Page 46 - HW AUGUST 2019

global eyes
Kingfisher picks another French CEO
New trade fair for
US indy DIY retailers
A new US trade fair has been dreamed up to cater exclusively for independent home improvement retailers.
The first Independent Home Improvement Show Powered by NHS (the National Hardware Show) took place this month in Chicago over 13-15 August, in parallel with the Independent Garden Center Show (IGC), the NRHA STIHL Foundations of Leadership Conference and the NRHA 2019 State
of Independents Midyear Review of
the North American Retail Hardware Association.
The new show is organised by Reed Exhibition, which also runs the massive annual National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, the main difference between the two shows being that exhibitors at the new fair are “expected” to present products and pricing programmes
that aren’t available for big box, chains, e-retailers etc.
www.ihishow.com
HAVING IN MARCH revealed that CEO Véronique Laury was stepping down, at the end of June Kingfisher Group announced her replacement.
Experienced international retailer Thierry Garnier (right) will be the
new Chief Executive Officer from this autumn and will be based at Kingfisher’s headquarters in London.
The incoming boss spent 20 years in senior roles at Carrefour, and is currently a member of the Carrefour Group Executive Committee as well as CEO of Carrefour Asia, where he is responsible for 350+ stores in China and Taiwan, with 55,000 employees, and gross sales of over €6 billion.
Thierry Garnier may well have been picked for his abilities during major transformations, and of course Kingfisher is still only part way through its own program of reformation.
Take this comment from Chairman Andy Cosslett: “Throughout his career he has led significant businesses through complex change programmes while operating in competitive and rapidly changing retail environments.”
In its announcement, Kingfisher additionally picks out Thierry Garnier’s “successful track record of implementing business transformation in the face of significant competitive pressure and sector disruption.”
“As the leader of Carrefour’s Asian business since 2012 he has developed
and executed a strategy oriented around innovative new digital capabilities, centralised buying, new format implementation, e-commerce and strengthening stakeholder relationships.”
As MD of Supermarkets for Carrefour France until 2008, the new Kingfisher Group CEO successfully rebranded the Champion supermarket format to the Carrefour Market fascia, doubled non- food sales, invested in own-brand ranges, improved the pricing structure and restructured the supply chain.
While it’s unlikely Thierry Garnier’s tenure at Kingfisher Group will involve quite as much overhaul as his previous roles, it is likely that there’s more change to come for the struggling pan-European DIY retailer and merchant.
www.kingfisher.com
IN JUNE BEST Buy announced not only a much expanded collection of connected big brand fitness products – including connected bikes and rowing machines and a recovery system – but also a new, dedicated fitness space that’s being made space for
in 100+ stores by the end of the year. Moreover, Best Buy’s Blue Shirts and In-Home Advisors will receive special training while Geek Squad will manage delivery and installation.
Best Buy sees fit to make space for fitness
44 NZHJ | AUGUST 2019
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz