Italy: leading DIY retailers 2023, by number of stores

In 2023, Brico OK boasted nearly 120 locations in Italy, which made Brico OK the do-it-yourself brand with the highest number of stores in the country. Brico io, the previous leader, came in second that year. The company was able to reach a turnover of some 200 million euros in 200, which represented a decrease of approximately five million euros compared to the previous year. Bricofer came in third, with nearly 90 stores in Italy.

DIY is having a comeback

Many consumers have increased their spending and time dedicated to improving their homes and gardens by themselves in recent years. With the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing social distancing and lockdowns, most people have had to spend more time at home. While brick and mortar DIY and home improvement stores at first suffered from having to close, sales quickly picked up, as more time at home also meant more time for home improvement and DIY projects. In Italy, there was a 2.1 percent increase in the number of DIY and gardening stores in 2021, as the figure went up to 812 that year.

DIY stores in Europe

The DIY industry has also seen a decrease in its store counts in other European countries. In the Netherlands, for example, the number of DIY retail stores dropped by roughly 200 between 2018 and 2022. A similar trend was recorded in Germany with consistent annual decreases since the late 90s.