Page 13 - OPE September 2019

MARKETPLACE
Trimmers & Brushcutters
Towards a tipping point
Derek Molloy, who manages Wright’s Outdoor Equipment Centre, confirms that the interchangeability of battery kits is a key convenience feature for customers who have taken up cordless equipment.
Asked whether we have now reached a tipping point where domestic buyers are mostly opting for cordless over petrol, Derek says we’re not there yet “but it’s fast approaching”,addingthat“theconstantly growing sales of cordless trimmers is very much at the expense of petrol trimmer sales.”
The growing uptake of one-battery-one- brand is a key driver in this: “It’s now much easier to overcome objections regarding cordless machinery and it is noticeable how many customers are getting cordless trimmers to add to their ‘fleet’ of other cordless tools that use the same battery and charger system,” says Derek.
Users however tend to stick to a tried and tested battery system that works across a wide range of skins: “The winning brands for us are those that have a consistent format of voltage and battery style, rather than changing it constantly.
“That’s a big turn-off to someone who runs two, three, four machines and then suddenly their battery format is obsolete. It’s a quick way to lose that customer from your brand forever.”
Derek Molloy and the team at Wright’s find that trimmer and brushcutter sales to domestic users are definitely highly seasonal and, even within the season, he says sales are influenced by week-to-week weather patterns.
In terms of the weather, this year, from the Waikato north, summer and late summer were particularly dry and weather in the central North Island and South Island was more conducive to grass growth and therefore contributed to brushcutter sales. A mild winter in most parts of the country has also benefitted retailers.
Having said this, sales of commercial-use brushcutters are less seasonal from a sales point of view as they tend to be used all year round, either as a straight trimmer, or with a hedge attachment fitted.
“There are more contractors going for commercial grade cordless machinery,” adds Derek Molloy, even though with trimmers and brushcutters he feels we are still in the first generation.
Still, he adds: “It’s not far away. The STIHL KMA cordless machine has been a game-changer with more power than the petrol-powered equivalent. You just have to get over the price hurdle.”
In terms of domestic and lifestyle block sales, Derek Molloy says there doesn’t seem to be any resistance with more mature customers switching to cordless machines, especially female.
“They find the lack of servicing, the
easy starting and easy usage regime very appealing – especially on machines used just seasonally where stale gas could be an issue, or when they simply forget how to start or use the machine!”
Combi system convenience
Another innovation in the category is the emergence of combination cutters that offer the convenience of having one power head and a variety of attachments.
Incredibly useful for contractors, combination systems can also save a lot
Jochen Speer says STIHL’s combi system, launched two years ago, is also “gaining momentum”.
However, he qualifies: “We probably have to wait until that product portfolio gets wider as we are currently only servicing the high-end commercial market with that product.
“We need to add new engines to that portfolio to make it as broad as the petrol range, with a lower-end entry point for lifestyle block owners and domestic users who are currently using a lot of these products in the petrol variety.”
“A lot of cordless are the same weight or lighter, and you’re getting less vibration as well. And now the performance of the battery-powered products is on a par with and, in some cases, above that of petrol equivalents.”
Considering the commercial market, Jamie highlights what he describes as “a real push on health and safety, and emissions and noise reduction.
“Guys working in public places don’t want to be operating a petrol engine and carrying fuel around. And servicing costs are a big part of their business, so if they can reduce those, they can make some real savings – no oil filters, no spark plugs, no fuel mixing.
“There’s no turning back from cordless because the product is only getting better and the technology is advancing quickly,” he says emphatically.
Back at STIHL, Jochen Speer confirms that emissions and noise levels are topics that the company is regularly discussing with dealers and, in turn, dealers with their end users, especially with equipment used in urban areas.
Polling servicing dealers, one STIHL SHOP we spoke to reported a few arborists converting to battery-powered, top-handled tools so that they can start work earlier in the morning without disturbing others and can work a longer day.
Awareness of the benefits of cordless “is on the increase,” says Jochen, “and we are very proficient in that respect with products meeting emissions standards. A drawback in New Zealand is that there is no emissions standard.”
LAWNMASTER NO-PULL GRASS TRIMMERS
Push-button battery ignition eliminates one excuse for
not getting underway with garden chores. LawnMaster’s No Pull trimmers come in both single-
piece, straight shaft and two-piece aluminium curved shaft configurations and both are powered by a 26cc two-stroke motor. In each case, the twin-line, bump-feed cutting system allows a cutting width of 432mm.
Both models weigh less than 6kg and the light weight and good economy mean users need only carry a fuel tank of 400ml capacity. Battery chargers are included along with a three-year product warranty.
www.steelfort.co.nz
There’s no turning back from cordless because the product is only getting better and the technology is advancing quickly
of space in a lifestyle blocker’s garage. In this respect, Makita is just one brand which is starting to gain traction in the marketplace.
“Our combination cutter is proving very popular both for the commercial and DIY user,” says Makita Marketing Manager, Jamie Teague.
“With one power head, it’s relatively cost- effective to buy a hedgetrimmer attachment, a line trimmer and a pole saw and you can buy an extension for a long pole saw or long-handled hedgetrimmer.”
In terms of cordless in general, Makita’s Jamie Teague reports recently launching
a couple of new hedgetrimmers and a brushcutter option.
“The majority of tasks are covered by battery and what’s powering ahead is cordless in general with the acceptance of battery product.
“We’re seeing a huge increase across the range and the average purchase price is higher as well, with people willing to spend a little more for a good cordless product and that convenience factor.
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