Matt Claydon, Head of Trade at Yale UK, explores the recent developments in door locks, highlighting how merchants can maximise on future sales of the latest innovations.
A door lock sets the foundation of a home’s security. Of course, smart alarms and security cameras offer an added layer of protection to a property, but without a high-security door lock in place, a home is very much at risk from even the most inexperienced of burglars.
Indeed, figures from the ONS recently highlighted that 76% of household burglaries occur when the culprit accesses a home through a door. So, it’s no surprise that the security market has taken note of this vulnerable area to ensure they are providing security solutions that offer significant protection to homeowners.
The ‘star’ product
When it comes to purchasing door locks, trade professionals will always be looking to provide the highest level of protection to their customers. And this has been made even easier with the British Standards Institution’s (BSI) rating system for cylinders. Devised for use in the UK, this system allows trade professionals to easily establish if their chosen lock has achieved a suitable certification to ensure they have peace of mind that they are providing high quality, and most importantly, secure locking solutions to their customers.
The most secure cylinders available on the market in the UK are ‘3-star’ rated and Kitemarked, which highlights that the lock can provide protection against a range of cylinder attack methods. With recent press attention surrounding the popularity of lock snapping and a technique called ‘blowtorch burglaries’, the future of door protection lies with the three-star cylinder, such as Yale’s Platinum 3 Star Cylinder.
“Current sales data is showing the growing popularity for black hardware, where nickel and brass traditionally led the way.”
Hitting the headlines of late, ‘blowtorch burglaries’ are a recent tactic where a blowtorch is used to burn away the casing of a door to reach the cylinder with an aim to break it. The popularity of this threat has risen across the UK over the past year, with its ‘success’ reinforcing the importance of investing in a 3-star security cylinder.
And with a recent survey — of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Yale UK in 2022, and run by OnePoll on a nationally representative basis — highlighting that 65% of Brits have not upgraded their home security in the last two years, this opens potentially profitable opportunities for merchants. By encouraging their customers to stock up on the latest high-security, 3-star cylinder products from trusted brands in the industry, the trade can ensure they are providing superior products that protect against these trending break-in tactics.
Be mindful of monochromatic
Whilst 3-star cylinders present the future of mechanical door locks, it’s also important to remember that many homeowners prioritise the aesthetic of their home when making purchasing decisions. Although smart security products are designed with trends in mind, it’s not as easy for the traditional front door lock with only limited cylinder finishes in past years.
However, current sales data is showing the growing popularity for black hardware, where nickel and brass traditionally led the way. And with the front door often being the first impression of a property, it’s no surprise that more and more stylish door lock designs, in a range of ‘on-trend’ colours, are coming to market to appeal to design-conscious homeowners.
Accordingly, lock makers have developed a range of finishes to appeal to this target demographic, with the ‘all black’ finish a particular favourite. Although not a traditional cylinder shade, merchants looking to capitalise on this growing trend can consider stocking up on a range of door locks in a black finish and presenting them in-branch as the ‘colour of the moment’.
Think ‘smart’ with smart locks
The popularity of smart locks shows no signs of slowing, with new upgrades and designs continually hitting the market. Although some consumers are still dubious over the security of smart locks, to ensure the product maintains its position in the ‘future of home security’, the team at Yale continues to push the messaging of its heightened protection for homes.
For instance, Yale has worked closely with the BSI to test its popular Conexis L1 Smart Lock, making it the first smart lock on the market to be awarded the BSI Kitemark for IoT Devices. This seal of approval from the national standards body allows homeowners to identify the product as a trustworthy connected device that is safe, secure and functional, protecting against physical and cyber-attacks.
The BSI continues to test and routinely monitor Yale’s range of smart locks, which will soon include its recently launched Conexis L2, the updated version of its popular Conexis L1 Smart Lock.
With this final barrier to entry a key focus, the future adoption of smart locks shows no sign of decline. And with the recent survey also revealing that 30% of Brits would get a smart lock installed professionally, merchants should be investing in the category to ensure the highest security products are available to their trade customers ahead of this future growth period.
Click here for more information on Yale’s range of products and support services for merchants.
A version of this article appeared in the March 2023 edition of Professional Builders Merchant. Click the link to read the full digital issue via the PBM website.
