Objectives

A membership with HIMA Benelux is more than useful. As a member of the organisation, you will be able to learn first-hand how HIMA Benelux intends to realise its objectives. Through the effective participation of everyone, the right position of the sector can be defended through the non-profit association's management council. HIMA Benelux aims to obtain a better understanding of the market in order to efficiently dynamise the global DIY activity. HIMA Benelux does its utmost to promote the DIY sector as a whole. As a basis, HIMA Benelux pursues the following objectives.

1. Efficient communication

A first ambition is to realise more efficient communication to HIMA members. We will keep you informed on a regular basis via our electronic newsletter. Furthermore, we organise an HIMA Business Club event four times a year: this is the moment when you can catch up with your colleagues in an informal way. The evenings are always graced with (an) interesting speaker(s) and deal with various and diverse themes. A get-together like this is a unique opportunity to network and exchange information, and offers the chance to get to know and benchmark each other.

2. Big market representativeness

Secondly, HIMA Benelux aims to increase market representativeness. The organisation does this by seeking new members who are representative of the DIY sector. After several years, we have now reached cruising speed and can say that, with approximately 80 members, we represent about 80% of the global turnover of the Belgian DIY landscape. An excellent and representative group, with big brands in it!

3. Working groups

In the HIMA organisation, various working groups can be found that deal with certain topics via the consultation platform towards Comeos and HIMA Benelux, such as, for example: e-commerce, Fost Plus, Sunday opening for retail and the logistical consequences for suppliers that come with it, integration of tele-DIY, CRM, PIM, training ... and so on.

To achieve a clear and defined supplier position, it is necessary to channel discussions around hot items that retail and suppliers have in the consultation platform. Working groups among HIMA Benelux members refine and formulate the suppliers' position.

HIMA is proving through its active working groups that there is a definite momentum going on. The organisation makes an appeal to all its members: if you wish to make a positive contribution to a particular working group, please contact the secretariat.

4. Market data

With this objective, HIMA wants to set up an info column to gather market data, so that there are more correct and clearer insights about the DIY market. In recent years, there has been a clear deficit in this area, especially for suppliers.

Through FEBIN, a neutral database was set up on the evolution of DIY turnover according to supplier figures. In addition, a global consumer survey was also set up via the consultation platform, which was echoed in the study: ‘Het klusgedrag in België / Le comportement du bricoleur belge.’ This study, incidentally, was the first in Belgium, and therefore very unique.

Meanwhile, HIMA in group secures contacts with all factors in the market to gather market information. For example, the organisation offers the monthly turnover barometer, and meanwhile negotiates group purchases with in-depth figures from market research agencies.

4. Rapprochement to other federations

With the globalisation of the ever-growing DIY industry, we suppliers could use the support of a European federation: HIMA asbl. With the formation of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), and the strong cooperation between countries in the Asian zone, Europe is also becoming an increasingly important player.

HIMA asbl provides competitive advantages, and it is an opportunity to promote dialogues and exchanges between suppliers and retail on a European and global basis.

HIMA asbl

HIMA asbl, in full The Home Improvement Manufacturers Associations has had its headquarters in Belgium since 2010. The federation was founded in 2001 by the German (BAU + DIY), French (UNIBAL) and English-speaking federations (BEHTA). The operational leadership is in the hands of Germany.

Six countries are united in HIMA asbl: Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain and Denmark. These are also the largest European DIY players: they represent around 68% of the European market.

HIMA asbl regroups its objectives in 4 strategies:

1. Represent and defend the ethical and professional interests of its members
2. Improve the knowledge of the DIY market and the related products
3. Monitoring and interpreting new consumer trends
4. Improve the knowledge about the world, export and furthermore encouraging international relations