How can Home Improvement retailers move beyond price competition and create lasting value for today’s consumer? This is the central question of the 17th Home Improvement Conference, taking place on December 9 at the Benaki Museum in Athens.
As consumer expectations continue to evolve, is a broad product assortment and competitive pricing still enough? Or is the Home Improvement sector entering a new era — one defined by complete solutions, services, expertise and experiences, rather than products alone?
These questions will be explored by Elisa Servais, PhD, RDI, a leading specialist in retail space design and President of the European Chapter of the Retail Design Institute.
With more than 19 years of professional experience across Shanghai, London and Brussels, combined with over eight years of academic research and teaching, Servais will examine how retailers can move beyond a traditional price-driven model towards a new approach focused on creating meaningful and differentiated customer value.

At the heart of her presentation will be the Convergion Model, a framework developed specifically for the DIY and Home Improvement retail sector.
Drawing on international case studies and market insights, Servais will demonstrate how knowledge, products, services, community, technology, logistics and sustainability can converge to create a more relevant, engaging and resilient retail experience.
The conference’s international programme will also feature Tony Walker, Head of Group Competitor Insights and Global Partnerships at Bunnings, who will bring the perspective of one of the world’s leading Home Improvement organisations.
Joining him will be Dr. Jean-Jacques van Oosten, former Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Kingfisher and currently Operating Partner and investor at C4 Ventures. He will explore the rapidly emerging fields of Agentic Commerce, Artificial Intelligence and Physical AI, examining their potential impact on e-commerce, physical stores and logistics.
The 17th Home Improvement Conference will bring together leading executives, retailers, suppliers and technology professionals to explore the forces shaping the next chapter of the industry:

• The new consumer: evolving needs, expectations and new approaches to creating value.
• AI & Agentic Commerce: redefining retail and e-commerce in the age of AI.
• Physical AI & automation: the evolving role of robotics, stores and logistics.
• The new market: emerging dynamics and new models of collaboration between retailers and suppliers.
• The store of tomorrow: creating an omnichannel experience built around services, community and sustainability.

The 17th Home Improvement Conference is organised by Karydakis Media and held under the auspices of S.E.L.P.E.
It has established itself as the annual B2B meeting point for leading retail chains and major suppliers of products, services and technology, bringing together the key players shaping the future of the Home Improvement and home enhancement market.