Despite all the corona measures, the construction chains of Intergamma, the parent company behind Karwei and GAMMA, sold more last year than before the corona crisis. The market leader of do-it-yourself stores reported this on Monday.
Just like in 2020, the corona pandemic played a major role for the parent company of GAMMA and Karwei last year. In the Netherlands, the do-it-yourself stores had to close (partially) for at least 4.5 months due to the corona measures.
Although the circumstances were not ideal, Karwei, GAMMA and GAMMA Belgium sold 1.4 billion euros worth of DIY and garden items in the Benelux, among other things. That amount was 10 million euros higher than 2019, when we were not yet bothered by the corona virus.
According to outgoing CEO Harm-Jan Stoter, the experiences of the corona year 2020 have ensured that a lot was still possible in 2021, despite store closures. “We have been able to use the experience we gained in 2020 with appointment shopping, click-and-collect and online orders in the past year to compensate for a significant part of the loss of turnover in the stores,” says Stoter.
Stoter thinks that, in addition to the innovation of the construction markets, higher energy prices also played a role. When those prices rose after the summer, handymen went to work to make their homes more sustainable, something GAMMA and Karwei benefited from.
After two good years, Stoter is cautious about this year. Due to low consumer confidence, skyrocketing inflation and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the CEO expects consumers to postpone major spending.
–
