ANALYSIS: OUTDOOR LIVING Home Technology
April 2024
ertonline.co.uk
category grew globally from $6.3 billion last year to $6.7 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow to almost $9 billion by 2033!
Mood lighting Let’s take this outside! 22
As the great British weather improves, our attention moves to making the most of every moment we can enjoy outdoors. This change in habits opens up new trends for the CE industry and new opportunities across many categories for retailers. Daniel Todaro, MD of Gekko, investigates…
W
ith the advent of the bifold door, the garden became an additional room for many houses and with more families spilling out into the garden
it’s not that unusual to see an outdoor kitchen combined with dining and living spaces which convert into entertaining spaces at dusk. So let’s start with cooking outdoors and the new appliances appearing on the wish lists of would-be chefs looking beyond traditional BBQs and wanting to offer their guests more than the usual fare of burgers, bangers and cremated chicken drumsticks. Peeking into the world of grilling opens up a plethora of options for homeowners depending on their culinary ambitions, the outdoor space available and of course the budget.
The grilling category – including portable grills, smokers and outdoor ovens – in the UK is currently estimated to be worth around £177 million, expected to reach almost £200 million within five years, growing at a CAGR of 3.7 per cent during the forecast period (2024-2029). One brand leading the way here is Shark Ninja, with a whole host of outdoor cooking appliances to meet the needs of many consumers. The Ninja outdoor range, which
has been marketed heavily over recent months, includes the Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven, Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker, and the Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker, which features smart connectivity allowing the user to control their BBQ and monitor cooking progress on their phone. Another area for growth is the outdoor pizza oven market, which is anticipated to grow at a considerable rate over the next five years. A number of brands are making their mark – including Gozny, Ooni and Witt, all of which offer a modern, convenient, user-friendly take on the pizza oven. Together with outdoor electric grills, pizza ovens are something home appliance retailers should certainly consider ranging, opening up sales opportunities in other areas of the home. One step on from outdoor appliances
are actual outdoor kitchens, something that frequently makes me envious. Imagine having an outdoor kitchen equipped with built-in appliances like refrigerators and sinks. Standard in smart Mediterranean villas for decades but now popping up in Acacia Avenue across Britain, this is a trend that for many who sell kitchens, may see their business evolve over time. Believe it or not, the outdoor kitchen
So, once you’ve whipped up a culinary feast in your outdoor kitchen, what’s next? Well perhaps kick back and set the mood with a smart outdoor lighting system. These app- controlled solutions, from the likes of Philips Hue, can be programmed to change colours, adjust brightness levels and can be combined with your music via an outdoor audio system to enhance the experience. We all know that music adds ambience to outdoor spaces and all-weather solutions are becoming increasingly popular, with weatherproof speakers and sound systems specifically designed for outdoor use that are wireless and Bluetooth- enabled, allowing users to stream music from their smartphones or other devices. To complete the indoor/outdoor experience,
CE retailers should be adding some outdoor TV options to their ranges, offering their customers the opportunity of immersive outdoor cinema experiences, day or night. The category is starting to build momentum and unsurprisingly Samsung is at the forefront with The Terrace TV, which comes in both 65- and 75-inch screen sizes and is specifically designed for open-air use.
Another brand to watch is Sylvox; it has a much larger range of outdoor TVs. Aside from being weatherproof, they are also more durable and resistant to extreme temperatures, and they feature exceptionally bright, anti- reflection screens so consumers can enjoy their favourite content even on the sunniest of days. Bearing in mind the high price points, the large screen sizes and the intended setting for these TVs, I would suggest that offering an installation service would be a real benefit to your customers.
So, British weather permitting, it is entirely possible to create a new heart of the home – the outdoors. By transforming their garden into a living, dining and entertainment space, homeowners can truly embrace an al fresco lifestyle. As we head towards Summer, retailers can capitalise on the opportunity by complementing your usual instore offering with something different where your customers can let their imaginations run wild!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
