Staycationing Scots splish, splash the cash as hot tubs and home bars turn our gardens all-inclusive
Families stay at home in comfort in DIY resorts
‘ Market size is double what it was before Covid. Inquiries are through the roof
Locked-down scots are using retur ned deposits from cancelled summer breaks to recreate holidays at home.
Sales of hot tubs and home bars have gone through the roof as staycationers go allinclusive... their gardens.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in sales – about 100% since lockdown began,” said Mark Aikman, dealer principal for hot- tub firm Hydropool Scotland.
“The market size is double what it was before Covid as people are deciding to splash out at home the money they have had refunded or were saving to book a holiday abroad this summer. People still have money to spend and it means we are busier than ever.”
Hydropool Scotland installs hot tubs starting at about £ 4,000 and swim spas, which can involve £40,000 of investment.
The company’s headquarters recently installed swim spas in the gardens of members of the GB Olympic swim team so they could continue vital training for the competition in Tokyo in 2021, postponed because of the coronavirus crisis.
“Inquiries and orders have been through the roof, so we have been working right through,” said Mark. “People realise these products are an investment, so they’re not only going to make the most of their outdoor space this summer, but for many years to come.”
Melanie Russell, managing director of Outside In Garden Rooms, a Scottish company that specialises in the manufacture of garden rooms, said: “We have been absolutely slammed. Both orders and inquiries are off the scale. Business has certainly doubled for us during lockdown, and could be as much as threefold. It’s just incredible.”
Melanie added: “People have realised they are not going to get their summer holiday and that working from home is going to be a long- term thing. So they are looking to make the most of the outdoor space they have and transform it into something new.
They’re spending the money they would spend on a two-week holiday on something that will last 20 or 30 years.”
Mum- of- two Melanie, who started the Gl a s g ow - b a s e d business back in May 2018, added: “Our starting price for a garden room is about £ 12,000 but they can go up to £ 30,000 depending on size and facilities.
And they can be multi- use, from a relaxing outdoor space, home office and home gym to teenage hangout and disco room.
“Lockdown has made people rethink how they live their lives and embrace spending much more time at home than they ever have. So it’s nice to have an escape from the house, somewhere at a short distance you can go to work or to relax – and have alone time if you have a busy house.”
Melanie added: “If you are working from home, it can be hard to shut off. A garden office allows people to set boundaries. It means you can still experience that feeling of leaving the house to go to work – and coming home at the end of a hard day.”