The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) hosted a networking webinar with Lakeland on 24 November at which Philippa Simons, Head of Buying and Scott Jefferson, Lakeland’s Commercial Director outlined the retailer’s plans. The presentation covered both an overview of Lakeland’s marketplace and three-year view, as well as touching on its specifically Covid-related learnings.
Key areas were the retailer’s category management strategy and its approach to Eco products, packaging and sustainability.
Philippa and Scott shared details about Lakeland’s winning categories strategy in which clear opportunities were explored and driven forward, credible categories benefitted from investment across good, better and best, and ‘best of’ categories were carefully curated to focus on key products. The Lakeland Stars concept in which individual products were particularly promoted was also outlined.
One of the ‘winning categories’ was identified as ‘Eco’, and Philippa outlined the retailer’s approach to sustainability. Authenticity was identified as massively important with Lakeland committing to proper investigation of wholistic eco credentials ahead of apparently pioneering, but ultimately compromised concepts. As a member of WRAP, Lakeland has the resources to verify eco authenticity in detail, but Philippa stressed the extent to which eco product and even more particularly eco packaging were areas of potentially significant expansion. This would include commitment to both branded products and an own label Lakeland Eco brand in 2021.
Scott also outlined a series of ‘Covid-learnings’ and the steps taken by Lakeland to address them in store and online. Observations included changes in store visit motivation from browse to buy, a significantly elevated engagement with marketing and a revitalised interest in print- led initiatives, thanks to increased time to browse and research.
To register for any of BHETA’s current or future events, contact Nicola Adams at the BHETA Member Services Team on 07946 078566, or alternatively, email on na@bheta.co.uk
