- Latest research from Profitero shows interest in camping and hiking products up 3x versus last year, and big price variations for the same products between Amazon, Argos and Sports Direct
Searches on Amazon UK for sports and outdoor equipment are up significantly this summer compared to a year ago, suggesting Britons are embracing the heatwave and gearing up for a season of ‘staycation’ activities like camping, hiking, trips to the beach and fun in the back garden.
Research from global ecommerce analytics firm Profitero shows that UK searches for camping stoves and walking poles are up more than double on last July, while those for walking boots have more than tripled. Searches for air tents and beach bags are up 91% and 87% respectively, while pogo sticks are up 123%.
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Amazon search data can be an early predictor of future sales. When the number of Amazon searches for a product rises steeply, sales of the product typically follow.*1
Profitero managing director Mark Wilkinson adds: “The prevailing thinking until recently was that consumers would have stocked up on summer outdoor items last year, but our findings suggest otherwise. Faced with international travel restrictions, rising Covid infections and a domestic heatwave, we’re seeing UK shoppers hungry for staycation products and equipment. We may be in the second summer of restrictions, but the data points towards a lot of new purchasing happening.”
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How will Britons spend the ‘Great Staycation’?
Amazon UK searches, this summer vs. last summer, selected categories
But as demand for staycation products increases, shoppers are likely to face higher prices as supply struggles to keep up.
Profitero also tracked the prices on approximately 600 top-rated sports and outdoor-related products at three major UK retailers – Amazon, Argos and Sports Direct – and found, on average, that Amazon’s prices are 8% cheaper than Sports Direct online, and 11% cheaper than Argos.*2
Profitero’s Wilkinson again: “This price difference between retailers is quite sizeable and suggests to us that Amazon wants to win in the sports and outdoors categories, particularly while shoppers are planning staycations.”
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