How Home Security Is A Festive Gift For Merchants

Christmas is a time for joy and excitement across the nation, as millions of homeowners spend billions of pounds on gifts for their nearest and dearest. However, as the rush to grab the latest toys or hottest tech raises the average value of items in a home by over £500, it’s also the prime time of the year for burglars to gift themselves some hard-gotten goods and steal some Christmas cheer, writes Tommy Geddes, Commercial Director for George Boyd.

Ahead of what is expected to be the first true ‘post-Covid’ Christmas, keeping homes and property safe during the December darkness will be a top priority for DIY-ers and tradespeople. The need for pre-holiday upgrades or retrofits provides some great options for merchants looking to add some diversity to their sales portfolio by ‘heroing’ some lesser thought of options this winter.

Gate Hinges & Padlocks 

While perhaps a slightly surprising security option to consider when you see temperatures outside in the single digits, the importance of strong and effective perimeter protection during the colder months is still vitally important.

The longer nights and gloomier days create great opportunities for wannabe thieves who can take advantage of dark spots, garden rubbish or high-hedged back gardens to break into properties in relative safety. 

High-strength padlocks and heavy-duty gate hinges are a great solution for this. Look to position these ranges together, or put in a combination purchase across these lines as the ultimate perimeter protection.

Door Locks 

The main point of entry into your home should always be your first port of call when you’re strengthening your security. Doors are, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most common points of attack for any burglar, making them a popular choice for anyone looking to upgrade their security.

Quick-fix security products, such as 3-star Euro profile cylinders or heavy-duty deadbolts & night latches, offer an easily installable solution that can be a great seller over the holiday period. Build in offers that combine these lines with other easy jobs for expert DIY-ers that are looking to use the Christmas break as an opportunity to get some smaller lines ticked off their to-do lists.

Window Hardware 

While doors are of course an important part of your security mix, you shouldn’t forget about the other major entry points of most homes - the windows. Window security is more difficult to effectively install than door security, as there aren’t a huge amount of options available, but that shouldn’t take away from their importance.

Developing a focus on product categories like restrictors and stays, sash jammers or security bolts will give you an option suitable for any customer. Across different types of homes, different types of security solutions will be needed, so make sure you have competitive offers across the varying categories so that you aren’t losing out on sales.

Retailers have a great opportunity to fill their tills this Christmas - just so long as they make a list, check it twice and plan smartly for their holiday trading.

Source : George Boyd

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