In the midst of a cost of living crisis and spiralling energy bills, the trade and DIY sector is undergoing some huge changes. Tommy Geddes, Commercial Director at George Boyd, outlines three top trends that merchants and tradespeople need to be aware of.
Following a chaotic year that saw three prime ministers, global economies on the knife edge and an unprecedented energy crisis, 2023 is shaping up to be another year full of surprises.
Huge changes are happening across the globe - and this includes the trade and DIY sectors, with some new and emerging trends appearing on the horizon.
For tradespeople and merchants alike, being ahead of the curve with the big changes for 2023 will be vital.
Working from home turns into working from offices
Perhaps one of the most significant changes that is already gaining momentum in 2023 is the return to the office.
An almost unthinkable prospect after 24 months of a global pandemic, more and more businesses are looking to bring workers back to their desks, looking to boost productivity and foster a sense of community across their workforce.
This return does pose some significant challenges for workers who have spent the last three years working from home. Security during the day, a non-concern for those who work from home, is likely to become vastly more important as more properties are left unguarded during the daylight hours.
To attempt to solve these issues, we’re likely to see a surge in interest in the latest security technology, especially those products that provide the ability to monitor a home from anywhere. Other elements such as video doorbells also provide a great option to also help deal with other pains from being away from home, such as deliveries, so it’s worth thinking about how to structure your security mix to be a little bit ‘smarter’.
Insulating your bank accounts
One of the biggest concerns for businesses and homeowners alike in 2022 was the spiralling energy crisis that saw unthinkable leaps in bills for households in every region of the UK.
While the government stepped in to help in August, the future of the Energy Bills Support Scheme post-April is still unclear. With the potential for huge spikes in bills, households are doing whatever they can to lower their energy costs and future-proof their homes.
Energy saving additions to a home, such as new draught excluders or double glazed windows, are hugely attractive to homeowners looking to lower their bills, with keyword searches for draught excluders alone spiking nearly 1000% in the last three months.
Whatever offers you choose to focus on, energy saving measures are likely to be a key area of focus over the coming year.
Cheap changes and quick refreshes
In such a protracted cost-of-living crisis as we’re experiencing now, where homeowners spend their money is under more scrutiny than ever before.
As households of all sizes look to cut their cloth accordingly, it’s highly likely that we’ll see a drop in the number of ‘bigger’ renovation jobs, such as kitchen refits or garden makeovers, in favour of smaller projects that are easier on the wallet.
Room refreshes with paint, fittings and design elements will be top of the agenda as people look to restyle their spaces without breaking the bank.
Other quick wins are also likely to spike, such as ‘IKEA hacks’; namely, where savvy DIY-ers add their own touch of inspiration to their flat-pack furniture with simple accessories.
Preparing for the emerging trends and changing focuses of households across the nation will be vital for both merchants and tradespeople, allowing them to effectively plan ahead and make the most of the products and services that will be in the highest demand over the next 12 months.
