well as 15 small-format stores under the Tekzen Express banner that are between 300 m² and 600 m² in size. It has a presence in 43 towns and cities. Moreover, at the end of 2011 the company opened a pilot Zen Harmony store, a format carrying a product offer geared to home décor. In addition it is also active in the online business and the wholesale trade. Sales are expected to rise by one-third this year to the equivalent of € 180 mio. And there is no end in sight to the company’s expansion: it is working towards having a presence in every city in the country. Tekzen is also actively involved abroad. The chain expanded into Romania as long ago as 2007 and still has one store there, having had five outlets in operation at one time. When it comes to its goals for further expansion the company is once again putting its pioneering qualities to the test: a store is shortly to be opened in northern Irak. Georgia and Cyprus are also under discussion. Tekzen thinks international in terms of sourcing as well: the company is a member of the Euro­pean buying group Brico­alliance. Download: