1、IN ASSOCIATION WITH:This is the headline of the feature xxxxxxxxxxDIGITAL REPORT 2023Digital innovations building the home improvement journeyIN ASSOCIATION WITH:DIGITAL INNOVATIONS BUILDING THE HOME IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY2 DIGITAL INNOVATIONS BUILDING THE HOME IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY 3KINGFISHER PLCWhile

2、many retailers struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic,the home improvement sector went through something of a boom.According to research,COVID-19 restrictions drove 86%of home improvement projects in the UK in March 2020,as people were forced to stay in their homes,while figures from Kingfisher cove

3、ring the year to the end of January 2021 reported that overall web sales grew 158%year on year,to account for 18%of total group sales-more than double the 8%share pre-pandemic.An international home improvement company with approximately 1,500 stores and over 80,000 colleagues,Kingfisher operates in

4、eight countries across Europe under well-known retail banners including B&Q,Castorama,Brico Dpt,Screwfix,TradePoint and Kota.“We really help customers to improve their homes,”explains JJ Van Oosten,Kingfishers former Chief Digital and Technology Officer,who previously led Kingfishers e-commerce and

5、marketplace functions,along with its data and technology teams.“We help DIYers and tradespeople to get their job done quickly,accurately,and in an affordable way,”he adds.“We do this across all of our network of stores and different formats and brands.Whether it is a one-hour delivery service or suc

6、cessful new marketplaces,Kingfisher is implementing innovations to improve the customer experience4 KINGFISHER PLC 5“We also have a range of our own-label products,which account for 45%of Group sales,with brands like Mac Allister,Titan,Flomasta,Good Home and many others.These brands are very specifi