Major spike for BIG W’s hottest lockdown item

First it was toilet paper and other essential groceries like pasta and rice, then it was fitness and exercise equipment, and now Aussie parents are finding it difficult to buy another surprising item.

Even though some social distancing rules are beginning to be relaxed around the country and students are able to return to school for term two to some extent, parents are still looking for ways to keep their children entertained at home.

And so many turned to an Aussie favourite in outdoor entertainment - the trampoline. Except now, it seems stock is in short supply.

Big W for example has reported a 430 per cent increase in trampoline sales in March, and 220 per cent increase in April up from the same time period last year.

“We could never have predicted the surge in demand in outdoor activities,” Teresa Rendo, BIG W GM Commercial, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Other suppliers say they are struggling to get their hands on stock with most coming from China.

Retailer Jacob Altes, who owns a Toyworld franchise in WA, said he has sold out of trampolines and is unsure of when he can restock.

“A number of other areas are trying to get a hold of stock and we can't get it because the suppliers haven't got it either, so we are a little bit behind the eight ball at the moment,” he told the ABC.

Target’s online store has no search results for ‘trampoline’, while Kmart has some results appear, but most are either unavailable or ‘out of stock’.

People online have shared their thoughts on the trampoline demand.

“People who own trampolines right now don’t know how good they have it,” one person said on Twitter.

“You know who’s probably having the best time in quarantine? People with trampolines,” another wrote.

While a third person wrote, “Random non-essential things that have been selling out during quarantine” and at the top of the list “trampolines”.

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