In May, the spring business, which is so important for DIY and garden stores, collapsed. Sales figures for two product groups in particular fell in the first half of the year.
The bad weather in May and June and the continued reluctance of many consumers to buy spoiled business for DIY stores and garden centers in Germany in the first half of the year. Cold, rain and constant thunderstorms dampened the mood after a good start to the year, according to the DIY, Building and Gardening Trade Association (BHB) in Cologne.
In the first half of 2024, sales fell by 0.9 percent year-on-year to 11.15 billion euros. Between April and June, they were even 4.5 percent lower. The European Football Championship in the country had a positive effect on the industry, but was not able to fully compensate for this. According to the association, the markets recorded the largest declines in product ranges in the first six months of the year for tiles (-14.2 percent) and new garden furniture (-9.6). Companies were able to increase sales in products such as lawn and plant seeds as well as for plant protection.
BHB board spokesman Peter Tepaß was nevertheless optimistic: “Weather-related fluctuations have always occurred, and the last few weeks with already improving trends clearly show that people have only postponed their gardening activities and have not given them up.”
Source: Stern
