Page 8 - OPE July-August 2022

MARKETPLACE
Water Blasters
Pressure
on for water blasters
With Kiwi consumers of water blasters looking upmarket in terms of quality, it’s no mistake that a telling range of big brands are both entering and expanding their offerings right now. Steve Bohling finds out more.
FOR STIHL NZ, and MD Jochen Speer, water blasters have been “very positive”, at the same
time admitting that they’re very much part of STIHL’s broad team of products rather than outright stars.
Still, having grown its range quite a bit over the last two years, STIHL NZ has seen both increased interest in its water blasters and “significant gains” in sales, despite STIHL not being as well known in the category, compared to its chainsaws or grass cutters.
Asked how the New Zealand market compares to Europe, Jochen says the northern hemisphere’s entry level is probably lower than it is here, with “super thrifty” entry level models that STIHL is happy to leave to its competitors.
Here, however, Kiwis are “more demanding when it comes to their water blasters,” he says.
“Kiwis always want their tools to do a hell of a lot, so they’re looking
at significant machines to be able to scope up if they have to, in terms of
the work that you can do with those machines, you know, how long you can run them and how powerful they are and what sort of attachments you can add to them.”
This upwardly mobile aspect of the New Zealand market isn’t lost on STIHL’s competitors.
Looking up, not down
Husqvarna Country Manager Mike Roberts agrees that New Zealand’s domestic users “can often be influenced to upgrade to higher end models that can offer higher cleaning performance, higher flow and pressure and have higher end features – ie steel braided rubber hoses etc.”
And in terms of a growth market, says Mike: “OPE resellers would like to think there is room for additional market growth when you take into account
Jochen Speer, STIHL NZ –
“Kiwis always want their tools to do a hell of a lot,
so they’re looking at significant machines to be able to scope up if they have to, in terms of the work that you can do with those machines”
08 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT JULY-AUGUST2022
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