UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 13, 2025 / As winter draws to a close, businesses should be preparing for the annual surge in demand for gardening and outdoor activity products. Pallet Trucks UK, a leading provider of high-quality manual handling equipment, is urging warehouses and retailers to ensure they have the right tools in place to cope with the seasonal spike in stock movements.

Spring marks a boom period for products such as sacks of soil, seeds, gardening tools, tents, and hiking equipment, as consumers embrace the outdoors. The UK has a well-documented love of gardening, with an estimated 27 million people - 42% of the population - participating in the hobby. 

This enthusiasm extends across generations, with 54% of millennials now preferring a trip to a garden centre over a nightclub. Spending on gardening has also grown, rising from £6.2 billion in 2020 to £7.6 billion in 2021, and the trend shows no signs of slowing in more recent years.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Trucks UK, said, “The surge in interest in gardening and outdoor activities means businesses must be ready to handle large, often heavy shipments efficiently. As demand spikes, warehouses and retailers will need reliable manual handling equipment to ensure smooth operations and protect workers from unnecessary strain.”

The seasonal nature of gardening and outdoor activity markets means that supply chains can become stretched if businesses are unprepared. Bulk deliveries of compost, gravel, and large gardening tools require efficient handling to keep stock moving quickly and safely. Likewise, the increasing popularity of camping and hiking has driven up demand for tents, rucksacks, and other outdoor essentials.

Failing to anticipate this rush can lead to bottlenecks in warehouses, overworked staff, and missed sales opportunities. Investing in dependable equipment such as manual pallet trucks, electric pallet trucks and weighing-scale pallet trucks, businesses can move stock quickly, protecting both productivity and worker wellbeing.

“With the right preparation, businesses can turn the seasonal surge into a real opportunity,” added Chesworth. “Those who have the right equipment in place will be able to keep up with demand and deliver excellent service to customers eager to enjoy the great outdoors.”

For more information, please visit: www.pallettrucksuk.co.uk.