With data from The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirming that the price for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to 19.2% in March 2023 – the fastest rate in over 45 years – the British public has taken matters into their own hands (and soil!). ManoMano saw sales of Grow Bags rise by 41% in March compared to the previous month, whilst sales of Greenhouses also rose by 45%.
In response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the UK has recently seen a rising demand for DIY and upcycling as people search for new ways to save money around the home. With warmer, drier, and sunnier weather on the horizon, GIY (Grow It Yourself) looks set to be the new DIY for spring and summer, with households aiming to grow their own herbs, fruit, and vegetables in their outdoor area instead of using store bought items.
As well as seeing a rise in sales of Grow Bags and Greenhouses, the online DIY, home & garden marketplace has also seen sales of Pots, Planters and Raised Beds increase by 45% in March compared to February, whilst sales of Fruit Trees and Bushes rose by a staggering 2250%.
Alexandre Lucas, category manager UK at ManoMano, comments: “As well as benefiting from its cost-saving measures, households growing their own fruit and vegetables can help deliver several long-term benefits for the UK, particularly its positive environmental impact, so it is brilliant to see such demand for horticultural tools and accessories. As we enter the prime growing season, we are pleased to be able to support households starting their GIY journey with a wide selection of products and advice pages available on our platform.”
Whilst it may take time and patience, a well set up garden patch can produce copious amounts of organic fruits & vegetables that are often more expensive when store bought. Vegetables such as kale, tomatoes and broccoli can be produced within six to twelve weeks, with planting seeds available from as low as £1.
Households can also have fun with the GIY trend by growing the more ‘uncommon’ crops such as mangetout or quince which are expensive to buy in store, but simple to grow from seed.
Growing your own food has several environmental benefits, the biggest of which being the reduction of pesticides used in the growing process, which in turn limits chemical pollution in the air and water. It can also play a part in reducing carbon footprint as it will help moderate international imports.
On a personal level, the GIY trend can be linked to many health and wellness benefits. Gardening is often seen as a hobby to relax the mind and provides an opportunity for people to enjoy the fresh air and spend time in the sun. Growing organic fruit and vegetables will also provide a healthier diet whilst still producing delicious meals for lunch and dinner.
As households up and down the UK look to get growing for spring and summer, ManoMano has a wide selection of handy gardening tools and accessories to help people kickstart their GIY experience, with dedicated product pages for seeds and bulbs, indoor growing, grow bags, potting benches and more.
ManoMano also offers an advice page dedicated to helping customers take the first step towards a more environmentally friendly and affordable lifestyle, with hundreds of helpful guides including the best vegetables to grow in a greenhouse and a fruit and vegetable growing calendar.
