INDUSTRY COMMENT: BHETA


“BHETA’s export role is to support members in turning today’s positive predictions into reality over the coming months”


BHETA MEMBER SURVEY SUGGESTS EXPORT OPTIMISM


As is usual for BHETA at this time of year, the association has just carried out its annual member survey which aims to test the temperature of the market and explore the industry’s top opportunities and threats for the coming year. Will Jones, chief operating officer of BHETA gives us his view.


that there is unlikely to be any great change (positive or negative) in prospects for 2025 versus 2024. One area of business that bucked this trend however is export, with almost 60% of the BHETA membership forecasting an increase in orders from overseas next year.


W In fact,


21% of members are predicting that such increases could be significant. More positive consumer sentiment is a factor with a hope of improving disposable income and spend on household goods in key export markets such as the EU and Japan. This positivity reflects a belief that some of the worst economic impacts of global conflicts may show signs of lessening in 2025. The USA is also cited as an opportunity, although that must be caveated with the


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hile the overall mood is slightly more optimistic than at this point last year, most respondents felt


yet unknown actuality of Trump’s protectionist talk about tariffs.


Export Committee With all such thoughts in mind, it is especially timely that BHETA has ramped up the extent and variety of experience in its Export Committee, with a view to majoring on export initiatives in 2025. The Export Committee’s remit is to encourage and enable members to develop overseas sales whether as a completely new income stream or in terms of building on existing business, and it has recently welcomed a new chair - Spear & Jackson’s export sales director, Steve Turner. It also has two additional members - export sales manager of Captivate Brands, Daniel Wright, and Tim Joslin, EMEA sales director at Lifetime Brands. While Steve is a well-known figure in the DIY and gardening sector, Daniel has a similar 25-year pedigree in housewares, and Tim adds small domestic electricals as


well as housewares with an equally impressive overseas sales CV. So, BHETA’s export role is to support members in turning today’s positive predictions into reality over the coming months. The export team in any case works with Government departments and the international Chambers of Commerce to explore opportunities for overseas missions, international shows, and grant availability in support of such opportunities. It also has a raft of business service providers who can help with the practicalities of selling product to overseas markets.


Department of Business & Trade Specifically, however, I am encouraged by the activity and energy of a revitalised DBT, and BHETA is already working with the Department of Business & Trade, promoting advisory webinars on all aspects of international trade from cultural awareness to legislation to digital leverage.


Two of the easiest ways to make a start on export are (a) marketplaces and (b) export trade shows. To that end, BHETA has organised an event with Leroy merlin and DBT on Thursday 6th March 2025. Leroy Merlin is part of the biggest DIY Group in Europe. We have also organised events with a number of overseas exhibitions, and would encourage all DIY companies to consider attending the Global DIY Summit Registration Open: Secure Your Spot for the 11th Global DIY- Summit 2025.


It is also worth consulting the DBT Exporting pages accessible through the BHETA website. And this is just the start of BHETA’s 2025 export programme.


 For more information about BHETA including the Export Committee, contact the Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or visit the BHETA website at www.bheta.co.uk.


DECEMBER 2024 DIY WEEK 13


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