BauMax network intends to open five stores this year

Austrian-based BauMax, one of the most dynamic DIY retailers on the Romanian market over the last two years, has announced it is planning five store openings this year on the Romanian market, which would bring the network to 12 stores. The retailer expanded by two stores in 2008, fewer than originally planned, with two or three openings being put off until this year. 2008 saw a new peak in terms of the expansion of international networks on the Romanian market, with last year's investments estimated at 170 million euros. The most dynamic DIY retailers were Praktiker and Bricostore in 2008, the networks with the highest sales on the Romanian market. This year will see DIY companies adopt a more cautious expansion strategy, according to previous statements from company representatives. They specified that the market dynamics in the first quarter of the year would play a decisive part in the size of expansion-related investments in 2009. BauMax is present in eight countries, boasting an over 1 billion-euro turnover. The retailer entered the Romanian market in 2006 and currently operates seven stores covering 10,000 square metres on average. The retailer estimates sales worth 110 million euros in 2008 in Romania, double as much as in the previous year.