Press releases

OBI, European DIY market leader opens a second store and continues its' successful expansion in Ukraine

OBI expansion in Ukraine continues: less than a month ago OBI opened the first store in Kharkiv, today – in Mariupol, and in February 2009 – in Odesa.

Mariupol, November 14th, 2008 - The official ceremony of opening the second OBI store in Ukraine took place in Mariupol (Donetsk region). The ceremony was conducted by Keith Smith, Managing Director OBI Ukraine and Yuriy Khotlubey, Head of Mariupol State Administration. Keith Smith presented a charity certificate to Yuriy Khotlubey to fund a social project in Mariupol.

OBI is proud to be the first international large DIY hypermarket in Mariupol and also the first organised DIY store of any scale in the city. “We want to become the top player in the whole of Ukrainian DIY Market as Market leadership is our target in each country in which OBI operates business”, commented the OBI Group CEO Sergio Giroldi. Customers will be able to select from a wide assortment of 40,000 products the majority of their building, repair, home and gardening needs at great prices. Whilst the majority of products are sourced through Ukrainian suppliers and distributors around 20% of the assortment is imported bringing many well known international brands for the first time to Mariupol.

“This second store will be another highlight of our expansion efforts that will further continue in 2009”, said OBI Board Member International Dieter Messner”.

Keith Smith, Managing Director of OBI Ukraine commented “Our store, covering an area of over 11,000 square metres, will be unique in Mariupol and customers will be able to make great choices from our major departments of Building, Decoration and Technique. Of particular interest and excitement will be our market leading Garden Paradise, the best of its kind not only in Mariupol and Kharkiv but through the whole of Ukraine”.

The OBI store warmly welcomed the people of Mariupol and Donetsk region on November, 14th at 8 a.m. To mark the occasion, all the visitors to the store making a purchase above a certain amount received as a gift a bright orange OBI bucket. Additionally, during the first three days of operation, on-site lotteries will be held, giving the customers a chance to win gift certificates up to 3,500 UAH for purchases at OBI store, as well as a lot of other valuable prices.

OBI company portrait

With 521 stores OBI is the undisputed No 1 in the German market and one of the leading European DIY retailers. Apart from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Russia, OBI is also present in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia and now in Ukraine. In the next few years, OBI’s expansion will focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Target is to reach market leadership in all our countries.

OBI is the fifth largest DIY retailer in the world and employs more than 38.000 people. In FY 2007/08 OBI stores recorded overall sales worth EUR 5.8 billion. International sales meanwhile have reached a share of 43%.

In Ukraine OBI started its activity in 2006. On October 17th, 2008 the first OBI store opened in Kharkiv, on November, 14th, 2008 – the second one in Mariupol and on February, 10th, 2009 – the third one is planned to be opened in Odesa. During the following 5 years OBI plans to open up to 20 stores in Ukraine.

Information “What is DIY”

DIY is translated as "Do It Yourself" and characterize the market segment, presented by the wide range of the following products:
- Building (e.g., wood, construction material, tiles, etc.)
- Technique (e.g., power tools, machines, sanitary, electrical, ironware, etc.)
- Living (e.g., paints, wallpapers, lamps, decoration, etc.)
- Gardening (e.g., balcony, pot, room plants, garden technique and furniture, etc.).