LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 31, 2012) — As summer approaches, Walmart, Lowe’s and The Home Depot are vying for the top spot in selling charcoal grills, according to The Stevenson Company’s most recent TraQline Quarterly report, a survey of consumer durable purchasers in the United States that measures retailer shares, brand shares and consumer behavior trends.
While Walmart is the share leader for charcoal grill purchases at 23 percent, Lowe’s and The Home Depot follow closely behind at 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively.
Looking back at the most recent quarter highlights, the battle continues among big box retailers for consumers’ dollars spent on outdoor products:
— Compared to 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.
— Big box stores, however, don’t dominate every outdoor product purchase. Consumers don’t have a preference for patio furniture shopping, with “other outlets” combined leading the pack ahead of individual, larger retailers.
The big box stores also fare well in major appliances. Appliance prices are remaining steady, according to the survey findings, as are shares across the big box stores.
In March 2012, there were no major shifts in these market shares, with Sears still leading the big boxes, followed by Lowe’s and The Home Depot, respectively. Steady appliance pricing can be seen across appliances. For example, consumers reported paying an average price of $563 for a washer and dryer, which is up only slightly from $555 during the same period in 2011.
“For many categories, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Walmart compete with each other for the lawn and garden customer,” said Eric Voyer, vice president of The Stevenson Company. “From a trend perspective, we’re seeing an increase in the big box home improvement stores’ ability 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.”
The Stevenson Company, a provider of consumer data and market research, can be reached online at www.stevensoncompany.com.
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