Online instead of in DIY stores: Galaxus sells significantly more tools

If you need new tools or workshop equipment, you go to the DIY store, pick up potential hammers or saws and decide on the spot what you want to buy. Many people learnt this from their parents, just as they learnt it from their parents before them. But digitalisation is not stopping at the trades either.

Nowadays, more and more households in Germany are equipping themselves online for their DIY projects. Demand is increasing for the range of tools and workshops at online retailer Galaxus, which includes more than 184,000 items.

Theresa Schieder, Head of Category Management Do It Yourself at Galaxus, explains: "During the pandemic, many people suddenly had to get their craft utensils online, took a liking to it and have been relying on 'online DIY stores' ever since. Last year, we focussed intensively on the new customer needs - with initial successes, as the growth in the first quarter of 2024 shows. However, this process is of course not yet complete and will continue in the coming months."

After Galaxus customers had ordered around 20% more tools and craft equipment in 2023, 64% more of these products arrived in the post in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023.

"Men buy tools"

If Herbert Grönemeyer had written the song "Männer", one line in his song would probably read "Männer kaufen Werkzeug" (Men buy tools) or something similar: Year on year since 2021, men have accounted for over 80% of all purchases in the tools + workshop category. In 2024, the proportion of women is currently 14%.

Unfortunately, we do not have any figures on who actually uses the tools in households.

Big city and tools do not match

In which federal state does the population order the most tools and workshop accessories? Unsurprisingly in NRW, the most populous region in the country. The adjusted figures, taking into account the number of inhabitants per federal state, paint a different picture:

The people of North Rhine-Westphalia are not even in the top 10, with Schleswig-Holstein topping the Galaxus tool order rankings ahead of Brandenburg. In large cities such as Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, people would obviously rather pick up the phone than a toolbox and call a tradesman or woman.

Drills, cordless screwdrivers and toolboxes as top sellers

In terms of unit numbers, we delivered the most tool cases to our customers in the first quarter of 2024, followed by drills and cordless screwdrivers - the top sellers in 2023.

(Still) in 8th place are compressors, of which our customers have already bought significantly more this year than in the same period last year. A trend that can be seen not only in Germany, but also in Switzerland.

But traditional craft utensils such as abrasives or drill bits as well as larger equipment such as chainsaws or milling cutters also continued to grow.

Are you equipped at home for all kinds of DIY and DYI projects or do you prefer to reach for your mobile phone and call your trusted handyman or handywoman for help at times like these? Let us know in the comments column.