New data from ecommerce accelerator Pattern reveals good news for Brits who are trying to keep cool this summer, with products to help people manage the heat currently cheaper to buy versus this time last year.
Whether people are shopping for heatwave-related products for the current warmer weather or in preparation for the next heatwave, the insights show stocking up on ways to keep cool now will save them money:
- Pricing of fans as an overall product category is down by 14%
- Air conditioning units are currently 13% cheaper on average than last summer
- Room fans and desk fans are 12% and 9% cheaper respectively
- Prices for Hand-held portable fans are down 19%
- The viral favourite neck fans are down 17%
…And keeping areas throughout the home cool can be a challenging task when temperatures rise, with many opting to keep blinds and curtains shut. Those looking to invest in blackout blinds will find they save around 3%.
Brits will not only be thinking about how they can keep cool but how they can keep their beloved pets cool in the warmer weather. Currently, cooling mats for pets are 8% cheaper than this time last year.
For Brits that are keen to enjoy a frozen treat during the heat, icy lolly moulds 11% cheaper and ice makers down by 6%. Other items that showed a reduction in price compared to this time last year include dehumidifiers (-11%), sandals (-8%) and ice towels (-5%).
To identify the pricing trends, Pattern looked at products often purchased to keep cool in the heat and compared the average price for June 2024 to June 2023.
While some may get ahead in stocking up on summer essentials to stay cool, not all of us are that organised and may not realise what we need until a heat wave strikes. The UK’s recent heat waves likely caught many by surprise after a slow start to warmer summer weather, but the data insights should give all shoppers peace of mind that they will not be paying more for products aimed at keeping them, their homes and their pets cooler this summer.
– Torsten Schäfer, General Manager Europe, Pattern