// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did datart say to its friend? Byte-ing to meet you.
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| DATART | |
| Type | Retail brand |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founders | Pavel Sláma Pavel Bádal Petr Soukup |
Area served | Czech Republic |
| Products | Consumer electronics, home appliances, computers, mobile devices |
| Parent | HP Tronic |
| Website | www |
Datart (stylized DATART) is a Czech consumer electronics retailer and e-commerce brand. Founded in 1990, it operates a nationwide network of electronics stores and the online shop Datart.cz. In the Czech Republic, the brand is operated by HP Tronic Zlín, part of the NAY–Datart group. As of 2026, Datart has 158 stores in the country.[1][2]
Datart developed from an electronics wholesaler into one of the largest specialist electronics retailers in the Czech Republic. British retailer Kingfisher acquired a majority stake in the company in 2000, after which it became part of Kesa Electricals. The majority stake returned to Czech ownership in 2014.[3][4] Datart has later merged with HP Tronic, which consolidated its Czech electronics stores under the Datart brand, including the former Euronics network. Following the combination of HP Tronic with Slovak retailer NAY in 2024, Czech Electro World stores were also converted to Datart.[5][6]
Datart combines physical stores with online retail, with stores also serving as collection and service points. In 2025, it accounted for 29% of sales through specialist appliances and electronics retailers in the Czech Republic, up from 25% in 2024.[7]
History
[edit]Founding and expansion
[edit]Datart was founded in 1990 by Pavel Sláma, Pavel Bádal and Petr Soukup. The founders initially imported and sold audio cassettes before expanding into video equipment and consumer electronics. British businessman Charles Butler later joined them as a business partner.[8]
The business initially focused on wholesale distribution before expanding into physical retail. Datart subsequently developed a network of stores in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. By 2000, it had around 15 stores in the two countries.[8]
Foreign ownership and return to Czech control
[edit]Kingfisher acquired a majority stake in Datart in 2000. Following the separation of Kingfisher's European electrical-retail operations in 2003, Datart became part of Kesa Electricals. The international ownership gave the company access to purchasing scale and experience from other European electronics retailers, while local management retained considerable operational autonomy.[3]
Datart also expanded into online retail. A full e-commerce operation was launched in the mid-2000s, although in 2007 the online shop still accounted for less than 10% of the company's revenue.[9]
The business later came under pressure from weaker consumer demand and increasing online competition, and recorded losses in the early 2010s. In 2014, Darty sold its 60% stake in Datart for €5 million. Existing Czech shareholders regained control, while HP Invest, associated with HP Tronic and Euronics, acquired a 20% stake.[4]
Datart subsequently returned to profitability. In the 2016/17 financial year, its Czech operations reported turnover of CZK 5.8 billion, marking a third consecutive profitable year.[10]
Integration with HP Tronic
[edit]In June 2017, Datart and HP Tronic agreed to merge their businesses. The enlarged operation included Datart, Euronics and the Kasa.cz and Hej.sk online shops, with annual revenue exceeding CZK 14 billion and around 130 stores.[5]
The integration was completed in 2018. HP Tronic chose Datart as its main electronics-retail brand and began converting Euronics stores to Datart. Around 50 Euronics stores were scheduled for rebranding during 2018, substantially increasing the Datart network.[11]
Datart's online business expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, it became the third-largest Czech e-commerce retailer after Alza and Mall.cz. Before the pandemic, physical stores had generated about two-thirds of Datart's sales, but growth of the online business helped offset lockdown periods when stores were closed.[12]
HP Tronic continued to develop Datart as an omnichannel retailer, combining online ordering with a large network of physical stores.[13]
NAY and Electro World
[edit]In 2023, HP Tronic agreed to combine with Slovak electronics retailer NAY, which owned Electro World in the Czech Republic. The transaction was approved by competition authorities in 2024. The enlarged group decided to concentrate its Czech electronics-retail activities under the Datart brand and its Slovak activities under NAY.[6]
The Czech Electro World network was subsequently converted to Datart. By 2025, all of its Czech stores had been rebranded, adding around 40 locations to Datart's network.[14]
HP Tronic also closed the Kasa.cz online store in 2024 after more than two decades of operation. Datart took over its customer contracts, warranties and returns.[15]
Business
[edit]Datart sells consumer electronics, computers, mobile devices, televisions and household appliances through physical stores and Datart.cz.[2]
The company follows an omnichannel model in which physical stores are used for conventional retail as well as collection and customer service for online purchases.[13] As of 2026, Datart operates 158 stores in the Czech Republic.[1]
Market position
[edit]Datart is one of the largest specialist electronics retailers in the Czech Republic. Its position expanded through the integration of Euronics stores from 2018 and the former Electro World network from 2024.[11][14]
The Czech electronics-retail market became more concentrated during the mid-2020s following the bankruptcy of Okay and changes affecting former major online retailers including Mall.cz and CZC.cz. In 2025, Alza, Datart, Planeo and the smaller Expert Elektro were the four main specialist electronics retailers in the Czech market.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Prodejny skupiny HP TRONIC" (in Czech). HP Tronic. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Výroční zpráva 2024" (PDF) (in Czech). NAY–Datart. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Dlouhý návrat do českých rukou". Euro (in Czech). Internet Info. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 Kopřiva, Michal (11 August 2014). "Datart se vrací do rukou zakladatelů. Podíl má nově i majitel Euronics a Kasy". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 Šenk, Michal; Aliapulios, Janis (14 June 2017). "Řetězec Datart a majitel obchodů Euronics či Kasa.cz se spojí do jedné firmy". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 Hodková, Zuzana (23 April 2024). "Z Česka zmizí Electro World. Vše mají v rukách Slováci, říká majitel". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ "Appliances and Electronics Specialists in the Czech Republic". Euromonitor International. May 2026. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 Vokurková, Kateřina (21 October 2015). "Začínali jsme jako překupníci audiokazet. Příběh úspěchu zakladatelů Datartu". Ekonom (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Schreier, Martin (3 September 2007). "Jiří Navrátil, Datart: naší hlavní zbraní je specializace". Lupa.cz (in Czech). Internet Info. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ "Datart zvýšil v Česku obrat na 5,8 miliardy. Již třetím rokem je ziskový". Euro (in Czech). Internet Info. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Datart zahájí v srpnu rebranding prodejen Euronics". MediaGuru (in Czech). PHD. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Úšela, Jan (20 August 2020). "Datartu prudce roste e-shop, rozšíří síť kamenných obchodů". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 Novotný, Pavel P. (2 March 2023). "Až 80 procent objednávek bude za pár let z internetu, i tak mají kamenné obchody smysl, říká šéf Datartu". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 Horáček, Filip (18 June 2025). "Největší přeskupení trhu. Elektro řetězce hodují na padlých značkách". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Slížek, David (19 March 2024). "E-shop Kasa.cz po více než 20 letech končí, zákazníky převezme Datart". Lupa.cz (in Czech). Internet Info. Retrieved 25 September 2026.