Page 9 - OPE Mar-Jun 22

MARKETPLACE
Chainsaws & Accessories
Performing under pressure
Chainsaw suppliers and retailers seem unfazed by a seemingly endless chain of Covid-driven challenges. Andy Kerr reports.
Consumer confidence took a big hit in February with pessimists far outweighing the optimists among
those surveyed.
But there’s always a lag between figures
being reported and retailers experiencing a proper downturn, and there was no early evidence of it when we spoke with big outdoor power players in relation to chainsaws.
And that’s despite Omicron working its way through a country still parched by drought in places.
“Omicron is not having too much of an impact at this time,” reports a relieved Gavin Lowndes at Steelfort.
“We’ve tried to mitigate things as much as we can. In our Palmerston North distribution centre, we run two shifts between 7am and 11pm, we’ve separated those shifts so that they don’t cross over, and the guys are spaced apart in our factory.
“We’re reasonably confident that it won’t be a major issue for us.”
For Steelfort, chainsaws remain more of a promotional supply option for the big DIY boxes, although Gavin Lowndes reports
selling more and more cordless chainsaws under the LawnMaster brand with cordless sales in general continuing to trend strongly as the Steelfort team endeavours to expand the LawnMaster brand at every opportunity.
And the broader business picture? “All aspects of our business have been phenomenal really,” Gavin concludes.
“But it did die down for about two weeks at the start of February. Some areas had become very dry and then we had the big rains coming through, and it just started up again. Things have been ticking along well since.”
Supply chain? “Logistics out of the
US remains really difficult,” says Gavin Lowndes, “with shipping lanes and ports diabolical, whereas we’re pretty much on top of getting product out of China – apart from the increased cost of the freight, which has been five or six hundred%.”
On top of which, Gavin shares that the NZ Dollar’s weakness hasn’t helped with some of Steelfort’s more affordable product lines where margins are tighter.
Still, he adds positively: “It could be a game of two halves this year.”
Masport’s popular 60V cordless kit
A CORE INGREDIENT in Masport’s
battery-powered outdoor garden tool range is a chainsaw that delivers petrol-like performance without the noise, emissions, or hassle of cords.
The Masport 60V Chainsaw
Kit features a 20m/s chain speed, mechanical and electric chain brake to help keep users safe, and an automatic
lubrication system to keep the chain moving freely.
The kit includes a 5.0Ah battery with charger which is interchangeable with the 60V mower range (there are four mower options) and handheld tools including hedge trimmer, blower, and line trimmer.
www.masport.co.nz
more at www. facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
MARCH-JUNE 2022 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 09