Selling Outdoor Kitchens Creates New Profit Niche

The recent economic downturn has brought about changes in the way we as Americans do things – where we go, what we buy, how much we spend or save. We’re thinking twice, maybe even three times, about spending our money on what we now might consider to be frivolous luxuries.

For instance, more people are foregoing long, expensive vacations, opting instead to stay closer to home. Others are spending their disposable income (what little of it there might be) on safer bets like home improvements that will add equity to their property in the long run.

With “staycations” being all the rage these days, kitchen and bath dealers have renewed opportunities to help homeowners reinvest their hard earned money in home remodels and home additions.

Similarly, at least one dealer has capitalized on a newer niche market, the trend toward outdoor living areas. Could this idea have an impact as an add-on service in your showroom? You might be convinced after reading Marlene Boucher’s story.

Boucher, president and owner of Outdoor Dreamscapes of North Olmsted, OH, sells full working kitchens that can be used and enjoyed outdoors. Like many great ideas, this one was born of necessity. Eight years ago, she decided to build an outdoor kitchen on her patio. At that time, the only designs she could find for outdoor kitchens were bricks or pavers built into an island design, built around a grill and sometimes a refrigerator. So, Boucher built her outdoor kitchen from scratch, which was very time consuming.

When her project was finished, Boucher knew there had to be a better way, so she put all her research into formulating a business plan. It was a risk, but Boucher was so certain the outdoor kitchens trend was on the rise, she chose to forge ahead. Partnering with a company that manufactures restaurant-grade stainless steel cabinets, she helped design cabinets built with galvanized steel frames and a special board that retains less than three percent moisture. The result is a patented product for permanent outdoor installation that can endure rain, sun, snow and heat, making it perfect for the outdoor kitchens Outdoor Dreamscapes now sells and installs.

All the Conveniences

As unlikely as it may seem, anything you have inside the house can be used outside in the kitchen, too. Sinks, warming drawers, ice makers, dishwashers, refrigerators…you name it, it can be done. Other amenities specific to the outdoors include barbecue grills, wood-burning pizza ovens, fire pits, patio heaters and, of course, weather-proof stainless steel cabinets.

While it might be easy to assume that such kitchens are extravagances reserved for more wealthy homeowners, Boucher says they are becoming more popular with middle-class families. “A lot of people with children at home are choosing outdoor kitchens,” she said. “Rather than spending that money on a vacation, they want to enjoy their outdoor living area.”

This is because an outdoor kitchen has so many possibilities. It can include a dizzying array of amenities, take any number of shapes, be as large or small as one wants (Boucher has designed outdoor kitchens ranging from as small as eight linear feet to as large as 45 linear feet), and span any size income. For example, a 10-ft. kitchen can cost $10,000-$14,000, while a 15-ft. kitchen with a fireplace and pergola ranges from $40,000-$60,000. Options such as a fireplace ($10,000-$20,000) and a pergola ($5,000) add to the ambience and “wow” factor.

Options for finish materials include brick, stone, stucco, porcelain tile – most homeowners choose whatever matches their house, Boucher says. The same is true for outdoor countertops; granite, tile and stone are popular choices.

Inside the Showroom