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Warman Home Centre floor manager Curtis Penner is seeing lots of activity at his store – just not the typical crowds or what he might see as typical demand over the last several weeks.
While big and more complicated home renovations may not be as popular right now, there’s been a growing demand for simpler do-it-yourself projects.
“The folks are trying to find that balance between isolating themselves and keeping themselves sane by doing some home improvement projects,” he says. “Some of the main areas we’ve seen that is in our paint department.”
In fact, sales of indoor paint have nearly tripled over usual demand at this time of year. Along with the demand for paint – are small furniture projects that are becoming more popular. Material for those types of projects is at least double what he usually sees.
“We’re finding folks getting into some of the live edge lumber products that we’ve got here; making tables and accent pieces and stuff like that along with black iron fittings…they’re creating shelf brackets and shelf units out of these different fittings.”
It’s all in the name of keeping busy and getting creative, Penner believes.
So far, there hasn’t been an issue with suppliers for materials or products other than masks, which remain in high demand. Those who don’t want to work inside their home are finding other ways to begin working on their yards or even farm outbuildings.
“We’ve had folks inquiring about landscaping products,” Penner adds. “In their minds, they’re getting their plans in place and budgets in place, whether it’s concrete blocks or retaining walls or some of the timber products used for garden boxes.”
Much of that business is also happening over the phone, rather than customers coming into the store.
“Whether it’s taking a picture on your phone and sending in drawings, or quote requests as opposed to the ‘across the desk’ discussions that have been a large part of our business. We’re encouraging people to work through their projects that way.”
