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Above left: Hutton Herefordshire arbour Above right: Pergolas are now part of Power Sheds’ expanded range
“We have also had equally positive feedback and orders for the Stirling Arbour and Eco Hive Composter. The former is all about an attractive arbour providing shelter on a smaller footprint. And the Eco Hive Composter is a fabulous way to bring good looks and style to the massive home composting trend. The new Zest product, as the name suggests, resembles a traditional beehive but has all the necessary functionality. The new Tall Botanical Greenhouse has generated a great deal of interest, delivering a beautifully crafted timber greenhouse on a small footprint.” After a brief flirtation with an earlier time of the year, the annual Glee event is returning to its traditional September slot at the NEC this year (September 10-12) and Zest is looking forward to previewing more new products then.
“For 2025 our new product development team are currently developing an exciting range of new products and we will have more details of these later in the season,” said Mr Davison. “Grow-your-own products remain a big and increasing part of the mix.” And, he added, “moving Glee back into September is far better for us as it will enable us to confirm prices for the following season, which is what many customers wanted to know.” Power Sheds has also been making significant strides in diversifying its product offerings over the past year. “We expanded with the introduction of corner sheds, log stores, tool/storage sheds, and pergolas,” said Mr Sutcliffe. “The response to these additions has been promising, reflecting the market’s appetite for diverse outdoor solutions. Our timber decking kits, introduced last year, have particularly stood out with a strong performance in their first year of launch. Currently, we are working on a range of gazebos and, excitingly, we’re also venturing into children’s wooden play equipment.”
Having large statement pieces in outside spaces is a trend and Zest is seeing increasing evidence of this.
“Our range of gazebos and arches has definitely benefited from this and they will be featured strongly in future product ranges,” said Mr Davison. “The need for a ‘statement piece’ on a smaller footprint is why we have launched the Stirling arbour as a covered dining space, which delivers exactly the option the market needs.”
While they may not have the same obvious visual impact as a big structure, planters and raised beds remain core to Zest’s range. “And in our experience they tend to be less impacted than other categories,” said Mr Davison. “It’s a very competitive category, however, we have definitely noticed an increasing focus on sustainability and having a range which is produced using ethically sourced timber that is PEFC certified is receiving increasingly positive feedback from customers. Zest’s new Chelsea Square Planter is stunning but also picks up on all of these important market themes.”
And, speaking of certification, in the past 12 months Power Sheds has become both FSC
and PEFC accredited, an achievement which, said Mr Sutcliffe, underscores its commitment to responsible and sustainable practices in the sourcing of its materials.
“It’s a significant milestone for our company, reflecting our ongoing efforts to contribute positively to the global forestry and timber industry.”
Looking ahead, manufacturers are optimistic that while the boom times might be over, 2024 will shape up well – as long as the weather gods are smiling.
“Easter always traditionally marks the start of the season, and the slightly earlier timing will be helpful,” said Mr Davison. “But for us the bigger driver will be the weather, and we are overdue a warm and dry spring to give us the springboard for what we believe will be a much stronger season.”
“I do think there is money to spend out there and that timber merchants and garden centres have sold through their stocks and are going again,” said Mr Twigg. “We’re back up to substantially more on the forward ordering again [on 2023] and we’re coming into spring and Easter, which is one of the prime selling times for Hutton products.” ■
Above: Hutton’s commercial grade outdoor furniture is selling well
www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2024 | TTJ
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