New point of sale displays for Heatwave solid fuels are set to enhance the current offering from Deco-Pak, UK suppliers of consumables for the home and garden during Winter and Summer.

The new merchandisers have been introduced to more effectively display Deco-Pak’s wide selection of solid fuel and heating products.  The Winter Heatwave range represents a wide variety of items from one supplier; including not only coal, logs and Eco Blocks, but also kindling, firelighters and long safety matches.  Deco-Pak’s Heatwave range can be merchandised in attractive palletised dumpbins for quick and easy display or storage.

Deco-Pak’s Heatwave Winter and Summer fuels are all-weather for extended outdoor storage.

Unlike other summer BBQ charcoal, the Deco-Pak Heatwave range features POS and packaging designed to be high impact, all-weather, and save space on the shop floor.  Each of the four bags of charcoal in the range are a different colour for added visual appeal and to encourage repeat sales.

The Summer Heatwave range includes Lumpwood Charcoal 5kg RRP £6.99, Charcoal Briquettes 5kg RRP £6.99, Premium Grade Charcoal 10kg RRP £12.99 and Instant Lite Charcoal 6KG RRP £12.99.

Pre and End of Season offers are available on both Winter solid fuels and BBQ charcoal.

FloodSax are an exciting new product that is now being distributed in the UK by Huddersfield based, family run company Deco-Pak, and could be set to replace sandbags as a lighter, more efficient form of temporary flood defence.

FloodSax (RRP £59.99 for a bundle of five) are vacuum packed to save space, each only weighing 20g, yet able to absorb an astonishing 25kg of water.

Craig Hall, Deco-Pak’s Marketing Director said: “After the floods at the beginning of the year, we saw a sharp uptake in demand for our sand bags, which prompted us to explore more advanced solutions.  Adding FloodSax to our range represents a great opportunity for retailers to provide innovative products to solve a problem that is more than ever at the forefront of customers minds.”

How to use FloodSax
1. Fill a sink, bucket or similar vessel with water (rainwater can also be used).
2. Soak the individual bags one at a time, for 3 minutes each.
3. Remove the bag, being sure to use the correct manual handling technique
4. Place and mould the sacks across doorways or air vents, or build a flood defence wall by staggering the sacks to stop water from getting through gaps.

FloodSax are fully tried and tested, can be used as a barrier, to soak up water or to divert floodwater towards drains and away from the house.  Businesses have also used FloodSax to ensure they are able to keep trading, as seen in the following Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY9tnt8F2ok

Manufactured in the UK, FloodSax are easy to store and when deployed can last 3 months.  The sacks are biodegradable meaning low environmental impact and repeat sales for retailers.

FloodSax measure 500mm x 450mm and can absorb up to 20 litres of water, with each retail pack contains 5 sacks.

Deco-Pak, suppliers of quality, easy-to-use aggregates and paving, is increasing the amount of how-to information on their packs and point of sale.  Rod Slater, General Manager for Deco-Pak, explains why this is so important for maximising sales.

Share what you know with the customer
It’s easy for us in the industry to get complacent and assume all of our customers know how to use the products we sell.  But that’s not always the case – and thinking like this can cost valuable sales.  The Deco-Pak Easybuild range is a good example of a new way of thinking. Feedback we have received from customers suggests that there is a need to make things like paving and fencing easier for beginners, new customers and those looking for new products they can trust.   EasyBuild is a new range consisting of staple DIY building materials such as post mix and concrete, addresses this issue by using packaging and POS that instantly conveys what the product is for, with how-to information, a scannable QR code and web links to add even more value.

Trust issues
Providing the customer with easy to follow advice is a sure fire way to develop trust, something that has never been more relevant in today’s modern throwaway culture.  More and more consumers have experience of buying products that didn’t work as well as they had expected, so are now more wary than ever before.  Building trust is a continuous process, and even though Deco-Pak has won the trust of hundreds and thousands of consumers that have bought our products, we still need to keep upping our game.  Even our charcoal summer fuels range, which is easy enough for the barbecue enthusiast, still includes how-to information and hardwearing packaging to reinforce the bond of trust that consumers need.

Selling cheap comes at a price
Deco-Pak strive to provide RRPs that maximise profit margins, whilst also offering promotions that drive bulk buying, but we all know that to focus on price only works in the short term.  The pre-built merchandisers for our paving range for example, not only come with deals provided on the attached POS, but also features scannable QR codes, designed to instil confidence in the customer, leaving them feeling reassured that they will be helped beyond their purchase.

Through using informative, helpful packaging and POS, we can build trust and give customers confidence – confidence that they are getting a good deal, with a product that lives up to its expectations. Empowering the customer with knowledge and confidence in their DIY endeavours is a great way, we believe, in ensuring repeat sales long term.

The Chelsea Garden range is a new selection of growing media developed by Deco-Pak to appeal to consumers looking for landscaping materials specifically designed to make their gardens and lawns blossom.

Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show and the heritage and contemporary design the show represents, the new range includes quality staples for professional and amateur gardeners alike.

Craig Hall, Marketing Director for Deco-Pak said: “Since Glee 2013 we have been working on developing our offering to include comprehensive ranges designed to be easier for retailers to stock, as well as ensuring the consumer can easily select the right products for the job.  The Chelsea Garden range is a continuation of this, and demonstrates a move into more traditional, core gardening products.”

An overview of the Chelsea Garden Range

Sterilised Top Soil RRP £3.99
A premium grade product which facilitates proper root growth, it can also be added to compost to improve aeration.

Lawn Top Dressing RRP £4.49
For promoting lawn root growth to discourage weeds for a healthier lawn.

Horticultural Sharp Sand RRP £3.99
Quality lime-free sand that can be used to break up clay and improve drainage and aeration.

Horticultural Grit RRP £4.49
Ideal pot topping to improve drainage and aeration within compost and soil.

Lytag RRP £5.99
A unique lightweight aggregate that acts as a water retention agent, ideal for use in all weather conditions.

Horticultural Pea Gravel  RRP £3.99
This washed, lime-free gravel is perfect for top dressing to retain moisture in containers as well as use in propagation

Horticultural Silver Sand RRP £3.99
Quality lime-free silica sand that can be used for seed compost, cuttings and lawn top dressing.

The Chelsea Range is accompanied by a new pallet merchandiser that features links and QR codes to expert advice, making the stand highly interactive. Also featuring clear multi-buy offers, the stand is designed primarily to sell product quickly, using optimum use of space within busy outdoor areas.

Parents looking for educational products to challenge and engage their children, will love the latest additions to Deco-Pak’s thriving Garden-Bazaar range of hand crafted decorative birdhouses and bird feeders.  A unique product offering that creates valuable impulse sales opportunities throughout the year, the Design-Your-Own range is another profit boosting innovation from Deco-Pak.

The Design-Your-Own Birdhouse and Bird feeder (RRP £12.99 each) are both hand crafted from non-toxic materials, and come with paint brushes, paints and instructions, all suitable for children ages 4+.
Both products are designed in the UK as part of the `Garden-Bazaar’ decorative birdhouse and feeder range, which was launched to a receptive market at Glee 2013. Deco-Pak’s Marketing Director, Craig Hall, said: “We have had a very successful past twelve months with the market responding extremely well to our decorative bird feeders and birdhouses, so we are very pleased to be back at Glee a year later with the entire range plus these new additions.”

The Garden-Bazaar range includes intricately designed period houses, a red telephone box, a lighthouse and even Doctor Who’s blue police box.  Craig added: “The latest addition to our Garden Bazaar range is designed to encourage kids to learn about wildlife at an earlier age, which is really important to their development.  For retailers, the new additions represent a great opportunity to attract interest from the next generation of customer and increase autumn and winter sales.”

Deco-Pak is blazing the exhibition trail this Autumn

Join them at Autumn Fair (7th – 10th Sept) & Glee (14th – 16th Sept)

With the ink on the Harrogate Gift fair orders still drying, Deco-Pak – the UK’s leading supplier of decorative aggregates, landscaping and DIY materials – is already starting preparations for the forthcoming Autumn Fair and Glee exhibitions.

Design-Your-Own at Autumn Fair

Marking one year since the launch of its hugely popular Garden Bazaar range of decorative bird house and feeders, Deco-Pak will be using Autumn Fair to launch the latest additions to the collection – the Design-Your-Own (DYO) birdhouse and feeder.  Suitable for children aged four and above, each house or feeder comes complete with paint brushes, paint and instructions, and represent a great way of getting children interested in nature and the importance of looking after the birds that visit our gardens.  Additionally, the DYO collection is a great addition to any retail wild birdcare offering, as with RRP’s start from just £17.99 there is little doubt of its gift and impulse buy potential.

Deco-Pak will also be bringing to Autumn Fair the full Garden Bazaar range – as featured on the Alan Titchmarsh Show – including the best-selling Telephone Box feeder, and Sea Cliff Cottage bird house. Find out more about this exciting product offering by visiting Deco-Pak on-stand in Autumn Fair Hall 3, stand G06.

Celebrating 10 years in business at Glee 2014

This year Deco-Pak’s stand (Hall 20, stand G26/H27 & H30/H31) at Glee will be packed with activities to celebrate its 10th anniversary, both as a business and also as Glee exhibitors. To mark these anniversaries the team will host a champagne and strawberry and cream reception on Sunday 14th (9.00 am – 12.00pm), and a special prize draw on-stand.

The company will also be launching several new products from its 2015 ranges, including new gravel designs, plus a new collection of growing media.  The Garden Bazaar range of bird houses and feeders will be further boosted with a stunning selection of British-designed birdhouses.  New packaging for all products in the range will also be showcased, demonstrating Deco-Pak’s commitment to providing retailers with complete retail solutions. Additionally, all orders placed during the show will be subject to an exclusive Glee-only discount, including a reduction of £250 on standard carriage-paid charges.

Deco-Pak’s marketing manager, Craig Hall, said: “September is set to be an incredibly busy month for us but it’s also extremely exciting as we have a lots to celebrate – from new product launches to key milestones for our business. We’re looking forward to seeing customers – both new and existing – and building valuable, long-term business with them.”

Dedicated to delivering market leading customer service: Deco-Pak confirms investment in improved stock & transport systems

Following an exceptional start to the summer season, Deco-Pak, the UK’s leading supplier of aggregates and landscaping products, has confirmed that it is has further invested in its stock and transport systems, to ensure even higher levels of service and customer satisfaction can be achieved.

The team at Deco-Pak is dedicated to delivering the best possible customer service to its customers, and this further investment will no doubt help to further cement this reputation.  From improved stock availability, to an increased distribution network, key aspects of the business will benefit from this investment, aspects that will no doubt also benefit retailers in both the short and long term.

Craig Hall, Deco-Pak’s marketing manager said: “We’re always looking at ways to improve our business, and felt that now was the right time to invest in both our stock and transport systems. We’ve already purchased some new machinery that will enable us to increase stock levels significantly, and will shortly be finalising a new transportation partnership, which will see our distribution network grow, whilst also improving our delivery lead times. We’ve also welcomed a number of new staff to our warehousing facility, meaning we are now in a position to offer our customers even more unrivalled service levels.”
Additionally, Deco-Pak will further improve its recently re-launched website.  Featuring an updated visual design, the new website will feature a more user-friendly format, and even more consumer-focussed content including videos and improved stockist information.  Further details about the website will be announced soon.
Craig added: “The announcement surrounding our investment in our stock and transport systems marks an exciting period for us as we ramp up activity ahead of Glee 2014.  We’ve some exciting plans for the show this year, and hope that our customers – both existing and potential – will join us on-stand to find out more.”

Deco-Pak, the UK’s leading supplier of decorative aggregates, landscaping and DIY materials, have announced an increase in sales of 47% year on year.

The company claims that rising demand for their products are partly due to a sustained increase in house prices and a lack of new housing, prompting many homeowners to spend more on their properties.
Deco-Pak’s Managing Director, Mike Hall said that the company’s recent increase in sales is linked to several attributes, one of which being house prices rising and a shortage of housing for those that are selling and looking to buy.

“People tend to spend more on improving their homes and gardens in these situations.  If you are waiting for houses to come onto the market you are left with nothing other to do than continue to work on your property, adding extensions or improving paving, paths or driveways.”

Deco-Pak are based in the North of England, where house prices have risen 5.8%.

“There is also a feeling of wealth that comes from knowing your property is worth more.  So even if homeowners aren’t looking to sell, they are more likely to consider investing in larger scale improvements.  Weather, as always, is a factor, and since the awful floods earlier this year, we should also see sales coming from those wishing to spend more time outside, making repairs and trying to make the most of drier and sunnier weather.”

Other factors to take into account are Deco-Pak’s new product ranges, enhanced merchandising solutions and improvements to the company as a whole; not to mention the improved spring weather and the company’s recent acquisition of Livingstone’s sales team.

“A lot of companies are making cuts, whereas we feel we are growing in size, with improvements in our merchandising and a larger sales team able to serve our customers even better than before.  We are able to launch exciting, high quality products to complement our core range; such as our unique birdhouses and Tidal Water features range.  Our latest successful new product launch, Easybuild; is a selection of products such as cement and sharp sand that appeals directly to consumers that are less experienced at home improvements.  It’s very popular with retailers looking to stock inexpensive, easy to merchandise basic materials all in one stand with attractive, eye-catching point of sale.”

Find out more
Retailers that are looking to share in the Deco-Pak success story can contact them by telephone – 01422 204394, fax – 01422 204544, or email via the Contact Page

Deco-Pak’s range of products include:

• Decorative Aggregates such as Golden Gravel, Red Flame, Moonstone & Lytag (NEW)
• Easybuild DIY products – Sand, Cement, Post Mix, Mixed Ballast, Concrete Mix, Patio & Slab Mix
• Slate, Paddlestones and Cobbles from different areas of the UK and Spain
• Alpine Grit, Spar and Pot Toppings suitable for finishing touches
• Crystal Glass
• Plastic, Terracotta and Contemporary (made in the UK) Planters and Pots
• Aquatic Gravels
• Playpit Sand, Coloured Play Sand and Bark
• Ground and Weed Control Fabric (NEW display stand available)
• Paving and Patio Accessories
• Growing Media – Ever-Bloom™ Composts, Top soil, Bark, Manure, Potting Grit
• Boulders and Rocks for creating rockeries
• Bird Tables and Birdhouses

Figures from the Office for National Statistics
UK house prices increased by 9.1% in the year to February 2014, up from 6.8% in the year to January 2014
Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 5.8% in the 12 months to February 2014
Pull out box – Figures from the Office for National Statistics