Internationality, diversity, optimism, partnership

The 10th Global DIY Summit began today in Rome with around 1 000 participants. Decision-makers from the DIY and garden centre industry from 55 countries around the world have announced their attendance at the two-day congress for the international DIY sector, including the management teams of numerous DIY store operators. ‘Embracing change in DIY - How to thrive in the never normal’ is the motto of this year's summit.

In his welcome address, Inaki Maillard, who heads the Summit team, used this high level of internationality as a commitment to diversity. He also recalled the beginning 14 years ago and said to John Herbert, Managing Director of the international industry association Edra/Ghin: ‘Look around this room and see what you have created: congratulations!’

Edra President Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, and Reinhard Wolff, president of co-organiser Hima, the international manufacturers' association, recalled the current challenges, in particular climate change, and the volatility of current economic developments in their welcoming addresses.

Ira Kalish from Deloitte offered an outlook on the global economic situation. He sees a stronger US economy and weaker development in Europe, but also declining trends in China. Globalisation will continue, he predicted, but the US economy is increasingly decoupling from China. ‘Overall, however, my outlook is not so bad,’ he told the congress participants.

CEO Sebastian Gundel offered an insight into the transformation Obi has undergone since he took the helm. He realised that such a transformation also meant a transformation in the corporate culture, he said. A core concept of his speech was partnership. Specifically, he emphasised that Obi is once again focusing on franchising as a growth driver and explicitly extended the term to suppliers. ‘Of course we have to negotiate, but we also have to grow together,’ he called out to them. ‘Partnering is an essential value for us.’