Maximising Garden Centre Profits: The Business Case for Selling Hammocks
Garden centres have always been hubs of inspiration. Customers don’t just come to buy plants and compost; they come for an experience. They want to envision what their homes, gardens, and outdoor spaces could look like—and they rely on garden centres to spark that imagination. For retailers, this opens up a golden opportunity: expanding beyond plants into lifestyle products that complement outdoor living.
One of the most effective, yet underutilised, product categories garden centres can embrace is hammocks. More than a simple relaxation tool, hammocks represent comfort, escape, and the modern consumer’s desire for experiences over possessions. By offering high-quality hammocks—such as those from Amazonas, one of Europe’s leading hammock specialists—garden centres can tap into a growing market, drive higher profit margins, and enhance customer experience.
In this blog, we’ll explore why hammocks are a smart addition to garden centres, how they align with consumer trends, and the specific business advantages of stocking Amazonas hammocks.
The Shift Towards Outdoor Living
Outdoor living is no longer an afterthought; it’s become a way of life. Homeowners are investing more time and money into making their outdoor spaces as comfortable and stylish as their interiors. According to industry reports, the UK garden retail market is worth over £7 billion annually, with outdoor furniture and lifestyle products seeing double-digit growth.
Post-pandemic, consumers are spending more time at home, and gardens have become sanctuaries for relaxation, wellness, and entertainment. This shift has led to booming demand for products that elevate the garden experience: pergolas, firepits, outdoor kitchens, and—most importantly—seating solutions that embody comfort and style.
Hammocks perfectly align with this trend. They’re versatile, space-efficient, and carry a universal appeal. Unlike traditional furniture, hammocks evoke emotions—nostalgia, adventure, and escapism. For garden centres, this emotional connection translates into higher-value purchases and stronger customer loyalty.
Why Hammocks Sell
To understand the business case for hammocks, let’s break down their unique selling points:
1. Emotional Appeal
While a chair is practical, a hammock is aspirational. Customers imagine themselves reading a book on a sunny afternoon, swaying gently under a tree, or creating a ‘holiday at home’ feeling. That emotional pull is a powerful sales driver.
2. High Perceived Value
Consumers perceive hammocks as luxury items, even though they can be highly affordable. This creates room for attractive retail margins.
3. Small Footprint, Big Impact
Hammocks don’t require large display areas compared to bulky furniture sets. A few well-placed displays in a lifestyle section can create a strong visual impact and encourage impulse buys.
4. Cross-Selling Potential
Hammocks pair naturally with accessories garden centres already sell: cushions, throws, side tables, parasols, and even outdoor lighting. This extends basket size and increases overall spend.
5. Year-Round Opportunities
While peak demand is in spring and summer, hammocks can be marketed year-round as wellness products. Indoor hammocks, hanging chairs, and hammock stands extend sales into autumn and winter.
The Wellness Economy Meets Hammocks
Wellness is now a £4 trillion global industry, and customers are increasingly seeking products that improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Hammocks fit neatly into this movement:
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Stress Relief: The gentle rocking motion of a hammock has been proven to reduce stress and improve relaxation.
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Better Sleep: Research suggests hammock use can promote deeper, more restorative sleep.
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Mindfulness: For customers interested in yoga, meditation, or mindfulness, a hammock becomes more than furniture—it’s a tool for wellness.
By highlighting these benefits, garden centres can position hammocks not only as luxury outdoor items but as investments in self-care.
Why Choose Amazonas Hammocks?
If hammocks are the “what,” Amazonas is the “who.” Established in 1995, Amazonas has built a global reputation for producing some of the highest-quality hammocks available today. Stocking Amazonas products allows garden centres to benefit from:
1. Premium Quality
Amazonas hammocks are crafted from durable, weather-resistant materials, designed to last. For retailers, this means fewer returns, happy customers, and repeat business.
2. Sustainable Production
Amazonas is committed to sustainability. Their cotton hammocks are made from recycled materials and produced under fair working conditions. For garden centres looking to appeal to eco-conscious consumers, this is a strong selling point.
3. Diverse Range
From traditional fabric hammocks to stylish hanging chairs and robust stands, Amazonas offers products to suit every type of customer—families, solo relaxation seekers, and design-conscious homeowners.
4. Trusted Brand
With decades of experience and international recognition, Amazonas products inspire confidence. Garden centres benefit from the brand’s established reputation when customers see the name.
Displaying Hammocks in Garden Centres
The way hammocks are displayed can significantly influence sales. Customers need to see—and ideally try—them to fully appreciate the value.
Here are some proven strategies:
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Interactive Displays: Set up a demo hammock in a lifestyle section where customers can sit or lie down. This creates an instant emotional connection.
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Themed Zones: Pair hammocks with parasols, side tables, and outdoor décor to create “holiday at home” zones.
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Indoor Placement: Position hanging chairs in conservatory or interior lifestyle areas to show year-round use.
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Signage & Storytelling: Highlight benefits such as stress relief, wellness, and sustainability using in-store signage.
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Impulse Placement: Smaller hammock models can be placed near checkouts or entrances as impulse buys.
Hammocks as Giftable Products
Another advantage of hammocks is their role as gift items. Customers often struggle to find unique, high-value gifts for birthdays, Father’s Day, and Christmas. A hammock ticks the box as a thoughtful, unusual, and practical present.
Amazonas’ range includes stylishly packaged options ideal for gifting, and garden centres can capitalise on seasonal gifting displays. Adding hammocks to a “gifts for him/her” section can significantly increase seasonal sales.
Marketing Hammocks in Garden Centres
Beyond in-store display, marketing hammocks effectively can help drive sales further. Some strategies include:
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Social Media Inspiration
Share lifestyle images of Amazonas hammocks in beautiful garden settings. Encourage customers to share their own hammock moments with hashtags for user-generated content. -
Workshops & Demos
Host “relaxation days” where customers can try hammocks, paired with mindfulness or garden wellness talks. -
Cross-Promotion
Bundle hammocks with garden products—e.g., “Buy a hammock, get 20% off a parasol.” -
Email Campaigns
Highlight hammocks in seasonal newsletters, focusing on summer relaxation or winter indoor use. -
Collaborations
Work with local wellness practitioners, yoga teachers, or influencers to demonstrate hammock benefits.
Meeting Different Customer Segments
One of the greatest strengths of hammocks is their broad appeal. Amazonas’ range makes it easy to meet different customer needs:
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Families: Large family hammocks like the Amazonas Paradiso XXL.
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Design Lovers: Stylish hanging chairs for patios and conservatories.
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Budget Shoppers: Compact travel hammocks or entry-level cotton designs.
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Wellness Seekers: Products promoted for mindfulness and relaxation.
By offering variety, garden centres can capture multiple demographics with a single product category.
Case Study: Garden Centre Success with Hammocks
A medium-sized UK garden centre introduced Amazonas hammocks as part of their outdoor living section. They dedicated a 3m x 3m lifestyle display to hammocks, stands, and accessories.
Within the first summer season:
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Sell-through rate: 85% of hammock stock sold.
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Basket uplift: Average basket size increased by £25, as customers added cushions, tables, and accessories.
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Customer feedback: High satisfaction rates, with customers praising the uniqueness of the product offering.
By the following year, hammocks had become a permanent feature, generating a steady stream of profits.
The Long-Term Business Case
Selling hammocks isn’t just about seasonal profits—it’s about future-proofing your garden centre. As consumers demand more from their retail experiences, hammocks offer:
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Differentiation: Stand out from competitors who only stock standard furniture.
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Repeat Business: Happy hammock buyers often return for accessories or additional products.
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Brand Alignment: With Amazonas, garden centres can associate with sustainability, quality, and lifestyle trends.
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Customer Loyalty: By offering products that delight and inspire, customers return not just to buy, but to experience.
Conclusion: Why Hammocks Belong in Every Garden Centre
Garden centres that want to maximise profits must think beyond traditional products. Hammocks represent the perfect blend of lifestyle, wellness, and outdoor living trends. They’re affordable to stock, high in margin, easy to display, and packed with cross-selling potential.
By partnering with trusted brands like Amazonas, garden centres can offer customers products that aren’t just practical, but aspirational. In doing so, they don’t just increase profits—they create memorable experiences, inspire outdoor living, and secure their place in the future of retail.
The question isn’t whether garden centres can afford to stock hammocks. The question is: can they afford not to?