Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
April is National Home Improvement Month (NHIM) and, as the name suggests, it’s a consumer awareness campaign organised by the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) encouraging people to improve their homes by making one change – big or small – this month.
A survey conducted by Vital Research on behalf of BHETA revealed that almost three-quarters (69%) of homeowners across the UK don’t love their homes, only 21% feel proud of their homes and 10% feel embarrassed by their homes. The research was carried out online from November 15 to November 19 2018 and the sample comprised 2,001 UK home owners.
A number of survey respondents reportedly felt home improvements were overwhelming, didn’t know where to begin or just avoided them altogether because they felt they didn’t have enough knowledge to make changes.
Some 30% felt uncomfortable hanging pictures, 40% felt uncomfortable putting together flat pack furniture, and only 39% felt comfortable redesigning their gardens. Additionally, when making a DIY to-do list for home improvements, 41% said they were destined to never tick off the jobs that need doing.
NHIM ambassadors Julia Kendall, the former host of BBC One series ‘DIY SOS’ and ITV’s ‘60 Minute Makeover’ and TV presenter and property and DIY interiors expert Georgina Burnett, recommend prioritising home improvements by starting with just one change to get started.
Julia said: “Making home improvements can be addictive but it can also become overwhelming if there’s too much to do. That’s why the aim of NHIM is simply to encourage people to make one change.” Georgina added: “So many people lead busy and often stressful lives, so the emotional benefits of improving your home environment are immeasurable. We all need a home that supports our day-to-day living.”
The campaign is challenging consumers to make one change by taking part in a competition with the opportunity to win £750 worth of home improvement goodies from NHIM sponsors L G Harris, Valspar Paints and Schneider Electric. All entrants need to do is email a picture of their home improvement to info@homeimprovementmonth.co.uk, along with the reasons why they decided to #MakeOneChange (in no more than 30 words), before April 30.
Using the registered tag line ‘Love The Home You Live In’, the consumer awareness month will also see other suppliers such as Doulton Water Filters. Fiskars, Husqvarna (Gardena, Flymo, McCulloch, Jonsered, Universal), Shurtape (Frog Tape, Duck tape, T-Rex Tape), Ronseal, Gorilla Glue, Croydex, Urfic UK, ZEP UK, Yale and Nilfisk working together to engage with consumers and stimulate retail sales before and during the key Easter sales period.
For more information visit: http://www.homeimprovementmonth.co.uk/
