On home ground

Merkur is the only home-grown competitor among the DIY retailers in Slovenia. The main emphasis of the Merkur group’s activities in the past was on hardware, building products, timber, tools and installation materials for tradesmen. However, over the last few years it has also built up the do-it-yourself sector, especially concentrating on its two trading formats, “Merkur Dom” and “Merkur Mojster”. Today the company is represented in Slovenia by a total of 34 outlets with a combined retail area of 130 000 m². Whereas the Merkur Dom stores offer a broad range of DIY and garden products for the private DIYer, the 11 Merkur Mojster branches put their emphasis on heavyside building materials – for DIYers and professionals alike. And finally, a further 19 Merkur Centers offer home appliances and housewares in addition to DIY products and are often to be found in town centres. Garden articles are also available from a total of 23 outlets.
There are 19 Merkur Centers in Slovenia.
In the year 2001 Merkur achieved total sales of DIY products amounting to approx. 77.5 mio euro, and a total in excess of 90 mio is projected for 2002.
Quite a number of new Merkur outlets that will carry DIY products are either at the planning or construction stage, including stores at Ljubljana, Litija, Slovenj Gradoc and Skofja Loka.
The Croatian market is also to be further developed as well as Slovenia. Accordingly, a Merkur Dom that is 6 000 m² in size was opened in Zagreb in August 2002, as well as a Merkur Center of 2 000 m² at Sisak. Others are to follow at locations including Rijeka, Zadar and Zagreb.
Merkur Mojster outlets, like this one at Naklo, offer a broad programme for DIYers and professionals.