PRESS RELEASE: JAPETO HAS THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR UK GARDENERS IN LOCKDOWN AND BEYOND!

PRESS RELEASE: JAPETO HAS THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR UK GARDENERS IN LOCKDOWN AND BEYOND!

For the last two-and-a-half months, most of the UK has stayed at home. A silver lining has been the fine spring weather and for those lucky enough to have outside space, it’s been a chance to enjoy extra time gardening—or even pick up a trowel for the first time. But with garden centres closed, most people have been purchasing everything they need online.

Helping fulfil this demand is Japeto, a direct-to-consumer gardening tools company with a range of beautifully packaged, high quality garden tools. Based in Chichester and operating from japeto.co.uk, Japeto offers free next-day delivery, so keen green fingers can get started immediately.

Founded three years ago by siblings James and Poppy Stedman and their father, Peter, together they bring expertise in digital marketing, graphic design and of course, gardening to help Japeto thrive. And the name? Japeto is a playful portmanteau combining “Japan” and “tools”— a nod to the design provenance of the range.

For the seasoned gardener, Japanese gardening tools have been a perennial favourite for those ‘in-the-know.’ These designs are a more versatile choice—with wooden handles they’re lighter and made from carbon steel, they’re sharper too. Japeto wanted to make what was previously deemed a niche product available to anyone and everyone with a blooming interest in gardening.

Managing Director James Stedman says:

“We saw an opportunity to create a business and a brand that equips gardeners of all abilities with a better class of garden tool. These tools are celebrated for their quality and versatility, and they promise something different, and we think, something extra special, from the standard offering available in most garden centres.

From our Chichester base on the south coast, we are able to offer free next-day delivery UK-wide on most products. The tools are protected in canvas bags packaged inside recyclable craft boxes. This speedy service means gardeners in lockdown can start their garden projects as soon as inspiration strikes.”

Japeto also offers a personalisation service on many of its products. Customers can engrave a name, initials or even a special message. This makes it the perfect gift for gardeners, budding gardeners or if it’s a gift for yourself, a way of letting people know they’re yours!

With a captive audience of locked down gardeners, and an easy-to-use e-commerce website, Japeto has experienced amazing growth over the last few months.

Stedman says:

“In addition to doubling turnover each year, May will see a 300% increase in sales over our previous best month, making Japeto a lockdown success story. We’re hoping that’s a sign we’ve helped nurture a whole new generation of gardeners to get outside and get growing.”

With this in mind, Japeto has just launched a new range of seeds hand-selected for pot growing. With most of the herb and vegetable seeds available in compact, dwarf or nano varieties, these are ideal for growing healthy plants in tighter spaces. As many look to re-energise the World War Two 'Dig for Victory' campaign, for those living in urban areas, Japeto’s range of seeds and tools is an easy, fruitful solution.

Japeto wants to spread the word: gardening is good for you. It makes sense that the Japanese call gardening ‘ikigai’ — meaning ‘reason for living.’ Having purpose in isolation is vital right now. People are seeking solace in their outdoor spaces and with advice to stay at home as much as possible, enjoying a dose of Vitamin D whilst getting stuck into the garden can do wonders for our physical and mental wellbeing. “It feels good to know that the products we supply enable people to get a multitude of benefits from using them, as well as the satisfaction of seeing things grow.”

Japeto’s extensive selection of garden tools has been handpicked for its quality, detail and intuitive function. Whatever the space or the possibility, Japeto makes long days in the garden light work.

Japeto products can be viewed or purchased at www.japeto.co.uk or by phoning 01243 219912.

ENDS

If you would like more information about Japeto please call 01243 219912 or email james.stedman@japeto.co.uk