As the summer season kicks off and good weather rolls in, more and more are looking no further than their backyard for leisure activities and socializing. This seasonality trend and uptake occurs each year, and ecommerce founders should be taking note. With backyard spending steadily climbing year over year, especially post-pandemic, ecommerce founders can easily capitalize on the trend. In the U.S. alone, the lawn and garden market is projected to reach $147.2 billion, creating a major opportunity for ecommerce brands to boost margins by quickly positioning products and campaigns toward backyard-focused consumers. With the change of seasons, now’s the time for brands to rapidly launch new SKUs and scale seasonal campaigns to meet the demand. Join us as we dive into some of the trends home and garden businesses can get behind, and how to seize the opportunity for business growth.

5 Backyard Trends Ecommerce Founders Are Betting On

It’s no secret ecommerce sales are rising, with global retail ecommerce spending hitting $6 trillion U.S. dollars last year, and projected to grow 31% by 2028. As overall ecommerce spending continues to climb, one surprising trend stands out: consumers are increasingly directing their attention toward the home and garden category. In the wake of the pandemic, consumer behaviours shifted, with many prioritizing home improvements and curating a space they could enjoy from the comforts of their own home. In 2023, statista found that 20% of shoppers purchased home and garden products online, with the average value order of online furniture sales climbing to $422, and the market projected to reach $40 billion by 2030. Consumers have made it clear, they overwhelmingly value home and backyard lounging, especially during the warmer months. Here’s the emerging backyard trends and how scaling ecommerce brands can tap into this affinity to fuel growth this summer. 

1. Flexible outdoor setups with modular furniture

Consumers are craving adaptable, space saving furniture that meet their needs of their outdoor set ups. With work-from-home becoming the new normal, many will find themselves taking meetings from the backyard, making versatile furniture that transitions between personal use, entertaining, and lounging more important than ever. Multifunctional furniture is seeing a rise in popularity with the market currently valued at $8.7 billion with a  CAGR of 7.5% from 2024 through 2031. For ecommerce brands, this growing demand presents a valuable opportunity to offer multifunctional outdoor furniture that blends utility, comfort, and style.

2. Grilling & alfresco dining gear 

What else screams summer but an outdoor barbeque? As the seasons change, so does the dining room location. Many shoppers are looking to revamp their grilling setups and outdoor dining essentials as they prepare for entertaining guests or enjoying family-style meals under the sun. In fact, revenue in the U.S. ‘Grills & Roasters’ segment of the household appliances market is forecast to grow by nearly $840 million between 2025 and 2030. Ecommerce sellers offering outdoor dining items such as smokers, grills, patio tableware, and outdoor cooking accessories can expect increased demand to heat up with the summer months.

3. Garden kits, planters, and lawncare subscriptions

When the warm months roll in, everyone likes to think of themselves as a green thumb. DIY gardening often sees a seasonal surge, as consumers seek the tools and supplies needed to create their own backyard oasis. With gardening supplies and equipment sales projected to reach $127 billion last year, and the plant and flower growing industry projected to reach $20.6 billion in 2025, brands have an opportunity to meet this growing demand. One emerging trend is curated gardening kits, bundling planters, seeds, soil and tools, empowering first-time gardeners with all the tools to get started. For those who struggle to grow a lawn from scratch each year, lawn care subscriptions are gaining popularity by delivering all the supplies and expert care instructions needed to maintain a lush, healthy lawn throughout the summer.

4. Home bar setups

As summer sets in, so does the season of entertaining. Whether it’s beach trips or backyard gatherings, beating the heat often starts with cracking a cold drink. Consumers who love to host are also upgrading their home entertaining setups, where serving drinks is a central part of the gathering. Cocktail kits, cooler carts, and stylish glassware are quickly becoming seasonal must-haves, often added to carts just in time for a last-minute party or weekend escape. For ecommerce brands, introducing these essentials is a smart way to tap into the summer surge and meet evolving customer needs.

5. Backyard tech

Nothing beats a summer night spent gathered around the firepit. As the days grow longer, creating a backyard setup that extends the evening and keeps guests comfortable is essential for the perfect host. Shoppers looking to extend their summer gatherings are leveling up the experience by investing in backyard tech and accessories designed to keep guests comfortable and entertained. From smart outdoor lighting and weatherproof speakers to inviting fire pits and outdoor seating, consumers are turning their backyards into fully equipped outdoor living rooms. Ecommerce brands catering to this trend are well-positioned for success as warmer weather fuels a season of socializing with the latest gadgets.

How DTC Brands Are Seasonally Scaling

As seasons shift, so do consumer behaviors. Savvy DTC brands can capitalize on the seasonal change and evolving consumer needs to strategically scale their operations, while boosting revenue.

Bundling hero SKUs into giftable/seasonal sets

Ecommerce brands looking to tap into the surge of seasonal demand can consider bundling products into 'giftable' sets, specifically tailored to trend-driven activities. As the warmer months approach, this strategy allows brands to help make their existing seasonal inventory more appealing and easier to shop, serving multiple needs at once, while also reducing days in inventory and increasing seasonal inventory turnover.

Spring & summer collection launches 

Brands can get ahead of the competition by launching seasonal collections early and meeting customers where they are. A timeline of February to April offers the ideal window to debut new lines, capturing the first wave of demand as shoppers prepare for spring and summer well ahead of the seasonal rush, and with time to capitalize on early delivery.

Introduce seasonal promotions and limited-edition products

Exclusivity is a powerful driver of consumer behavior. As backyard trends and seasonal collections emerge, positioning these product drops as time-sensitive can create urgency and encourage quicker purchase decisions by consumers. By launching limited-edition products and introducing seasonal promotions within a defined window, such as February to April, ecommerce brands can capitalize on demand for DTC categories like outdoor home goods and gardening supplies with items that are often only relevant during specific times of the year.

Test out new acquisition channels 

Summer collection drops offer the perfect opportunity to experiment with new marketing channels. DTC ecommerce brands aiming to inspire customers with new home goods, backyard trends, and seasonal essentials should meet them where they spend time: platforms like TikTok Shop and Meta. Launching timely and refreshing seasonal campaigns on these channels can drive higher engagement and conversions as consumers gear up for summer.

Five Winning Plays. One Flexible Way to Fund Them

To seize the seasonal demand before it peaks, many ecommerce brands are turning to flexible funding solutions. By partnering with capital partners like Clearco, founders can bridge cash flow gaps without giving up equity or having to stall operations and growth. As interest in backyard trends surge, Clearco’s tailored funding solutions help ecommerce businesses scale inventory, logistics, and marketing when it matters most for seasonal expansions. 

• Invoice Funding empowers DTC ecommerce businesses to cover bulk inventory orders ahead of peak season. Ensuring warehouses are stocked and ready, ecommerces who rely on invoice funding can prepare for increased demand as warmer weather drives a surge in consumer trends.
  
• Receipt Funding equips brands with the capital and resources to support expanding their logistics, warehousing, and packaging as they prepare additional seasonal inventory. Brands who are leveraging the seasonal demand and diversifying their product lines can easily scale their backend operations with fast, flexible receipt funding to maintain growth.
  
• Advertising budget funding delivers brands cash on hand to double down and ramp up ad spend mid-season, when ROAS typically improves. Clearco’s support can give brands the agility to launch and scale high-performing seasonal campaigns when demand spikes, promoting their seasonal collections.
  

From elevated back-yard setups, to garden gear Clearco has got you covered by funding ecommerce brands building better backyards and outdoor living. Kick off the summer season strong by tapping into the emerging trends, access the capital you need to stay ahead of demand, and scale with confidence this season. For ecommerces looking to grow this summer, get funded in as little as 24 hours—no dilution, no personal guarantees.