As the dust settles on H1 2020, we sift through the data on DIY and tools ranges...
It’s hard to accurately predict how the rest of 2020 trading will pan out in these exceptionally unusual circumstances, but we do now have plenty of evidence that DIY – a sector that on the face of it had been slightly beleaguered (see the ‘Bunnings in the UK’ saga for more on that) – enjoyed a boom in a number of territories during the Covid‐19 lockdowns.
Fastener distributors and merchants with a DIY offering appear to have made some wins in Q2. BS Fixings found both its range and expertise in demand (see bottom). Meanwhile online DIY, home improvement and gardening marketplace manomano saw power tools up an astounding 244%. The Office of National Statistics noted a 42% increase in sales volumes for “hardware, paints and glass stores” in May 2020.
Pre‐lockdown, when the severity of the Covid‐19 situation was becoming clearer, concerns were raised (by BHETA, among others) that there may be disruption and potential DIY product and tool supply shortages due to factory shutdowns. Which is another factor for the sector to weigh up, alongside the longevity of this
DIY boost. 27% of the UK population reckon they will spend less in the DIY and home management sector once lockdown is over (so says Rare Consulting). That
represents a challenge for suppliers and stockists deciding whether to invest in DIY‐friendly ranges in the near future.
DIY HELP FROM BS FIXINGS
“We have seen an increase in our DIY focused products over the past couple of months. When the lockdown was announced in March we closed the online shop for a month as we wanted to stick to government guidelines as much as possible by having no workforce, even production staff, in the warehouse and offices.
“During this time spent at home in lockdown, we realised that it was an ideal time for some home improvement. At BS Fixings we offer various DIY and home-improvement products such as silicones & adhesives, tools, nails/ screws, etc, perfect for those jobs around the house that have needed sorting for a while. It was shame that we had to close at a time when our products could have been in high demand, but of course the health and safety of our staff was a priority. As lockdown measures eased we decided to open back up with a skeleton workforce to allow customers to place orders online.
“We found that sales for our DIY range were higher than usual and have continued to increase over the past few weeks. We were receiving many DIY-based enquiries such as ‘I am fixing a shelf in my wardrobe, please recommend the best screw to use’. Fortunately as we have over 20 years’ experience in this industry we can advise our customers on the best solutions for their home DIY.
“We decided that this was a good time to increase our product range for DIY products. Examples of products that we have added to the website recently include bathroom and kitchen sealant, more colours and sizes of wood filler, and we are hoping to expand our range of nail sizes.
“We are keeping in mind that as more people return back to work and normality, the demand for DIY products may decrease as people will have less time for home DIY. We are continuing to work hard in the hope that our sales won’t drop in the coming months and hopefully we can continue to grow our customer base, grow our product range and provide even more products to suit our customers’ requirements.”
Statistically speaking: Power tools and joinery rocket for Manomano
Sales of ‘Power Tools’ are up 244%
Sales of ‘Building Materials’ are up 93%
...more specifically this includes joinery which is up 316%
Sales of the ‘Plumbing’ products are up 100%
...and more specifically ‘heating and air conditioning’ up 105%
...and taps are up 129%
Sales of ‘Electrical’ products including switches, sockets and solar and wind power production are up 118%
With thanks to online marketplace Manomano > www.manomano.co.uk
There's more DIY-centric analysis of the lockdown period, from BHETA.
Image by bluebudgie from Pixabay
