Do-it-yourself always appeals: "It sold almost a pot of paint per minute!"

Despite the health restriction measures and the coronavirus, the DIY sector continues to grow strongly, with more than 5% last year.

Thomas Bouret, CEO of Leroy Merlin, explained the reasons for this success on Monday in the program La France Bouge on Europe 1.

INTERVIEW

Like many French people, you may have taken advantage of the confinements and the curfew to buy a new piece of furniture or redo a room.

Despite the coronavirus crisis, the housing and DIY sector is doing well, with growth of around 5% last year.

A success that cannot be denied, one year after the first confinement.

The CEO of Leroy Merlin, Thomas Bouret, returned to the good figures for the sector on Monday in the program

La France Bouge

on Europe 1. 

>> Find all the shows of La France bouge from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here

"A record year for our market" 

If Leroy Merlin had to move forty stores into partial activity due to government directives, its growth exceeded 5% last year, for a turnover of 7 billion euros.

A record year, assures Thomas Bouret.

"This is a record year for our market. We are taking our part since we are a little above the market. It is a year which has revealed the desire of the French to develop their home", analyzes t -he.

"The period of confinement, and in particular the first, is not unrelated to all this," he explains. 

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"It has sold almost a can of paint per minute on our network since last March"

One year after the first confinement, "the activity is still intense", is satisfied the general manager of Leroy Merlin.

Among the successes of the brand: painting.

"We continue to renovate the house, to do a lot of painting and to redo the floors. It has sold almost a pot of paint per minute on our network since last March," he says.

"Painting is ultimately a fairly simple activity, a great way to start renovating your house, adding freshness and color."

With the development of teleworking, the French have also done more work on their sanitary facilities, especially faucets and toilets.

"These are called emergency products. Little hassles in the house, like a toilet flush that doesn't work, a leaking faucet or a broken electrical installation, it happens every day. days. That's why it's important for us to stay open. "