As the UK rental market continues to expand, it presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for those in the commercial gardening and horticulture sectors. With an increasing number of individuals opting for renting over homeownership, the demand for garden-related products is shifting, impacting sales across the country. This provides us with a great opportunity to analyse how such businesses can still thrive amid the renting landscape, so let’s take a look!
Shifts In Commercial Gardening Trends: Minimal Space Maximum Impact
The rise in UK renting has sparked notable shifts in commercial gardening trends. With more and more people living in rental properties, there's a growing demand for low-maintenance, portable, and space-efficient gardening solutions. Vertical gardens and modular plant systems have gained popularity, catering to renters who want to cultivate green spaces without making permanent changes to their homes.
Additionally, there's an increased interest in indoor plants and herbs, as they're easily transportable when tenants move. As a result, commercial garden businesses focus more on compact tools, decorative indoor plant pots and indoor hanging baskets like macrame. From a limited outdoor perspective, retailers are also focusing on multi-functional furniture and versatile planters that suit smaller outdoor areas or balconies. These trends reflect the adaptability of the commercial market to the changing needs of UK renters, presenting new opportunities for businesses to innovate and diversify their product offerings. Whilst the increase in UK renting may initially raise alarm bells for the commercial garden sector, sales are still rising, just with the spotlight on different products.
What this shift has highlighted is that commercial garden centres can create dedicated sections for ‘renter-friendly’ products, showcasing easy-to-move outdoor furniture and low-maintenance plant varieties. Within this section, you could also find educational packs on caring for indoor plants, kits with appropriate tools, or even gifts like stationery targeted to this specific audience. Retailers can make this feature as big or small as they desire depending on their space & target audience within the area - garden retailers that are close to city centres may find more renters nearby.
A service that is trending within the renting landscape is subscription-based services for indoor plants. Subscribers can pay a monthly fee to receive plants specifically tailored to their living conditions – considering factors like space, temperature and light. Businesses are using this to even promote health benefits like improved air quality and mental health, a great example of the commercial sector adapting to a changing climate.
While more millennials and Gen Zs are looking after houseplants rather than spending time out in the garden, do we think the pendulum will swing back to us being in our gardens? From a recruitment standpoint, the houseplant obsession with these generations has boosted interest in the horticulture industry and we see more and more candidates in their twenties looking at more careers in horticulture. If you are interested in a career in horticulture don’t hesitate to reach out!
Click here to get in touch!
