Page 13 - OPE Nov 22-Feb 23

MARKETPLACE
Walk-Behind Mowers
Where to for
walk-behinds?
One school of thought it that battery is pushing petrol out of outdoor power. The reality instead is that both types of lawnmower are growing, says Steve Bohling.
TYPICALLY, SOD’S LAW, I’m calling around suppliers of walk- behind lawnmowers following a
wet-as weekend...
With quite a bit more water in the ground
than might be required for good grass growth, the consensus was that the season had probably kicked off a little later this year.
Having said all that, the word around the industry is pretty positive about prospects for the year ahead, despite everyone having done the mahi to say the least this last wee while.
Steelfort GM Gavin Lowndes for one says: “I think we’ve done pretty well – as has probably the industry as a whole – but, you know, we’ve all worked really hard for it!”
And there’s more of the same ahead, he believes: “We are not seeing any signs of the slowdown that the media is talking about but I guess it could happen.”
Turning to the positive, Gavin among others is clearly relieved to see the supply chain finally returning to something like normal over the last couple of months and happy with the prospect of having “stock for Africa” come peak season.
Battery vs petrol – consumers
love it
Ignoring the low-end walk-behind mower market, the market for more capable battery or cordless mowers continues to grow.
Back to Gavin Lowndes and Steelfort, whose LawnMaster Lithium sales are “going along quite nicely,” despite the entry of high-profile power tool brands making for a proliferation of choice.
The interesting point here is that Gavin is just as happy to share that LawnMaster petrol products are also selling well: “There is still demand for petrol,” he says, adding
“our outlook for petrol is still pretty good.” Indeed, petrol engines remain the power
source of choice for many Kiwis.
Mike Roberts, Husqvarna Country
Manager New Zealand, agrees that while sales of battery walk-behind mowers may still lag petrol, battery walk-behinds are “continuing to gain traction,” some of which has to do with shared battery platforms and the affordability of skins compared to petrol equivalents adding versatility.
“The swing to electric appears to have come off the back of end users starting more with handheld battery outdoor power tools then progressing to walk-behind battery as their use of battery formats grow,” says Mike Roberts.
The point of entry for battery outdoor power products has changed over the years says Phil Needham, Product Manager
for STIHL NZ: “When we first launched battery products 12, 13 years ago, the hedge trimmer was the point of entry. Then we noted a swing towards blowers.”
These days, however, says Phil, lawnmowers are becoming STIHL’s new point of entry.
Steve Huddleston, Masport ANZ Sales & Marketing Manager, agrees that “Masport’s journey with our battery customers nearly always starts with the mower.
“It starts with a mower and then they’ll take a skin, mainly blowers and trimmers but it’s definitely not one for one.
“My observation is that people will buy the product they know and trust but when it comes to a chainsaw, they may know and trust a different battery platform.”
And it’s not just a matter of brand preference. The demands placed on batteries in walk-behinds are quite different from those placed on a blower for example.
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NOVEMBER 2022-FEBRUARY 2023 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 013