A YEAR IN REVIEW: INDUSTRY COMMENT
YEAR An era-
defining
With issues such as Brexit, unpredictable weather, and economic uncertainty resonating around the industry in 2018, how has 2019 been in comparison? DIY Week has canvassed a number of industry experts on their 2019
“A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE”
2019 has certainly been a year of significant change, and also a year where consumer influence impacted change more than ever. GIMA director Vicky Nuttall, reports.
Sustainability has certainly been a key issue for us all and it’s imperative that the industry works together to achieve the common goal of reducing our impact upon the environment. As eco- conscious gardeners, and those driven by a desire to live more ethically continue to become more aware of their own impact, suppliers have had to respond and adapt their product ranges. This year has seen the
introduction of more recyclable products and packaging, and new material innovations, as well as an expanded portfolio of natural, safer feed and control ranges as the interest in organic and vegan gardening reaches an all-time high. Next year, this momentum is set to continue, and I’m looking forward to seeing
16 DIY WEEK 23 DECEMBER 2019
how initiatives such as the GIMA Single-Use Plastic Project will help brands seek alternatives. The ‘millennial pound’ has also continued to increase its power, whilst also changing the way that gardening brands and retailers interact with potential customers instore, online and via social media channels.
2019 also saw the end of an era for Wyevale, but the acquisition of new stores presents opportunities for garden retail, including new plants and products hitting the shelves, improved shopping experiences, and an exciting outlook for 2020. Once again it has been a
rollercoaster, but with market researchers such as Euromonitor predicting growth for UK garden products market, we can look forward to a new decade with a positive and profitable outlook.
THE PANEL
Vicky Nuttall Garden Industry Manufacturers Association director
Mike Smith UK sales manager, EFG Housewares
Will Jones chief operating officer, BHETA
Kimberley Hornby Hornby
Whitefoot PR
Phil Gibbins UK sales manager, Barrettine
“A YEAR OF TRANSITION”
Quality retail will always thrive, says Mike Smith, UK sales manager, EFG Housewares
2019 has been a year of some transition for EFG as we took the bold decision to add a delivered wholesale department to work alongside our London based cash and carry and complement our already busy export team. There is no doubt that 2019 will go down as a year that has had to contend with some of the most challenging political challenges of the modern era. That added to the seemingly unstoppable march of web sales; it’s an undeniable fact that it’s been a very difficult year for the UK high street, but what we have found is that quality retailers with skill and expertise in store have done well. We took the view in late 2018 that we should have the best- known brands in every sector in which we operate and so we embarked on an ambitious programme of adding them to
“It’s an undeniable fact that it’s been a very difficult year for the UK high street”
our product selection. With the addition of a field-based sales team who have actively targeted the DIY sector/hardware sector, we’ve been able to show a different level of service offered by the more established wholesale players and have enjoyed double digit growth in the home improvement sector.
As we move into 2020, we will be continuing to add blue chip brands to our selection and with an entirely new website platform just over the horizon, we hope to add further growth and look forward to the coming year.
www.diyweek.net
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