Superlative London

The participants at the series of congresses, which were started five years ago by Fediyma and Edra, the European Manufacturers and Trade Associations for the DIY and garden centre industries, are used to increasing attendance figures. However, the congress in London on 10 and 11 June, turned out to be an event of superlatives for the long-standing visitors: There have never been so many participants - more than 750 were on the list; There have never been so many CEOs; There have never been so many countries represented. To put it in a nutshell: A first class networking event, which ran smoothly and without any hitches thanks to the associations' teams responsible for the organisation.Magnus Agervald kicked off the event. The CEO of the Swedish Byggmax chain presented an online tool under the heading "Beating the online retailers" which customers can use to guide them through projects from the planning to the purchase and implementation stages. For Agervald three points are critical for the competition with the Web: Omni-channel is a must; well-trained store personnel; smaller stores and show-rooming. The subsequent podium discussion was the top act of the first morning of the congress. After all, the best speakers had been engaged with Sergio Giroldi from Obi, John Gillam from Bunnings, John F. Lundgren from Stanley Black & Decker and Hartmut Jenner from Kärcher.However, the most important participant was the new head of Kingfisher, Véronique Laury. Not least because of her, this programme highlight was guaranteed to attract maximum attention.But, as is often the case with podium discussions at such industry events, the discussions on stage unfortunately hardly got off the ground. Even Véronique Laury delivered mundane statements: Yes, she's "a big believer in stores. I don't think that people will stop going to stores", she said.

In response to a related question, the French head of the British Group, of course repeated once again her almost famous industry statement: "I really don't think that DIY is dead in the UK." On the contrary, she sees a lot of potential: "Go to the homes of people. This is our market."Another expected statement was: Of course this industry, with 50 per cent female customers and…