Page 10 - OPE September 2020

MARKETPLACE
Trimmers & Brushcutters
A widely anticipated slowdown in outdoor power simply hasn’t materialised, despite warmer than usual weather and global pandemic. Andy Kerr reports.
NEW STIHL
BATTERY
TRIMMER
THE STIHL FSA 57 battery line trimmer is billed
as light and easy-to-use but with enough power for trimming medium to large gardens. The FSA 57 is part of STIHL’s AK cordless range of tools with interchangeable batteries that can also be used in other tools in the range including a hedge trimmer, blower, chainsaws and lawnmowers. Run time for
this trimmer ranges from 25 minutes (AK 10
battery) to 60 minutes (AK 30).
THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES we find ourselves in certainly are
exceptional.
Indeed, despite the Government’s
isolationist strategy for keeping us safe and healthy (and some atypical weather), the perfectly reasonable expectation that demand would fall off as a result has been confounded across a variety of retail channels.
Indeed, looking to the outdoor power market, Jochen Speer, MD of STIHL NZ, shares that the company didn’t see the traditional sales lull in July and August, thanks to consumers in particular who just kept spending and, as ever in outdoor power, the weather also played a role, with this winter turning out warmer than last.
What’s more, STIHL hasn’t suffered any
supply issues as the year has unfolded.
“We were lucky that we launched our new products at the right time for the season and
we didn’t experience any major delay from our factories.
“The STIHL supply chain is a well-oiled machine and despite the [pandemic] head winds, we see a very high level of availability for our dealer network and customers,” says Jochen Speer.
Lockdown lifts sales
However Masport Product Manager, Simon Gaunt, does concede that “any product that cuts grass suffered from the dry weather up until March.”
As a result, he says: “We were very happy to see some rain and we know our dealers were, too, as it put confidence back into the season.”
Getting started is as easy as pushing a button, and the tool is so quiet that STIHL says ear protection is not required. Weighing 2.6 kg (without battery), the lightweight design reduces fatigue when working outside for extended periods
of time and the shaft can be extended to a preferred height to ensure
user comfort. The mowing
line automatically extends
when the head is tapped on the ground and can
be refilled easily
without any tools.
www.stihl.co.nz
Being locked down has also perhaps changed the shape of demand for certain outdoor power products, says Simon.
“Sales demand has increased on cordless as well as petrol-powered trimmers and brushcutters post-COVID, as many consumers have taken on the task of managing their own landscaping during lockdown periods as they were home for the duration.”
Over at Husqvarna, Sales Manager Steve Middleton says the drought conditions
at the start of the year were an initial stumbling block.
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Cordless still motoring on
Despite initial concerns about the business impact of Covid, STIHL’s Jochen Speer says the unusual situation hasn’t impacted the steady advance of cordless products in NZ or the growth of the overall market.
“Our battery product continues to grow at a fast pace and we didn’t notice a slow- down of this type of product during the various lockdowns.”
Plus, the market has been boosted with Spring starting early, on top of which he adds, “signs are also quite positive for commercial product.”
010 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT SEPTEMBER2020
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“August was a bumper start to spring, as the weather aligned with rain in territories that really needed it”
“Then we went into the Covid situation with lockdown but we had strong sales going into April and coming out the other side in May-June-July.
“August was a bumper start to spring, as the weather aligned with rain in territories that really needed it.”
In terms of Husky supplying the demand it’s seeing, Steve says “We had good
stocks coming into the country and our warehouses are full.”
Looking further out? “Approaching the end of the year, who knows what’s going to happen with supply with factories?”
STIHL launched new trimmers (see the battery powered FSA57, profiled above) and one new attachment – a reciprocator – in its petrol-powered Combi range, and Jochen says STIHL will be adding more engines and attachments in the coming months.
“Meanwhile,” he adds, “our range of battery options and chargers has grown, and more changes are to come in the near future.”
Such as? “Increasing battery capacity and improving the speed of charging batteries is
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