-
The reality of restoring an ancient façade in France
Nick Inman charts the ups and downs of renovating an old French farmhouse
-
Fitting new gates on a French driveway does not have to be hard work
Nick Inman completes his project with a little help
-
A brick-by-brick guide to making rustic-style French gateposts
Nick Inman disguises a new fixture as something centuries-old
Leroy Merlin voted France’s favourite DIY shop: do you agree?
A 2021 survey found that the store was a long way ahead of competitors for helping people find items they need for home projects
More than a third (34%) of French people surveyed In late 2021 said they would go to Leroy Merlin for DIY tools and equipment, with the brand significantly outperforming competitors such as Brico Dépôt, Castorama and Mr. Bricolage.
Leroy Merlin beat competitors in many of the categories listed in the survey, coming first in four out of seven and ranked first among competitors in half of every category.
Brico Dépôt and Castorama were listed second and third most popular out of 12 competitors, only scoring 11%.
Leroy Merlin was classed as the best brand for its corporate image, selection of goods, shopping experience and attractiveness to customers. Brico Dépôt, meanwhile, was the favourite brand in terms of prices and promotions.
Leroy Merlin scored best in terms of products (eight out of 10), in-shop buying experience (7.8) and corporate image (7.8).
The company ranked first for visits and overall purchases in 2021 with more than 52% of 4,528 French people surveyed saying they went to a Leroy Merlin store and 44% having purchased items. Castorama ranked second with Brico Dépôt ranking third.
Leroy Merlin’s results came as a stark contrast with brands from the gardening industry, where there is less space between the rankings of major players.
Jardiland, Gamm Vert and Truffaut were most popular with French people, but only separated from each other by 6% of the vote – receiving 15%, 14% and 9% respectively – while 50% of people surveyed mentioned an unlisted brand.
French people spent €364 per year on average in 2021 in DIY products, the survey found, with 87% having bought items in shops rather than on the internet. More than half (54%) said they opted for DIY work to save money.
Do you agree with the survey? Tell us your thoughts about different DIY stores in France at news@connexionfrance.com
*Study conducted by OpinionWay for Bonial from December 1 to December 9, 2021 on 5,206 French people aged 18 and over.
Read more
French farmhouse DIY on a budget: Quick bathroom makeover ideas
French renovation: family DIY project saves money on garden gates