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Where in the world is Steve?

Steve skipped breakfast in anticipation of another parking lot wurst and was left with an empty belly due to a closed up kiosk at the store. He is looking forward to finding out tomorrow what the Swedish serve in the DIY parking lots! Stay tuned.

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Where in the world is Steve?

After decades of tailgating at Lambeau Field, I consider myself a connoisseur of parking lot cuisine. Today, while doing some in-store research at Germany’s largest DIY retailer, I found myself needing a bratwurst cooked standing on asphalt.

It was a good bratwurst and excellent mustard. Cooked over real coals in the parking lot kiosk. The roll got a little soggy with the rain but the double napkin saved the experience.

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Where in the world is Steve?

In Bornheim bei Landau Germany today at the Hornbach corporate headquarters for a follow-up meeting with a President Council member and an old friend who runs the import department.

HORNBACH operates 146 stores in 9 European countries with around $3.7 Billion annual sales. They are privately owned and the stores are very large warehouse format.

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Where in the world is Steve?

Steve is spending the day helping a Presidents Council member sell into Stark in Lahti, Finland. Stark has 38 stores in Finland and another 92 in Denmark with annual sales of around $1.5 Billion USD. They are a traditional home center format although around 80% of their sales come from the professional / contractor customer.
Stark is owned by the DT Group out of Denmark. Together with Beijer, Neumann Bygg and Silvan the group’s annual sales is around $2.5 Bil USD.
We visited the Stark headquarters in Lahti as well as one of their stores recently rebranded from “Starkki” after completion of an acquisition of a smaller pro dealer.

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