AUTUMN/WINTER PREPARATION
SEASONED RETAILERS OPTIMISE OPPORTUNITIES
We have started to see a natural progression from summer oriented to autumn products. Lawn mowers, line and hedge trimmers will inevitably be replaced with chainsaws, pole pruners and blowers/blow-vacs, explains Ryobi’s Andrew Trainer.
A
s you would expect, the gardening market is incredibly weather-sensitive. While the weather remains mild, lawns and hedges still
need to be tended and this is the time of year that consumers are looking to replace old or broken units. The long-range weather forecast into September and October promises the return of warm weather, which only makes scheduling range changes in store that little bit more challenging.
As the temperature
drops, lawns should be left a little longer and cut less frequently. The cooler September weather is the perfect time to think about preparing a lawn for winter, removing weeds and moss. As we move into autumn and leaves are falling, trees become dormant, presenting the ideal time
to think about those big pruning jobs. Pole pruners with extended reach make this particularly easy. Their benefits cannot be understated; the ladder and bow saw can be left in the shed, making the use of a pole pruner a far safer experience, provided all health and safety instructions are carefully followed, of course. Cordless pole pruners provide ultimate flexibility and ease of use.
INVESTING IN QUALITY TOOLS Loose leaves can be unsightly in the garden and make decking and patios incredibly dangerous when wet and damp. Blowers are available for those looking for a lower-cost option but leaves would need to be raked and manually collected. Blow- Vacs, on the other hand, represent a bigger investment but again, the benefits need to be communicated
to consumers. A little more up-front investment can save years of raking, physical effort in the form of bending up and down and of course, time.
For those with large trees to maintain or who have log burners, now is the time to be thinking about a solid, good quality chainsaw. As motor and battery technology develops, cordless is now a real possibility in the chainsaw category and we are seeing a move away from AC and petrol offerings. Products that feature a brushless motor which is capable of handling the most common domestic applications with ease, are lightweight and require minimal servicing. For those with an existing petrol or AC unit, however, thought needs to be given to servicing them ahead of the season starting, in terms of chain oil, two-stroke oil, replacement bars and chains.
WOOD PROTECTION PRODUCTS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR INCREASED DEMAND
As one of the oldest and most versatile building materials, wood is favoured due to its aesthetic and durable qualities. Although a material that has been used externally for centuries, unprotected wood will inevitably weather and deteriorate against harsh natural elements and climate changes through the seasons. Wood protection is a key job for this time of the year. Most homes have wood of some sort in their garden: decking, door and window
frames, sheds, cladding and fencing. After a long, hard summer battling with sun, humidity and downpours, garden furniture requires extra attention in the autumn in preparation for the long cold winter months ahead. Although an inanimate material, wood reacts to temperature and humidity changes as if it were alive. The number one enemy for wood is water which can cause swelling and damage to buildings and furniture, therefore decreasing their lifespan. A further problem that many wooden surfaces are faced with, particularly in the UK’s mild and damp climate, is the growth of mould, algae and fungal decay. Not only are these unpleasant but they can present a danger if they take hold on surfaces such as decking, as it will make the surface slippery. Suppliers and manufacturers can help retailers to tap into this seasonal demand by producing and sourcing higher quantities of the products in order to generate sales and capitalise on profit. One of the most effective
20 DIY WEEK 8 SEPTEMBER 2017
ways to sell wood protection products in a retail environment is to create eye-catching displays to highlight these items and their purpose. First you will need to decide where to position the display to maximise visibility. Window displays are a great way to attract attention from passers-by. Make the most of shelving by using end of aisle units and creating special displays on them to engage the consumer’s attention. The lack of competing products and alternatives to choose from make the offer placed on an end of aisle unit clear and appealing. One thing to remember is to account for all viewing angles when creating a display because not all shoppers approach it head-on. OrganoWood offers a complete,
environmentally friendly protection system that counteracts damage by damp and superficial growth, keeps the surface neat and fresh for a longer period of time and further increases the lifetime of the wood. Its core technology in which silicon-based compounds are bound to the wood fibres using organic catalysts, means that products have been developed to give treated wood both effective fire protection and good resistance to rot and other fungus.
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