Finns in a DIY boom

The building and home improvement trade in Finland has increased its sales in the year 2020 by 4.8 per cent. Growth here was driven by the consumer segment while the professional market was affected by building activities which have been declining again for several years. This is according to an announcement by the Finnish industry association Rasi Ry.
In the first quarter, sales growth in the industry still amounted to 3.8 per cent, in the second quarter this was up to 11 per cent. Towards the end of the year, growth had evened out again to the level of the start of the year: In the third quarter, the industry achieved an increase of 2.5 per cent, growth in the fourth quarter amounted to 4.8 per cent.
"Almost all yard and garden products were sold in record terms. Outdoor decking and grills, as well as plants and soil were sold. Demand for larger garden investments, such as outdoor hot tubs, also exceeded all expectations," reports Minna Liuksiala, managing director of Rasi Ry. Consequently the yard and garden category was the best performing product group achieving a growth rate of 16 per cent.
The Finns have also undertaken renovation work in the home on a large scale. The paint category increased its sales volume by 14 per cent compared to the previous year. Tools and hardware were also in high demand. In contrast, more building materials than last year were not sold.
"Stores have been open all the time," Minna Liuksiala summarises the year 2020. "B2B represents more than half of the business, but growth has come predominantly from B2C. That's why growth rates in Finland were not higher than 4.8 per cent - however, the best development for ten years."

Market leader in Finland's home improvement market is the Kesko group. Its building and home improvement trade division increased its sales in 2020 by 16.2 per cent compared to the previous year and by 7.9 per cent in comparable terms. The total sales volume reached EUR 1.8458 bn.
The 130 stores in Finland under the K-Rauta brand report a turnover of EUR 971.6 mio and a growth rate of 7.0 per cent (6.8 per cent in comparable terms).Kesko's second largest home improvement and building trade market is Norway, where the group operates the Byggmakker and Carlsen Carlsen…