Last year, Austrian home improvement and do-it-yourself goods retailer "bauMax" had a turnover of 145 million Euros, up 23% over 2009, according to Nicola Szekely, the company"s managing director for Romania and Bulgaria. He said yesterday, in a press conference, that the sales of the company in Romania could rise to 200 million Euros this year, amid the expansion of the company"s store network: "We plan to open three new stores in the coming 12 months, depending on the evolution of the construction market ". The new "bauMax" stores will be opened in Bucharest, Oradea and Cluj, and the retailer plans to open 3-4 stores a year in the coming 3-4 years.
"bauMax" yesterday opened the second store in Bucharest in the Chitila area - its 14th in Romania. The new store has a retail area of 15,000 square meters, divided in four segments: construction, tools, house decoration and gardening.
The new store will feature the largest and most modern department of plumbing fixtures and bathroom furniture, the company"s officials said, adding: "The 3D bathroom planning service will allow consumers to plan their bathroom according to their own preferences". The store of Chitila also has a 4000 sqm Drive In area.
The "bauMax" group entered the Romanian market more than four years ago, Romania being one of the largest countries in which the group is present. The company launched four new stores last year.
According to Mr. Szekely, the domestic DIY market may see a growth in the single digits this year: "Romania is a crowded market, compared to other states, and I estimate that in the following years, one or two competitors will withdraw ".
The turnover of the group increased 7%, in 2010, reaching 1.5 billion Euros. At the end of 2010, "bauMax" had 10,700 employees. The retailer currently holds 151 stores in nine European countries.
Emilia Olescu (Tra
