We’ve officially entered the summer months and as consumer attention turns to the great outdoors, merchants need to capitalise on this opportunity and advise customers to stock up on seasonal security solutions.
Homeowners across the country are spending more time outside or away on holiday, leaving their homes empty, unsecured and vulnerable.
Additionally, this time of year sees a rise in consumers investing in new and expensive garden furniture and tools, as well as sporting equipment, which is traditionally housed in garages and sheds.
But it’s not just homeowners who are at risk this summer. Merchants shouldn’t overlook contractors and trade professional, who store expensive tools and buildings material in garages overnight, when they don’t want to leave products in their van on the driveway or roadside.
And with research finding that more than 2.5m UK homes have fallen foul of garden thefts, with the average cost of a claim equalling £208,* there is no better time for merchants to stock up and maximise mid-year sales.
But which summer security solutions should you be stocking? Heavy-duty weatherproof padlocks are highly recommended for shed and garage doors. Most sheds are supplied with minimal door security, so it’s worth highlighting this to customers and recommending that they fit a high-security, weatherproof padlock that can withstand all weathers. Additionally, anchors and hasps can be used to secure individual, more expensive items such as power tools and ladders.
Stocking simple security products means merchants can meet the needs of the growing numbers of trade professionals and homeowners who are using their sheds and garages to store expensive equipment.
Battery-powered portable alarms are ideal for use in outbuildings, as they require no hard-wiring and can be simply freestanding on a shelf or mounted to a wall. The in-built siren will sound if an intruder enters the outbuilding, altering the owner if they are elsewhere in the garden or inside the home.
Merchants need to be savvy about stocking the right product mix to keep up-to-date with the emerging trends and understand the developments in the security market to ensure a successful future. For example, smart door locks, smart alarms, and CCTV kits are especially in demand over the summer as homeowners want the peace of mind that their property is secure when they’re away on holiday.
Yale’s Smart Home Alarms and Smart HD CCTV systems can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world via the free Yale Home System app for added peace of mind, which is a real selling point for the security-conscious end-user.
Combining the right mix of seasonal products will place merchants in a strong position for increasing profit margins over the summer.
*Cooperative Insurance.
Dave Herbert is business development director for Yale Smart Living.
