Sep
If retailers are going to stock up on any product for winter, it should be weighted blankets.
As a product that fundamentally keeps you warm, it’s no surprise that interest in weighted blankets peaks each winter. However, in 2022, we’re seeing even more popularity than normal and expect to see the most interest ever on Google in the UK. And the numbers back up this statement!
In this post, we’ll dig a little deeper into the trend with insights from Google to guide the way for retailers and resellers.
Weighted blankets in 2022
First and foremost, let’s outline how popular weighted blankets are in 2022, compared to previous years. Interest in weighted blankets first started around winter 2019, peaked in 2020 then dropped in 2021 – which you can see in the Google Trends chart below.
According to the numbers, weighted blankets are going to be more popular this year than ever before.
By the end of September 2022, the popularity rating on Google in the UK hit 86/100 – way above the levels at the same time in 2019 (26/100), 2020 (57/100) and 2021 (55/100).
What does this mean? Well, 100 is classed as peak popularity when interpreting Google trends. The numbers 26, 57 and 55 represent search interest relative to the highest possible interest in a certain region, over a set timeframe.
So, a value of 86/100 in September 2022 means that interest in weighted blankets is over 50% as popular as it’s ever been to date. That’s a pretty high figure so early in the year, before we’ve even entered winter.
How does this translate into search volumes? To put the popularity ratings into context, there were 60,500 searches for “gravity blankets” on Google in the UK in August 2022.
What’s behind the increasing popularity in 2022?
It’s hard to see past the current cost of living crisis, with energy bills soaring to their highest levels yet. While weighted blankets aren’t necessarily warmer than other options, they’re still benefitting from more interest because people want to stay cosy without cranking up their heating.
That’s potentially backed up by the sub-region figures, with Northern Ireland (100/100) and Scotland (99/100) seeing the most searches for weighted blankets – ahead of Wales (87/100) and England (77/100), where temperatures are slightly higher throughout the year.
What exactly are people searching for?
Of course, people aren’t just searching for weighted blankets. There are some specific areas of interest that retailers can capitalise on…
Kids
With a popularity value of 100/100, “kids weighted blanket” is the top related query. That could be down to the sleep-improving qualities of weighted blankets, and how that assists with one of the biggest parenting challenges – getting them a good night’s sleep!
In terms of the actual products, kids’ weighted blankets can vary in their textures, colours and patterns to make them more appealing to children. They also differ in size and weight, so they’re suitable for kids rather than adults.
Best
Another popular related query is “best weighted blanket” with a popularity score of 94/100. As with most product types, people want to find the superior option before making an investment. While there are various brands to choose from, the most important factor is the weight you choose. Weighted blankets should be between 7-12% of a person’s body weight – though it also depends on personal preference.
Benefits
Finally, there are the benefits. “Weighted blanket benefits” has a popularity score of 57/100 in September 2022, showing that people are still not completely familiar with the product and are still doing their research.
Some of the main benefits of weighted blankets are:
- Improves relaxation
- Enhances good hormones
- Eases pain
- Helps with panic attacks
- Promotes a happier mood
- Reduces anxiety
- Adds a cosy touch to any room
If you want to help customers make an informed decision, it’s best to cover these benefits in detail, making product guides available online or in-store, for example.
Breakout trends
Autism
Another category that’s useful on Google Trends is “breakout”, which refers to a sudden rise in search volumes.
In this case, “weighted blanket autism” is one of the top contenders. It currently gets 880 searches per month in the UK – for good reason too.
Occupational therapists have been known to use weighted blankets to calm or comfort stressed or restless patients. However, it’s important to remember that autism is a spectrum with a wide range of symptoms and severities. What works for one person might not work for, and could even aggravate, someone else. It’s important that retailers recognise this and avoid marketing weighted blankets as some sort of alleviation for all autism symptoms.
Anxiety
Looking solely at search volumes, “weighted blanket for anxiety” gets 1,000 searches per month. This is less of a grey area, as weighted blankets are widely recognised for relieving symptoms of anxiety. In this case, the blanket helps put your nervous system into rest mode by pushing your body down slightly – known as earthing or grounding.
| Keyword | Avg. monthly searches on Google UK | Three month change | YoY change |
| weighted blanket for anxiety | 1000 | 22% | -18% |
All year round
While weighted blanket popularity spikes in winter, it’s also worth considering terms like “cooling weighted blanket” and “summer weighted blanket”, which get 720 and 210 monthly searches, respectively. Some weighted blankets are made from cooling materials, so they provide the calming and cosy benefits without the added heat – making them ideal throughout the year.
| Keyword | Avg. monthly searches on Google UK | Three month change | YoY change |
| cooling weighted blanket | 720 | 0% | 39% |
| summer weighted blanket | 210 | -46% | 136% |
Bamboo
Finally, here’s a trend worth watching out for!
“Bamboo weighted blanket” gets an average of 90 searches per month, with 70 for “bamboo cooling blanket” too. While these volumes are relatively small, they have increased by 56% and 267% respectively, year-on-year. The popularity of these products could be one to watch in winter 2022 – or one to get on board with if you’re a retailer that wants to stay ahead of the curve.
| Keyword | Avg. monthly searches on Google UK | Three month change | YoY change |
| bamboo weighted blanket | 90 | 27% | 56% |
| bamboo cooling blanket | 70 | 0% | 267% |
Meet customer demand with ease
Weighted blankets are set to become more popular than ever in winter 2022 – and beyond. If you want to capitalise on their rising popularity, Homefords can help. We are a wholesale supplier of high-quality weighted blankets for businesses throughout the UK.
Whether you’re an online reseller or brick-and-mortar retailer, our low prices can give you a healthy profit margin while delighting customers with top quality. Order online with a minimum spend of just £100 and get your weighted blankets in 2-6 days with free shipping to mainland UK addresses.