RANGE REVIEW: AUTUMN & WINTER PREP


TIME TO TIDY UP


Preparation for the colder months is key for consumers in both the DIY and garden industry. Kiran Grewal speaks to businesses and see which categories are expected to see a boost during the season change, and why


may look to the house and garden anticipating the perfect opportunity to renovate and tidy up after a busy season. The UK recorded the hottest day on record this July, which means some preparation for the colder months may be looking into giving a new lease of life to rather dry and malnourished lawn. Evergreen Garden Care managing


A


director, Mark Portman says: “We would expect that, after a fairly ‘normal’ summer, we move into autumn and see a sales increase. Consumers are more aware of the need to prepare their garden for the winter period to ensure that their lawn looks particularly good for the following year.”


Mark says, often, the demand for


products will suddenly increase if consumers experience good weather, or a long weekend.


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s the days grow shorter, the temperature drops, and summer becomes a distant memory, many Brits


“One of the key learnings with a seasonal and weather dependant business is how fast the supply- chain can react to demand, often we experience last minute spikes in demand leading


into


Bank


Holidays if the weather is good, to promote more sales is to ensure there is enough stock ready for fast despatch, this is an area we have invested in,” he says. Gardening can be


seen as a


weather-dependant business, however, Mark says more and more people who may lack space, are choosing to garden indoors. “We see gardening to be an activity, with


year-round the


opportunities for incremental growth coming from indoor gardening and the gardening of smaller spaces, and often this is


“We see gardening to be a year-round activity with the opportunities for incremental growth coming from indoor gardening of smaller spaces.”


products above the line to support this category.” However, on the other hand, for many garden owners, this year’s extreme weather conditions may be the final straw. Periods of intense sun, interspersed with torrential downpours, have caused lawns to experience an extreme growth spurt, meaning that maintaining a neat lawn has sometimes required more than one outing a week for the lawnmower. Whilst


this


less weather dependant,” he explains. “We believe there is a clear opportunity to further develop lawn care, a natural lawn is a far more sustainable option for consumers and we will continue to invest in both innovation and lawn care


increase in garden


work could be seen by some as a good way to keep fit, as the weather turns


be looking for a quick fix and go artificial. A spokesperson from NYE Building Supplies says: “While the nuclear solution would be simply to pave over the grass, this may


colder, more people may


not appeal to garden owners who enjoy the natural look and lush feel of a well-tended lawn. For those who enjoy the appearance of grass, but not the maintenance that goes with it, artificial grass may offer a solution.” They continue: “In the past, fake grass carried with it the unfortunate stigma of associations with astroturf and greengrocers’


displays, but


design and manufacturing changes in recent years have made enough of a difference to suggest that artificial lawns are worth a second look.” NYE Building Supplies spokesperson goes on to explain the benefits of artificial grass, and how you could look to sell this product to consumers who want the joys of a lush garden but cut out the maintenance of lawncare:


06 SEPTEMBER 2019 DIY WEEK 17


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