Dance with a rake: how much will the "May cottager set" cost
The "cottager's index", which includes inventory, seeds, seedlings and a garden wheelbarrow, amounted to about 12 thousand rubles before the May holidays, the OFD Platform calculated. The cold weather in April made its own adjustments, and Russians purchased goods for the garden and vegetable garden less actively than usual during this period. However, the demand for suburban power tools has increased. Older Russians mostly plan to plant vegetables on their plots, analysts say. It is important to carefully check the cottage after the winter season, so that the weekend passes without incident, the experts recalled.
How much is spent on gardening tools
Russians traditionally prepare for gardening in April by purchasing seedlings and necessary equipment, according to the data from the analytical resource "Check Index" of the OFD Platform company (it processes data from every third cash register in the country). On average, 2.6 thousand rubles were spent on summer and garden goods in April, which is 10% higher than last year. However, the number of purchases decreased slightly. For online purchases, the average receipt was 4,6 thousand rubles, which is 18% higher than last year.
On average, Russians spent 3.4 thousand rubles in April on a set of gardening equipment (rakes, shovels, etc.), seedlings, seedlings and seeds. The purchase of a wheelbarrow or trolley increased expenses by another 8,9 thousand rubles, calculated in the "Check Index". In total, the complete set of the "May cottager" will amount to about 12 thousand rubles.
The weather factor has made serious adjustments to the cycle of demand for garden and country goods, analysts at Check Index noted. Increased demand for them was recorded back in February, when the number of purchases exceeded last year's figures by 25-30%, but then began to decline.
"In April, the situation was aggravated by unstable weather, which contributed to a decline in sales," the analysts stressed. — In the structure of unit sales, only the categories of durable everyday goods, primarily those intended for cleaning, have maintained a stable upward trend.
In addition, summer residents are trying to make it easier to carry out work on spring plots, as evidenced by the growing interest in buying garden power tools, especially with batteries.
Most of the goods for the garden and vegetable garden are still bought in non-chain retail — in markets and small shops.
"But the flow of the buyer of garden goods to online continues, where the average purchase receipt is noticeably higher due to the larger volume of purchases per order," the analysts added.
The growth of online orders in garden categories in the first quarter, according to their estimates, was 10-15% year-on-year.
Online platforms have confirmed the growing interest in gardening and gardening equipment, for example, on Avito such sales increased by 41% compared to March and by 10% compared to April 2024. In April, Russians were twice as likely to purchase pruning shears as last year, and garden shears, buckets, and rakes were a third more likely. Sales of carts and wheelbarrows also increased.
How to prepare for the summer season
The majority, or 59%, of Russians over the age of 35 plan to continue growing vegetables on their land, even if prices for them in stores fall by two to three times, according to a survey conducted by Grodan. Among young people under the age of 35, only 31% expressed a desire to engage in gardening.
"The general trend shows that the older generation remains committed to the tradition of growing vegetables in their garden, while young people prefer to buy them in the store," the study notes.
Among the older generation, 65% plan to plant cucumbers and tomatoes this year, 27% of respondents have already grown seedlings, and 35% are planning to purchase ready-made ones.
Only 34% of home-grown vegetable lovers know how to properly plant seedlings in the ground. Another 24% are familiar with the basic recommendations, while the rest operate by trial and error.
Before the start of the holiday season, it is important to check the condition of the cottage and its safety so that nothing overshadows the rest, experts reminded. According to them, one of the most common causes of fires is a violation of the integrity of electrical wiring. Old or damaged wiring can overheat, cause a short circuit or spark. It is recommended to check its condition at least once a year, especially if the house is old or has not been repaired for a long time.
You should also make sure that the sockets, switches, and switchboards are in good working order. To minimize the risk of fire, it is important to check the tightness of gas connections, clean and test boilers and furnaces before starting use.
The use of non-flammable materials will help reduce the risk of a fire in the house, especially if the house has a fireplace, recalled Alexander Korshunov, manager of the DIY and acoustics segments at ROCKWOOL.
— When buying non-combustible material, you need to provide supporting documents, and not take the sellers' word for it. The fire hazard characteristics of the materials must be confirmed by a certificate of conformity," he stressed.
You can check the certificates on the website of the Unified Register of Certificates of Conformity. If the certificate is suspended or revoked, the materials may pose a health hazard, the expert explained.
It is important to maintain fire-fighting systems in good condition, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reminded. It is necessary to install a fire alarm system in the house and have fire extinguishers in good condition, the department urged.
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