No clear winner in grills, patio furniture sales

A market share analysis of outdoor living products by The Stevenson Co. shows that consumers pick and choose their retailers when it comes to outdoor power equipment, grills, mulch, and other lawn and garden merchandise.

The TraQline Quarterly report, the results of a survey that measures brand shares, retailer shares and consumer behavior trends, indicates that Walmart, Lowe’s and The Home Depot all vie for the top spot selling charcoal grills. While Walmart is the share leader for charcoal grill purchases at 23%, Lowe’s and The Home Depot follow closely behind at 20% and 19%, respectively. 

Other highlights from the report include:

• Compared with other retailers, more consumers choose to buy lawn and garden items from The Home Depot and Lowe’s.

• Consumers rely on Sears over any other retailer for purchasing lawn mowers, but Lowe’s, having eclipsed The Home Depot, is catching up.

• The Home Depot is the clear leader for bag mulch purchases, selling more than one-third of all mulch to U.S. consumers.

• Consumers showed no strong preference for patio furniture shopping, with "other outlets" combined leading the pack ahead of individual, larger retailers and big-box stores. 

"For many categories, Lowe’s, The Home Depot and Walmart compete with each other for the lawn and garden customer," said Eric Voyer, VP of The Stevenson Co. "From a trend perspective, we’re seeing an increase in the big-box home improvement stores’ ability to attract customers. To increase market share and remain viable, retailers and manufacturers must continually look at the factors that drive consumers’ purchasing habits and address these preferences in a meaningful way. Promotional activities and assortments play a huge role in winning the battle for the consumers."

Based in Louisville, Ky., The Stevenson Co. produces market intelligence for retailers and manufacturers selling in North America.