Demand for domestic services on the rise as UK households seek home help - 30 July 2008
Despite concerns about the current financial climate, UK households are becoming increasingly reliant on domestic services according to Yell.com – the online service from Yellow Pages.Whilste belts are being tightened, Yell.com’s data experts, who analyse the search habits of its millions of users, found that searches for businesses offering help around the home have increased by 60 60 per cent* since the same period last year.
It seems UK householders are moving to outsource household chores with searches for private cleaners rising by 14 14 per cent; whilste searches for gardeners have grown by a massive 122 per cent.
Perhaps longer working hours are fuelling an increased demand for nannies, with searches up by 389 389 per cent. A 59 per cent rise in searches for dog walking services also suggests that Brits are struggling to fit their pets’ ‘walkies’ into increasingly busy routines.
Clodagh Ward, consumer development director at Yell, said: “These search increases may be surprising, especially with the current emphasis on reducing day-to-day outgoings. Yet, rather than being a luxury, it would seem that these services are essential in helping people stay on top of their busy lifestyles.”
For further information about this press release, please contact the Yell Press Office.
*Yell.com analysts compared volume of searches in June 2007 with searches in June 2008.
The overall increase in domestic help searches includes the following classifications:
- cleaning – domestic
- garden services & landscapers
- nannies & au pairs
- dog walking
Yell
Yell is a leading international directories business operating in classified advertising markets in the UK, US, Spain and Latin America through printed, online and telephone-based media. Yell’s principal brands include: in the UK, Yellow Pages, Yell.com and Yellow Pages 118 24 7; in the US, Yellow Book and Yellowbook.com; and in Spain, Paginas Amarillas and PaginasAmarillas.es. All these brands are trademarks.
Yell.com
Launched in 1996, Yell.com is a leading local search engine and major online advertising medium for UK businesses. Yell.com provides users with a direct route to finding a business or service online using keyword, type of business, or company name and location as search criteria. Users can review relevant search results and quickly determine the right business for their needs.
Yell.com’s database of over two million UK business listings including 209,000 searchable advertisers (March 2008) can be accessed via the web site (www.yell.com) and mobile channels including JAVA™ and WAP services. www.yell.com provides several useful features such as zoom-enabled maps with directions, closest car parks and a personal Yell.com address book facility to keep a record of regularly used businesses.
Yell.com is part of Yell, a leading international directories business operating in classified advertising markets in the UK, US, Spain and Latin America through printed, online and telephone-based media. Yell’s principal brands include: in the UK, Yellow Pages, Yell.com and Yellow Pages 118 24 7; in the US, Yellow Book and Yellowbook.com; and in Spain, Paginas Amarillas and PaginasAmarillas.es. All these brands are trademarks.
Yell's online image library, containing product shots and logos can be found at: www.yellgroup.com/images
