Victorians bring the outside in, as house plant sales grow during lockdown
Nurseries and plant delivery businesses are seeing a “massive increase” in sales during Victoria’s lockdowns.
BY SOFIA VAMVAKIDOU
Nurseries and plant delivery businesses in Victoria saw a “massive increase” in sales during the state’s first lockdown, and are now experiencing a second surge under stage four restrictions.
Online Plants Melbourne owner Cathryn McEwan noticed a sales increase of between 60 and 70 per cent during both lockdowns.
“Winter is usually such a dead time for us in the nursery and online,” Ms McEwan said.
“In previous years, it’s only been maybe 10 [sales] a week and now it’s 40-50.”
Ms McEwan said her business was prepared for the increased demand but is still experiencing issues with supply.
“Some really popular lines like a Fiddle Leaf Fig or a Zanzibar Gem, we just can’t get any at the moment, especially decent ones,” she said.
“Things like Chain of Hearts, String of Pearls…all of those hanging ones are really hard to get. It’s a real shame.”
Ms McEwan said she expected a demand for edibles like herbs and vegetables, because she knew a lot of people “would want to get into the veggie patches”.
Monash University student Jocelyn Warwick said purchasing indoor plants was a way for her to relax during the lockdown, especially since she is living by herself on campus.
“It’s just a really calming thing to do,” Ms Warwick said.
“I’ve always had plants, but it was limited to two or three and not 15 or something that I own currently.”
Ms Warwick said she encourages other people to invest in house plants during lockdown.
“It’s just a nice little thing to have, something to take care of, something that makes you feel less alone.”
Bunnings employee Hannah Halton said indoor plants make a “space happier” and also help her deal with stress.
“It definitely helps with mental health because, I guess, instead of worrying about other things you have something else to focus on,” Ms Halton said.
Despite the pandemic’s positive impact on the plant delivery sector, a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found two thirds of businesses across all sectors took a hit to revenue due to COVID-19 and suffered decreased demand.
Two in five businesses said they had changed how they delivered goods or services, while one third said they had renegotiated their leases, and one in four had to defer loan repayments.
About one in 10 said they had paused trading altogether.
