HONGMAO GARDEN
28 okt 2025
· Market Activity
· Company Dynamics
· Product Updates
Weekly News | Early Holiday Demand, Review-Driven Shopping & The Rise of AI Buying Assistants
🛍️ Market Insights: What’s Driving Q4 Consumer Behaviour in Europe
1️⃣ Early Holiday Shopping Surge in Germany
As the year-end retail season approaches, eBay Germany reports that nearly half of German consumers begin Christmas shopping before October.This trend has led to early spikes in several categories, including electronics, toys, and home & garden products, with some segments showing sales growth of up to 300% compared to last year.
To help sellers prepare for this extended peak season, eBay released its 2025 Holiday Readiness Guide, highlighting five critical areas for operational success:
Maintain strong inventory levels for high-margin, high-turnover products.
Optimize listings with clear descriptions, HD visuals, and consumer trust tags like “Free Shipping” or “30-Day Returns.”
Adopt flexible discount strategies — 44% of German buyers are influenced by compelling offers.
Extend customer service capacity with German-language templates and holiday return windows through mid-January.
Anticipate logistics delays by using eBay Fulfillment or other early stocking options.
📈 Insight for procurement managers: The German Q4 retail window is shifting earlier each year, placing greater emphasis on supply predictability and seasonal SKU readiness by late September.
2️⃣ Reviews Now Shape Black Friday Conversion
According to Trustpilot’s annual Black Friday analysis, German shoppers are increasingly basing their purchasing decisions on review credibility.During the 2024 event, review page views surged 152%, search visibility rose 136%, and overall platform traffic increased 126% compared to regular weeks.
Even outside the peak season, year-over-year data shows double-digit growth: review engagement +20%, search visibility +20%, and traffic +14%.This underscores a simple truth — authentic product feedback now drives conversion more effectively than discount depth.
💡 Procurement takeaway: When selecting suppliers or preparing listings for Q4, consider integrating user validation, sustainability certifications, and visual proof of durability to align with review-based buyer confidence.
3️⃣ AI-Powered Shopping Assistants Gain Traction
A new study from ECC Cologne titled Social, Assistive & Agentic Commerce reveals that AI chatbots are becoming mainstream tools in consumer purchasing journeys.
31% of respondents use ChatGPT or Gemini for product research.
35% use them more frequently than traditional search engines.
66% value the time saved and higher-quality recommendations.
47% believe AI helps them find better prices and product matches.
Interestingly, 68% of consumers turn to AI when exploring new or complex products, and 61% prefer it when they don’t want to browse multiple sites.Although trust and data privacy remain concerns (36% and 21% respectively), 63% of current non-users expect to adopt AI tools in the near future.
🧠 Industry perspective: AI-driven buying assistance is reshaping how consumers research products, challenging traditional e-commerce search funnels. For suppliers, this means optimizing product data for AI interpretation and ensuring consistent technical transparency.
🏭 Company Update: Strong Presence at Canton Fair Phase II
Last week, Hongmao Garden showcased its latest garden storage and outdoor living innovations at the 138th Canton Fair (Phase II).Our booth attracted strong interest from European buyers, particularly for our premium quality standards, ergonomic designs, and sustainability credentials.
Throughout the fair, our team held in-depth discussions with clients about upcoming market needs and co-development opportunities.The response reaffirmed our direction: combining engineering precision with adaptable design to meet evolving consumer expectations.
💬 CEO Statement:
“Every year, the Canton Fair gives us a clearer view of where the market is heading. The feedback we’ve received motivates us to continue investing in R&D that bridges aesthetics, performance, and value.”— Catrina Long, CEO of Hongmao Garden
🌿 Product Focus: Modular Raised Garden Beds for Modern Homes
This week, Hongmao Garden introduces a new series of compact raised garden beds, tailored for small-space living and balcony use.
The collection features three stackable sizes, which can be freely combined or used individually — perfect for private homes, cafés, terraces, and rooftop gardens.Each model is designed to optimize space efficiency, assembly convenience, and aesthetic harmony, all while maintaining REACH-certified coatings and 1000h UV protection.
🪴 Key Highlights:
Modular design for flexible layouts
Ideal for small gardens, balconies, and patios
Easy assembly, quick installation, and long lifespan
Available in multiple finishes and heights
🔹 Perfect for distributors and retailers targeting the urban gardening boom.