Delegates at the next British Home Enhancement Trades Association DIY forum will have a chance to discuss business with a key representative of the Belgian Brico and Dutch Praxis DIY multiples.
John Colley is chief commercial officer at Maxeda Group, which consists of 362 stores in four formats, including Brico and Praxis. He is keen to make this an interactive session and is inviting subjects for discussion. He will also share his thoughts on the current state of the retail sector, online/multi-channel opportunities and supply chain.

Maxeda is also actively seeking new suppliers and will participate in a Meet the Buyer event later this year.

Other speakers lined up are Ralf Rahmede, the general manager of FEDIYMA and head of the German DIY trade association Hersellerverband Haus & Garten, and Paul Brown of Agentbase, which has an extensive database of sales agents worldwide which could provide BHETA members with a route to market.

The DIY forum will be held on Thursday, April 4 at Federation House in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, the Steamer Trading Cookshop chain's managing director, Ben Phillips, will be the principal retail guest speaker at BHETA's housewares forum on Thursday, March 21.

He will be sharing his views on the current market, as well as talking about his expansion plans and the role of the internet in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Members will also hear from Vicki Bailey from Delphinius, who provides expertise in developing people and business through training; new BHETA service provider Phocas Software on its award-winning business intelligence tool; and Simon Boyd from Exclusively Housewares.

The forum is also being held at Federation House.