Why Autumn POS planning should start before the leaves fall
Advice from Mark Moseley, Handy’s Sales & Marketing Director at Handy
For garden machinery dealers and retailers, autumn planning should not start when the leaves begin to fall. It should start before then.
That is the advice from Mark Moseley, Sales & Marketing Director at Handy, who believes retailers can make more of the autumn sales period by preparing their product displays, seasonal messaging and add-on sales opportunities early.
“Autumn is a very practical selling season,” says Mark. “Customers are not always browsing in the same way they might in spring. They often have a job they need to get done. Leaves need clearing, hedges need tidying, logs need cutting and lawns need preparing for winter. The easier retailers make that journey, the more confident customers will feel when buying.”
According to Mark, the best autumn displays are not just about putting machines on show. They should help customers understand the full solution.
“A customer looking at a blower may also need a garden refuse bag, a spare collection bag, a lawn sweeper or a wheelbarrow. Someone buying a chainsaw may need chain oil, fuel cans, safety equipment or a saw horse. These are natural add-on sales, but they only happen if the customer can see the connection.”
Help customers shop by task
Mark recommends that dealers think less about product categories and more about the jobs customers are trying to complete.
A Leaf Clearing Zone could bring together blowers, blower vacuums, lawn sweepers, wheelbarrows, refuse bags and spare collection bags.
A Log Cutting & Splitting Display could feature chainsaws, pruning saws, log splitters, saw horses, chain oil, fuel cans and safety kits.
Autumn Garden Clear-Up Bay could include hedge trimmers, long-reach hedge trimmers, shredders, pruning tools and garden clearing products.
“Simple seasonal messages can make a big difference,” says Mark. “Something like ‘Clear leaves faster’, ‘Prepare logs for winter’ or ‘Tidy hedges before the cold weather’ helps customers connect the product to the job they need to do.”
Make the display do more of the selling
Autumn customers are often practical buyers. They may not know the exact product they need, but they know the problem they want to solve.
That is where good POS can support both the customer and the dealer.
“Displays should answer three simple questions,” says Mark. “What job does this product help me do? Is it right for my garden? What else do I need to complete the task?”
Good, better and best options can also help customers make quicker decisions. For example, a retailer could display an entry-level electric blower, a cordless blower for convenience and a blower vacuum for customers who want to collect and shred leaves. The same approach can work across chainsaws, hedge trimmers, log splitters and pressure washers.
Do not hide the accessories
Mark also encourages retailers to give parts and accessories a stronger presence during autumn.
“Oils, spark plugs, fuel cans, safety kits, chainsaw accessories and replacement bags should not be hidden away. When they are placed next to the machines they support, customers are more likely to buy everything they need in one visit.”
For dealers, this can help increase basket value while also improving the customer experience.
“No one wants to get home with a new machine and then realise they are missing something important. A good display helps prevent that.”
Plan early, sell with confidence
Handy’s Autumn Promotions 2026 have been created to help trade customers prepare for seasonal demand, with promotional pricing across key autumn categories including chainsaws, log splitters, blowers, vacuums, hedge trimmers, shredders, scarifiers, pressure washers, spare parts, oils and accessories. The promotion also includes extended payment terms on qualifying orders placed before the end of October, helping dealers/retailers stock up with more confidence ahead of the season.
“The retailers who plan early are usually the ones who make the most of the season,” says Mark. “It gives them time to secure stock, brief their teams, prepare displays and put the right products in front of customers before demand peaks.”
Whether customers are clearing leaves, cutting logs, tidying hedges, shredding garden waste or preparing lawns for winter, Mark’s message is simple.
“Autumn planning starts now. The right stock, the right display and the right advice can turn seasonal jobs into stronger sales.”
Find out more Trade customers can visit handytrade.co.uk to sign up for a Handy Trade account, view current promotions and place orders online. Alternatively, speak with your Handy Area Sales Manager sales@handys.co.uk to discuss autumn stock, promotional opportunities and POS display planning.