By Claire Reilly
Retailers across the north, west and south of Australia can expect a warmer than usual winter, according to recent data released by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) — information that may have an impact on seasonal appliance sales as winter wears on.
The BOM’s National Temperature Outlook for June to August indicates that coastal areas of Australia, particularly in the north and west, have a higher chance of exceeding the long-term median minimum and maximum temperatures.
“Warmer days are more likely over the north, south and west coasts of Australia, with cooler days more likely over large parts of the southeast mainland,” the outlook report on the BOM website read. “Warmer nights are more likely over the tropical north, western WA and southern Australia.”
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This news may come as no surprise to some retailers, and with seasonal appliances a notoriously difficult category to navigate, the lack of icy temperatures at the start of winter can be an significant hurdle for achieving good sales.
According to Sam Limbert, owner of Naracoorte Leading Appliances, south-east of Adelaide, despite a drop in temperatures over the past few weeks, sales of big ticket-heating appliances have not been forthcoming.
But it’s not just the weather reports affecting consumer spending, as Limbert explained.
“We’re selling a lot of electric blankets and heated throws, because consumers are concerned about power use,” she said. “To run something like a fan heater, people are quite worried about how much power is used.
“Electric blankets and heated throws seem to be much more popular this year. Consumers are also looking for more panel heaters, which are cheaper to run. They’re looking for a smaller, cheaper more instant type of heat.
“At the moment nobody is spending any money, so it’s a very calculated purchase.”