Sales of classic DIY store ranges have fallen, with tile sales declining by 3.6 per cent and electricals down by 1.8 per cent. On the other hand, garden furniture sales rose by 8.7 per cent, garden equipment by 6.9 per cent and garden watering solutions by 4.5 per cent.
The highest overall sales were achieved with the construction chemistry/building materials categories (EUR 1.89 bn) and by plumbing/heating (EUR 1.75 bn). The garden equipment range (EUR 1.32 bn) displaced tools (EUR 1.31 bn) from the number three slot for the first time. According to the BHB, the sales increase of 7.7 per cent in the technology/office/entertainment assortment category shows the relevance of the smart home product trend, which is included in this category.
As far as e-commerce is concerned, the BHB currently estimates that online sales account for between five and six per cent of the most recent total gross sales for the sector, which would be equivalent to around EUR 1 bn.