Majority of German do-it-yourselfers like to help others in their house and garden

- “Charity Check” among do-it-yourselfers
- Close family members are the main beneficiaries
- Men often help their friend, while women are more likely to help their partner

When it comes to DIY or gardening work, you will quickly find someone to help you in Germany. According to a representative survey conducted by the Forsa opinion polling institute on behalf of Bosch Power Tools, 83 percent of those asked have already helped another person with DIY or gardening work at least once, and many of them have even helped several people. Usually it is immediate family members (69 percent), friends or acquaintances (59 percent) or partners (58 percent) who are the beneficiaries of this kind of practical charity. The do-it-yourselfers still use their own equipment when performing DIY in someone else’s home, with nearly one in three (31 percent) taking their trusted power tool with them when they help somebody out. The aim of the study was to determine how often Germans help others with DIY or gardening work and which tool they use to do so.

According to Forsa, the men who were surveyed have an above-average tendency to rely on their own drill (45 percent) or their own cordless screwdriver (43 percent) when helping others. One in four (25 percent) has even taken their own angle grinder with them. The “Charity Check 2011” brought to light another interesting detail in the comparison between men and women, namely that men like to help a friend or acquaintance. Women tend to have completely opposite priorities, putting their partner at the top of the list before their friends and acquaintances.

At the beginning of December, the extended part of the Forsa study with results from England, Norway, Sweden and Denmark will also be available. The “New Year’s resolutions” for 2012 will also be published with this second part. The entire study entitled “Charity Check 2011/Resolution Check 2012” is available on request.

The Power Tools Division of the Bosch Group is the world market leader for power tools and power tool accessories. In 2010, its workforce generated sales of some 3.5 billion euros, 90 percent of which outside of Germany. With brands such as Bosch, Skil and Dremel, the division stands for customer focus and great engineering progress. The core success factors are innovative strength and pace of innovation. Each year, Bosch Power Tools launches more than 100 new products onto the market. The division generated about 40 percent of its sales in 2010 with products that have been on the market for less than two years. All five business segments of Bosch Power Tools – portable electric power tools, benchtop tools, accessories, measuring tools and electric garden tools – outperformed the market.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 285,000 associates generated sales of 47.3 billion euros in fiscal 2010. For 2011, the company forecasts sales of more than 50 billion euros and a headcount of a good 300,000 by the end of the year. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent 3.8 billion euros for research and development in 2010, and applied for over 3,800 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, and www.125.bosch.com.