By The retailers booming with sales during the Covid-19 crisis
As the Covid-19 crisis continues, many retailers are seeing trade collapse, but as people strive to keep busy at home, other retailers are seeing a coronavirus-related boom in sales and are overwhelmed with the sudden rise in demand.
So, what’s booming?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, since Prime Minister Boris Johnson has advocated one form of outdoor exercise per day, and advised Britons to avoid unnecessary public travel, stores have seen a surge in sales of bicycles and exercise equipment.
Halfords have also reported a rise in sales of static exercise bikes, saying: “people who are not able to get out still want to exercise indoors.” They have been classified as essential, and allowed to remain open.
Some have also reported seeing DIY stores such as B&Q cleared out in certain departments, as people strive to complete home improvements during the UK lockdown.
Following the announcement that schools would be closing, suppliers reported that sales of indoor and outdoor games have more than doubled.
Phil Jones of JustSeed in Wrexham, which sells a wide range of plant seeds, says he had to stop taking orders after a rush for staples including carrots, lettuce, beans and tomatoes.
“It’s just the sheer volume,” he says, “We’re catching up with a massive surge.”
For some buyers, there is a genuine worry about food shortages and panic buying, but Phil Jones says that many are just looking for an activity.
“They’ve been meaning to do the veg patch for years and it’s something educational to do with the kids,” he adds.
Due to the demand, JustSeed are still only able to provide a limited service, and are struggling to restock quick enough.
Indoors, more people are taking up sewing and knitting as a way to beat the boredom. Book sales have also surged, with fictional accounts of epidemics being in great demand.
Dixons Carphone have reported a surge in sales of office equipment and laptops, presumably because many are now working from home. And, fridges and freezers, because people are stockpiling additional food.
With many high street stores ordered to close, most purchases are now being made online.
This has meant that small and independent retailers appear to be suffering the most.
However, some have found other ways of turning trade, such as offering localised deliveries and subscriptions.
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