Pandemic DIY boom sends Southern Sheeting's sales soaring by 84%
Research showing increasing numbers of women have developed a passion for DIY as a result of the pandemic has prompted Southern Sheeting to call for the industry to consider how it could evolve.
The building materials supplier found more women (38 per cent) than men (30 per cent) had completed an increased number of home improvement projects than previous years, since the first lockdown began.
Southern Sheeting also noticed more women than ever before were shopping online for its domestic products.
The business reported record sales, driven by the nation's craze for home improvement which included an 84 per cent increase in revenue growth from its domestic products such as decking, cladding and guttering.
Tony Hobbs, Managing Director, Southern Sheeting, said: "Our research shows increasing numbers of women are interested in DIY due to the pandemic.
_"This presents a tremendous opportunity for the industry. How can we change and evolve to keep these new customers and to increase our potential customer base further in future? _
"The pandemic DIY boom has been a boost in what has been a difficult time in so many industries and in the lives of so many people. So, we need to work hard to keep those new customers on board and be awake to the new DIY market."
Joanna Morfield, Ecommerce Manager, Southern Sheeting, said: "When it comes to a rise in women being interested in DIY, I'm definitely seeing that verified from a data point of view on the website. More women than ever before are coming through. We're seeing a shift in our demographics and analytics."
Garden decking was a runaway success at Southern Sheeting over the past year, with sales of Trex Composite Decking increasing by almost 140 per cent as people spent more time in their gardens and less money on holidays, going to the pub or eating out. This compared to a 19 per cent increase the previous year.
Sales of products such as Cedral Weatherboard Cladding, to give homes a modern and updated look also rose dramatically, up 40 per cent, as did Scandinavian style RoofArt Metal guttering system, up 25 per cent.
