EVENT REPORT: GLOBAL DIY SUMMIT 2025
As AI takes over repetitive tasks, he argued, it’s our curiosity, our ability to ask better questions, that will drive relevance in 2040 and beyond. He proposed three types of curiosity critical to survival: Exploratory – to see change coming. Specific – to solve immediate problems. Empathetic – to connect with customers deeply. Vera’s reminder? “If you see the wave of change, you’re already too late. Surf it.”
Formula One’s sustainability playbook
Mark Gallagher from the world of Formula One delivered a masterclass in adapting to disruption. From fossil fuels to synthetic fuels and electrification, F1’s pivot to net zero by 2030 offers real lessons for retail. “Take change by the hand, or it will take you by the throat,” he warned. Through relentless focus, tech innovation, and team execution (think 22 technicians 36 tasks in 1.8 seconds during pit stops), our performance is dictating by the slowest performer.
F1 has become one of the most profitable and sustainable global industries. Retailers were challenged to think similarly: what and who is in your pit crew?
Private brands and passion- driven retail Francisco Torres of Sodimac outlined a 35-year journey refining private labels into a competitive advantage. Today, private brands make up 30 percent of Sodimac’s sales, but generate 50 percent of margin.
Key takeaways? Don’t over extend. Don’t fall in love with your product. And build brand equity with sustainability in mind. Meanwhile, Alexander Kremer’s reinvention of the garden centre
reminded delegates that the heart still matters. At Kremer’s Nature Garden centres, customers leave happier. “We are in the people business,” he said. “Our centres are designed from the heart, not logistics.”
Make it zero: sustainability and circularity
Jamie Pitcairn of Ricardo underscored the urgency of climate action. With eco-taxes already totalling €320 billion in the EU, circular design and lifecycle responsibility are no longer optional – they’re becoming law.
His message to suppliers?
Prepare for full accountability, from production to end-of-life.
The Future of DIY is solution- centric
Ken Hughes rounded off the summit with a jolt of clarity: “DIY has been too product-centric for too long. We need to sell solutions, not just tools.” With seven generations of consumers now active, retailers must offer personalised experiences and emotional connections. It doesn’t matter what generation you are trying to serve, you are fixing a problem, fix the problem, solve
the need. It’s time to disrupt your own business don’t let others do it for you.
Hughes’ thought provoking
presentation showcased businesses doing just that from the “chat checkout” – enabling people who wanted to chat the space to be able to do so, and “nostalgia marketing” – customer service phonelines playing music from your teenage era, showing tactics for genuine customer engagement, businesses going beyond customer expectation. Take home? Are your customers seen, heard and valued? And if they are, do they know it?
Marketplace strategy is no longer optional
Listening to Bob Chermin and Duncan Simmons, Francois Yared from Adeo and Maarten Verschuere, one thing was clear: marketplaces are now central to retail growth. Suppliers must adapt – strategically, not reactively.
Marketplaces require a new playbook: own your brand story, control pricing, and be selective. As AI begins to manage catalogue
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listings, dynamic pricing, and even purchase decisions, the window to act is now. Throughout the summit, AI was positioned not as a threat, but as an accelerator. Whether it’s handling the mundane, powering search tools like Google’s Circle-to-Search, or enabling product curation, AI is shaping every layer of retail. “AI is the next platform of efficiency.” Test fast. Learn fast. Scale fast.
Final thoughts This year’s Global DIY Summit made it clear: DIY retail is no longer just about tools and materials. It’s now also about ecosystems, experiences, and evolution. Whether you’re a supplier, a
retailer, or a startup, the message was unanimous: innovate boldly, stay curious, and be the driver of change – not its passenger.
By Kerry & Clive Daley, Daley Hub –
www.daleyhub.com
JULY 2025 DIY WEEK 11
Above: Kerry, Clive, Paul White Commercial Director B&Q and Graham Bell CEO B&Q
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