BHETA GfK Index Shows Value Growth Across The Board

BHETA has published the latest edition of the BHETA GfK Index, its quarterly retail data service featuring live links to all the product groups represented in the four categories detailed in BHETA’s online Retailer Zone.

The Index enables BHETA members to check where their ranges sit in relation to national statistics instantly and easily.  Previous data is available on the website to give a flavour of the possibilities www.bheta.co.uk/market-intelligence/gfk/.

The latest EPOS data from the GfK BHETA Index is the final quarterly installment form 2018 and the headline is value growth across all the topline categories (Housewares, Small electrical & air treatment, DIY and Garden) when comparing the 12 months ending in December 2018 to that of the same period of 2017, the base index.

The total index has increased by £350M (2.2%) when comparing the period ending December ’18 to that of the initial index months.

• In small electricals hot beverage makers (up 5.6%) and deep fryers (up 3%) lead the way, while in housewares generally, the big performers are from Cookware & Bakeware: Pots (up 5.6%), Pans (up 4.0%); from Storage: Food/Kitchen plastic storage (up 5.8%) and from Tabletop: Crockery/China (up 3%). This is great news and many retailers are already taking advantage of these sectors, but an even more successful one that might not yet be so much on the buying radar is barware, which is enjoying immense popularity with consumers. Sales really got going in the hot summer, boosted by the World Cup and the Royal Wedding, but they then continued right through into the festive period and show no sign of stopping. Barware overall is up a whopping 8%, so certainly worth investigating.
  
  
• In home improvement and DIY the majority of categories are in growth with the headline performer again being Plumbing (up 6.7%). This is significantly helped by the performance of Electric Heating (up 4.8%) and Radiators (up 2.1%). The overall total DIY sector has managed to achieve a 2% uplift versus the original index months. In contrast Safety & Security is still struggling, down 3.6%, along with Wall & Floor covering (down 3.1%). On the positive side, even though these are in negative territory they have not slipped further behind the previous quarter update and Safety & Security has halved its previous decline.
  
  
• The final area of consideration in the BHETA GfK Index is Garden. Here the market remains in growth compared to the original index score, up 1.6%. There are a sizeable number of subcategories which have bolstered this performance, the headline ones being Chemicals (up 3.9%), Garden Buildings (up 1.9%) and Hoses which rocketed by 28%, thanks to the hot summer. This sector includes both Hoses & Storage (up 23%) and Hose End Attachments (up 36%).

Circulated in infographic form, the BHETA GfK Quarterly POS Index is available to members on an exclusive basis thanks to the trade association’s exclusive deal with research and data provider, GfK. The Retailer Zone features a real-time search function – by product category, by brand and by supplier, enabling retail buying teams to find not only practical product and supply details, but real inspiration for future listings, all from laptop, tablet or phone.

To find out more about BHETA membership and access to trends advice and market data, contact BHETA on 0121 237 1130.

Source: BHETA
January 2019

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