The rush to buy electric blankets and hot water bottles, what else will the British buy this winter?

As energy prices continue to rise, 37% of UK consumers plan to buy products to prepare for a prolonged period without heating, according to new research from eBay Adds .

The survey of 1,000 UK respondents found that a quarter (25%) are looking to buy heating products to keep their homes warm, while a fifth (18%) plan to buy energy-efficient products .

In addition, data from eBay Ads also shows that purchases of related products usually increase at the beginning of autumn - for example, in October 2021, searches for " electric blankets " on eBay UK increased by 147% from the previous month , while searches for "thermos bottles" and "loft insulation materials" increased by 121% and 80% respectively during the same period.

However, as energy prices continue to soar this year, consumers appear to be thinking early about preparing for cold weather : searches for " electric blankets " increased 132% in July 2022 compared to July 2021 , and searches for "attic insulation " also increased 37% from the same period last year.

On the other hand, soaring prices are also affecting consumer behavior to a certain extent. 58% of consumers said that they will carefully arrange their family budget expenditures this winter due to the rising cost of living . More than one-third (36%) of the respondents said that in order to save money, they plan to reduce social activities outside this winter, and nearly half (49%) of the respondents plan to eat more at home for the same reason.

In October last year , searches for " cutlery sets " increased by 61% month-on-month, while searches for "wine glasses" and "carafe bottles " increased by 47% and 40% respectively during the same period.

The survey also found that Britons plan to spend more time at home this winter , a trend that is likely to become more pronounced in the coming weeks .

More than a quarter (28%) of consumers said they plan to decorate their homes this winter to make them a nice place to spend time , and more than one in five (21%) plan to add new items to make their homes more comfortable.

For retailers and sellers who want to understand consumer shopping behavior, it’s clear that value — like discounts and bargains — should be top of mind. As eBay Ads previously reported, used items continue to be a focus for consumers in order to save money .

It’s clear that the rising cost of living will have a significant impact on consumer behavior this winter as Brits struggle to make ends meet. In the coming months, warmth and home products will be a major focus for British consumers, with a preference for products that offer good value for money.

Therefore, brands and sellers alike should ensure that their products are aligned with this trend in order to meet the changing needs of customers and ultimately achieve satisfactory sales .

U.K.

Energy crisis

Electric blanket