Growth in the garden and construction segments

Austrian DIY chain Baumax is expecting its strongest growth this year in the garden and construction segments. According to its annual report for 2002, the company intends to target intensive DIYers and trade customers with an expanded construction range. This customer group accounts for around half of the total volume of turnover. The proportion of Baumax’s total earnings deriving from turnover in the garden segment rose last year to 24.5 per cent. Tools (27.7 per cent) constitute the largest of the four segments, according to the company, while furnishings account for 24.1 per cent and construction for 23.7 per cent of turnover. The overall volume of turnover is expected to rise this year by 6.3 per cent to 936 mio euro. The Baumax board is sticking to this forecast in spite of a poor first quarter in which sales declined by 3.7 per cent, as the company experienced the beginnings of a turnaround in April. The number of Baumax stores is expected to stand at 122 by the end of the year following seven new openings and one closure. Of these, 52 (2002: 46) are outside Austria.