The UK DIY home improvements retailer Kingfisher operates chains throughout the country under the names of B&Q and Screwfix, as well as in France under the names of Castorama and Brico Depot. It has experienced the difficult economic climate and weak housing market along with all of its competitors, but has still managed to ring up a profit for the fifth year in a row.

The way it has accomplished this impressive feat where others have failed is by making a smart decision to streamline its sourcing strategy. By standardizing its product lines across all stores, it realized a large improvement in margins which is ongoing. The company is pursuing other ambitious plans as well, including a strategy of creating innovate new DIY home improvement products. These include a brand of clip-together tiling which has helped to raise it's French sales over 5% in the first quarter alone.