Electric Grills Simplify Indoor And Outdoor Cooking For Renters

When you think of grilling — a favorite summer pastime for millions of people — you’re likely picturing a massive gas grill with occasional flare-ups as rendered fat drips onto the flames below. This isn’t surprising, as a recent grill market analysis by Fortune Business Insights notes that gas grills claim around 45% of the market, followed by charcoal grills at 33%.

But for renters and homeowners in HOAs, these types of grills are often off-limits due to policies and bylaws prohibiting open flames and smoke. Both of these groups represent significant portions of the population in the United States, with the Census Bureau reporting that roughly 35% of Americans rent, while 25% of homeowners pay HOA fees.

While it’s possible that some HOAs lack restrictions on gas and charcoal grills, communities composed of condos and townhomes likely do. This leaves an opening for retailers to market electric grills to consumers who otherwise lack a viable grilling option — indoors and outdoors. Beyond the regulatory hurdles, let’s explore why customers are choosing electric grills, and some strategies to help your business serve this promising market.

Electric grills are more versatile

One of the primary strengths of electric grills is their versatility for indoor and outdoor usage. Smokeless indoor grills, like the Ninja Foodi and T-Fal Optigrill, are especially useful options when properties don’t allow outdoor grills of any type, even if they are strictly indoor appliances. Because electric grills are usually smaller and more portable than gas grills, they’re much easier for apartment dwellers to store and use — on a kitchen countertop or protected balcony.

Unlike their gas and charcoal counterparts, electric grills don’t produce smoke during the normal cooking process, which makes them safe to use indoors. Likewise, customers can use outdoor-rated electric grills closer to structures in situations where charcoal and gas are more likely to create smoke and fire hazards.

Customers also value the convenience and easy cleaning of electric grills. Because there’s no burden to purchase and store cooking fuel, electric grills are always ready to cook when in range of an outlet — they even provide more precise control over cooking temperatures. Similarly, electric grills use a solid cooking surface, which is often removable, making cleaning less of a chore than scrubbing grill slats. Still, the materials and electronics in electric grills make them more expensive than similarly-sized gas and charcoal grills, so they may not be as appealing to standard homeowners.

Outdoor electric grills fill a helpful niche

Although many electric grills are strictly for indoor use, some outdoor models push the limits of what to expect from the category. For example, the Weber Lumin and Ninja Woodfire are popular products that use wood pellets to add a smoked flavor without an open flame, instead relying on a heating element for the cooking process. Still, they produce some smoke and aren’t suitable for indoor usage.

Customers seeking a traditional outdoor grilling experience can even purchase stands and grill covers. This gives retailers an opportunity to upsell high-margin accessories for otherwise tabletop grills. Some models from brands like George Foreman include a removable stand and also work indoors.

It’s important to note that some outdoor electric grills actually use open flames. A notable example is the Traeger pellet grill, which uses an electric heating element to ignite wood pellets fully rather than smolder like the Lumin and Woodfire.

Help customers find the right grill with custom signage

Retail operations thrive when they effectively communicate the capabilities of a product to potential customers. It’s not enough to simply stock renter-friendly grills without telling the target demographic. Instead, think about how your showroom, advertising and employees can streamline the buying process.

For retailers selling a diverse inventory of electric, gas, and charcoal grills, the easiest strategy is grouping like products to reduce confusion. Better yet, consider adding color-coded signage that explains where each type of grill excels and whether there’s an open flame that’s unsuitable for renters and homeowners in HOAs.

It’s also possible to market large electric grills directly to property managers. Many newer developments have a common courtyard or clubhouse that could host a communal grill that residents can reserve for summer barbecues. Likewise, high-end apartment developers may choose to include electric grills on premium balconies, complete with safety timers, heat shielding and outdoor kitchen cabinetry.

Whatever your strategy, the rising popularity of electric grills is a revenue opportunity worth seizing.

See also: Current Backyard’s Model P Smart Pizza Oven Lets Pizza Lovers “Dough-It’ Themselves