Home improvement projects allow homeowners to upgrade, renovate, and customize their living spaces. With the rising costs of new construction, more Australians are investing in home improvement initiatives. The home improvement sector is filled with reputable brands that provide quality products, convenient services, and reliable support.
This article will explore the major players that enable Aussies to realize their ideal homes.
Introduction
Home improvement involves renovations, repairs, and enhancements that improve the functionality, aesthetics, comfort, and value of a home. It covers indoor and outdoor projects like kitchen and bathroom upgrades, flooring, painting, landscaping, additions, and more.
The home improvement industry plays a vital role in the Australian economy. It contributes around $34 billion annually and employs over 370,000 people. Home improvement spending is projected to grow as more households undertake renovation activities.
Established brands with extensive product ranges and customer service are driving this growth. Aussies rely on trusted names that can fulfill their unique home upgrade needs. This article will profile the leading home improvement companies in Australia.
Bunnings Group
Bunnings Warehouse is the largest home improvement retailer in Australia. The company began operations in Perth in 1886 and now has over 360 stores nationwide. Bunnings is a subsidiary of Wesfarmers conglomerate and has over $12 billion in annual revenues.
With its expansive warehouse-style stores, Bunnings has a dominant 45% market share in home improvement retail. It offers over 40,000 products across categories like tools, garden care, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, and more. The stores also provide installation, design, and other services.
Bunnings focuses on delivering low prices, wide product ranges, and a community-based shopping experience. Additional perks like DIY workshops, kids’ activities, and sausage sizzles enhance customer engagement. The brand also emphasizes sustainability through solar installations, green product sourcing, and recycling initiatives.
Reece
Founded in 1920, Reece is a leading Australian distributor of bathroom, kitchen, waterworks, and plumbing products with over 800 outlets across the country. The company supplies products, technical support, and services to trade customers and homeowners undertaking renovations.
Reece has an annual revenue of around $2.4 billion and captures over 20% of the plumbing supplies market share. It carries over 100,000 products from top brands and specialty suppliers. Reece also provides water filtration systems, home appliances, taps, showers, toilets, sinks, and more.
With its expertise and inventory, Reece caters to all plumbing and bathroom upgrade needs. It offers product selection advice, installation services, design consultations, and maintenance support. Reece invests heavily in training programs and technology to maintain exemplary customer service.
Mitre 10
Mitre 10 is a prominent hardware and home improvement brand with over 300 independently owned and operated stores in Australia. Founded in 1949, Mitre 10 provides consumers and tradies access to trusted brands along with home project advice.
The cooperative has an annual revenue of $2 billion and an estimated market share of 15%. Mitre 10 offers over 45,000 products for home building, renovations, repairs, gardening, and more. Product categories include tools, kitchens, paint, outdoor, timber, and plumbing supplies.
Mitre 10 stands out with its personalized and community-focused approach. Stores provide specialized services like key cutting, paint mixing, timber milling, and glass cutting on-site. Mitre 10 also runs community involvement initiatives like charity drives and recycling programs.
Home Hardware (Australia)
Home Hardware is an Australian hardware retailer servicing homeowners, renovators, and builders. Since opening its first store in 1981, the brand has expanded to over 300 locations nationwide. Home Hardware drives growth through competitive pricing, extensive product ranges, and customer loyalty programs.
With an annual turnover of $800 million, Home Hardware has captured close to 5% of the home improvement market share. It offers over 35,000 products across tools, outdoor living, kitchens, bathrooms, paint, flooring, heating, lighting, and more.
Home Hardware provides everyday savings on quality brands. It also runs regular promotions, rewards programs, and interest-free payment options. Home Hardware’s ‘helpful hardware people’ motto highlights its focus on service and meeting all home project needs.
Masters Home Improvement
Masters Home Improvement was launched in 2011 as a joint venture between Woolworths Limited and Lowe’s. It established over 60 stores across Australia and competed directly with Bunnings. Masters marketed itself through lower prices, quality brands, and customer experiences.
Despite initial growth, Masters struggled to gain market share in Australia’s concentrated retail landscape. By 2016, it shut down all operations after Woolworths could no longer support ongoing losses. At its peak, Masters captured just 15% of the home improvement market.
While Masters brought healthy competition to the sector, its inability to achieve scale and inefficient cost structures led to failure. This highlights the dominant position and efficiency of major incumbents like Bunnings in the Australian market.
Holcim Australia
Holcim Australia manufactures and supplies cement, aggregates, concrete, and construction materials. A division of the global building materials company, Holcim has over 110 sites in Australia. Its products are critical for major home projects and renovations.
With $1.5 billion in local revenues, Holcim is a leading producer of cement used for foundations, bricklaying, rendering, concreting, and more. Holcim concrete is also utilized for driveways, slabs, retaining walls, and landscaping. Decorative cement even mimics materials like brick, stone, and timber.
Holcim operates yards where both trade and retail customers can purchase bricks, aggregates, sand, and concrete mixes. Homeowners rely on Holcim for small to large-scale projects and renovations. Its specialized products enable key aspects of home building and improvements.
Arcelormittal Galati
Arcelormittal Galati produces sheet metal materials utilized for roofing, cladding, and decking products. Part of the world’s largest steelmaker, its Australian operations supply the building construction sector including home improvements.
Arcelormittal’s coated steel building products are corrosion resistant, fire retardant, and weatherproof. Brands like Solargain steel roofing and Killara steel cladding are commonly used by homeowners, builders, and roofing specialists.
With quality manufacturing and global supply chain scale, Arcelormittal delivers cost-competitive sheet metal materials. Homeowners can benefit from durable and affordable steel roofing, wall cladding, garage doors, guttering, and downpipes for weatherproofing projects.
Kennards Hire
Kennards Hire is Australia’s largest equipment rental company serving construction and home improvement needs. Established in 1947, it has over 200 branches across the country specializing in short-term equipment hire.
Kennards offers an extensive range of home improvement equipment including demolition tools, concrete mixers, compaction equipment, fencing tools, and levelling instruments. Homeowners can conveniently hire necessary equipment without the high cost of outright purchase.
The company also provides services like waste bin rentals, vehicle rental, and crowd control barriers for home renovation projects. With its national footprint and after-hours access, Kennards Hire enables DIYers and homebuilders to cost-effectively equip their projects.
Total Tools
Founded in 1995, Total Tools is Australia’s largest tool retailer with over 180 stores nationwide. This homegrown brand offers everyday low prices on a comprehensive range of power tools, hand tools, hardware products, and accessories.
Total Tools captures over 10% of the tool retail market share in Australia. Its wide brand offerings include Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Hitachi, Sidchrome, Ryobi, AEG, and more. Products cater to both DIY customers as well as professional tradespeople.
Ongoing expansion and new store formats has fueled Total Tools’ growth. Customers appreciate the brand’s price guarantee, product warranties, technical support, and specialty services like blade sharpening and key cutting. Total Tools empowers Aussies to equip their projects while saving money.
Stratco
Stratco manufactures and installs metal cladding, roofing, fencing, garages, verandahs, patios, and sheds. Operating since 1976, it has become Australia’s largest home improvement metal product supplier. Stratco has 110 outlets providing customized structural and decorative metal solutions.
Stratco captures over 45% share in the home metal building products market. It offers an extensive range of Colorbond steel sheds, patio roofing, fascias, gutters, and rainwater tanks ideal for renovations. Stratco’s custom design and manufacturing also enables unique outdoor upgrades.
The company is recognized for quality, service, and innovation. All Stratco products are engineered for the harsh Australian climate. It also emphasizes eco-friendly manufacturing processes and recyclable materials to minimize environmental impact.
Renovation Contractors
Homeowners needing major home upgrades often hire professional renovation contractors. Australia’s large construction sector includes contractors providing residential renovation services in areas like kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and outdoor projects.
HIP V. HYPE is the country’s leading renovation firm specializing in architecturally-designed upgrades. It has delivered over 25,000 bathroom and kitchen remodels focused on sustainability and efficiency.
Other top contractors include Tradelink Plumbing, James Hardie, Aussie Paving, Wandin Tiling, Urban Jungle, Calibre Doors & Windows, and Icon Painting. Reviews cite quality workmanship, extensive experience, and superior customer service from these renovation experts.
These firms enable homeowners to realize complex renovations and enjoy greater home functionality for years to come. Their portfolio of successfully completed projects highlights capabilities.
Online Home Improvement Retailers
The rise of e-commerce has expanded shopping options for home improvement products and tools. While Bunnings and physical retailers still dominate market share, online brands also enable convenient home upgrades.
Amazon Australia stocks over 150,000 tools, hardware products, home appliances, outdoor furniture, and more. Product categories include power tools, hand tools, fasteners, storage solutions, ladders, flooring, kitchenware, paint supplies, and lighting.
Catch.com.au, eBay, and AliExpress also offer affordable home improvement inventory online. Specialized retailers like Tools Direct provide deep product selection within categories like power tools and hardware.
Online channels provide comparison shopping, reviews, easy delivery, and accessibility advantages that complement physical home improvement retailers. Consumers enjoy expanded choice through this e-commerce growth.
Comparison with International Brands
Home Depot and Lowe’s dominate the US market, while B&Q, Screwfix, and Wickes lead in the UK. The Australian retail landscape differs with Bunnings controlling significant market share. International big box brands like Home Depot and Lowe’s have failed to expand in Australia.
Australia’s strict retail planning and zoning regulations make it difficult for foreign chains to establish expansive warehouse footprints. Bunnings’ early mover advantage and store network density also discourages competition.
However, international brands may increasingly eye the fragmented online commerce segment in Australia. Amazon has already made inroads providing home improvement e-tail capabilities. Overseas brands could potentially disrupt Bunnings’ physical retail dominance through acquisitions of local online retailers.
Conclusion
This article provided an overview of the major home improvement brands that enable renovations, upgrades, repairs, and customization projects for Australian homeowners.
Established retailers like Bunnings, Mitre 10, The Good Guys, and Reece offer expansive warehouses, competitive pricing, robust e-commerce, specialized services, and quality products across all home improvement categories. Their scale, pricing power, and brand reputation dominate market share.
Meanwhile, manufacturers like Holcim and Arcelormittal provide the essential materials and components utilized in construction and renovation activities. Equipment rental companies like Kennards and contractors like HIP V. HYPE offer ancillary products and services to supplement complex home upgrades.
While recent years have seen some industry consolidation, the rise of both online commerce and more eco-conscious consumers will foster future home improvement growth and evolution. Australians looking to maximize their living spaces through renovation can rely on the nation’s leading brands.
