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With warmer weather on the horizon, backyard patios will soon be filled with grilling enthusiasts wafting the sweet, smoky smell of charcoal and barbecue into the air. For some, buying a grill for the first time and determining everything they need to grill successfully can be a daunting task. With many ways to grill, and online forums giving all types of advice, we’ve compiled a list of the most essential items to stock in your stores to have newbie customers grilling like pros.
Non-Metal Scrape Brush
Keeping your grill clean is essential in the grilling experience. Getting the remnants of a previous meal off the grilling surface ensures there is no residual taste from meal to meal. Traditional metal grill scrapers can sometimes leave small pieces of metal behind, which is potentially a health hazard. Stocking a scraping brush such as this one from Grill Rescue which features an interchangeable brush head and no metal bristles.
Grilling Utensils
Besides cleaning tools, having ample utensils in stock for customers to flip burgers or rotate corn cobs is essential for a comprehensive grilling category. Stocking tongs and spatulas, preferably metal, is a smart move to appeal to grilling enthusiasts. Have combination kits available for an easy gift idea, and consider offering a discount to customers who purchase several tools at once.
Meat Thermometer
Determining whether food is cooked through can be challenging for some first-timers. Automated meat thermometers like Meater’s product allow customers to connect their phones to get easy updates on their food. Be sure to appeal to your non-tech grillers with analog meat thermometers, which can get accurate temperature readings in two to three seconds.
Grill v. Smoker v. Flat Top
Last, but not least, choosing the appropriate item to cook food is the most important part of assembling a grilling section. For the easiest introduction to the hobby, stocking a variety of charcoal and gas grills is essential. Weber makes a tabletop gas grill in a variety of colors. For customers who want both options, Char-Griller makes a duo grill. For more advanced customers, pellet smokers are also great products to stock. Traeger is a recognizable brand that appeals to customers interested in smoking meats.
