Heatwaves Inspire Brits to Upgrade their Homes and Gardens

New insights released today by eBay Advertising reveal the remarkable influence of warmer weather over shopping habits, as top temperatures across the UK prompt shoppers to spend big. And with Brits spending more time than ever at home this summer, there are extended opportunities for brands to connect with shoppers online – whether they’re inspired to invest in their home and garden or defy expectations and embrace the great indoors. 

Britain was blessed with record-breaking sunshine this April and as temperatures reached a heady 26°C in the third week of lockdown, the Spring heatwave prompted a boom in interest for outdoor living and DIY items. During this week*, searches for ‘garden and patio furniture’ shot up 196% YoY, while searches for ‘barbecues’ and ‘pressure washers’ increased 256% and 179% respectively. And as Brits looked to add a touch of luxury to their gardens, searches for ‘hot tubs’ surged 784% compared to the same week the previous year.

But it’s not a one-off trend. When Britain recorded its highest ever temperature in July 2019, shoppers rushed to upgrade their homes and gardens. Searches in the Home, Furniture and DIY category on ebay.co.uk climbed 169% on 25th July, compared to the same day a week before – and searches in the Garden and Patio category rose 42% in the same timeframe. Meanwhile, as Brits looked to celebrate summer in their gardens, searches for paddling pools spiked by an incredible 791% over the same time period, while searches for sun loungers and sand pits soared 141% and 139% respectively. 

However, shopping habits can be just as unpredictable as the British weather, highlighting the power of real-time insights to inform ad campaigns. When temperatures soared to 28.8°C on 2nd June 2019, some shoppers rejected the hot weather and retreated indoors, with searches for ‘curtains’ growing 30% compared to a couple of days before, while searches for ‘heaters’ rose by 31%.

Mike Klinkhammer, Director of Ad Sales EU at eBay, said: “When the sun comes out and the heat cranks up, people are inspired to invest in their home and garden – and that will be the case more than ever this summer, as shoppers spend more time at home. Our insights highlight the huge role weather plays in people’s moods and shopping habits, and there’s huge spend to be won by brands that can capitalise on this mood and moment. This is why it’s so important for brands to stay on their toes and harness the latest insights that allow them to ensure their targeting is attuned to shopper interests in the ‘here and now’.”

Ruth Chalisey, Director at MediaCom, added: “We mustn’t forget that weather and human behaviour can be incredibly unpredictable. To stay relevant to the changing weather and shopper mindset, brands need to remain flexible and nimble. By being prepared to flex campaigns, and equipped with real-time data, advertisers have a brilliant opportunity to reach engaged consumers when they’re in the mood to spend, run impactful campaigns and reap the rewards.”  

Proving that there’s nothing quite as unpredictable as British weather, just three days after the UK’s hottest ever temperature was recorded on 25th July 2019 the downpours began, and searches for “wellies” on ebay.co.uk shot up by an eye-watering 297%. 

* The eBay retail week runs from Sunday to Saturday.

Source: Insight DIY Team & eBay Press Release

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