“Downright rough”

The subject of prices and the mood in DIY retailing were at the heart of the speeches made yesterday evening at the BHB/HDE Forum held within the framework of the International Hardware Fair/Practical World. “The climate has become rough, downright rough, at times ruthless,” said Manfred Maus, BHB president and founder of the Obi group. He appealed to the industry’s representatives not to concentrate solely on price, but on quality and emotionality as well, when making market decisions. The association’s president expressed his disappointment that it will be two years before the next DIY and hardware fair is held in Cologne again. “We shall miss this vehicle of communication,” he prophesied.
John W. Herbert, managing director of the BHB, expressed similar thoughts. He is “extremely sad” about the relationship that currently prevails between manufacturing industry and trade. There is a total lack of confidence within the sector. However, he considers that it is still possible “to make certain corrections”.