What does Kingfisher ceo Ian Cheshire think retailers need to do to 'win the game'? How is B&Q's product-sourcing strategy changing going forward? Just two of the questions addressed today at the inaugural European Home Improvement Forum organised by EDRA and Fediyma.
Innovation is the watchword at the two-day event which launched today in Vienna, subtitled "The new chess board after the crisis: New ways of doing business between retailers and suppliers".

More than 300 decision-makers from some of Europe's largest home improvement retailers and suppliers gathered for the first event of its kind - a dedicated forum, designed to bring both retailers and suppliers together to discuss common goals, tackle industry-wide issues and provide a European platform for forging closer links going forward.

Delegates heard presentations from some of the biggest names in the European DIY industry including Kingfisher ceo Ian Cheshire, Edra president and Groupe Adeo vice ceo Regis Degelcke, BYGGmax ceo Magnus Agervald, OBI ceo Sergio Giroldi, Wolfcraft managing partner Reinhard Wolff, Osram global ceo Martin Goetzeler and 3M vice president Dr Jack G Truong.

News from today's sessions and from tomorrow's presentations will be included over the next two issues of DIY Week. To make sure you're in the loop subscribe here.