Unpredictable Winters Force Appliance Makers to Rethink Forecasting

By Kumud Das | December 19, 2025 | BizzBuzz
Climate variability is shaking up India’s winter appliance market, with heaters and geysers—traditionally in high demand from October to December—feeling the pinch of delayed winters. Demand has dropped by as much as 10% in some regions and 20% in northern cities, while cold snaps can trigger sudden sales surges of 25–30% within a week, complicating forecasting and inventory planning for manufacturers.

Tanuj Gupta, Director of Sales & Marketing at Thermocool Home Appliances, notes, “Unpredictable winters make customers hesitant to buy single-season appliances; instead, they’re leaning into products with year-round value.” This shift has boosted demand for hot-and-cold air conditioners—which serve both summer cooling and winter heating—accounting for nearly 50% of AC sales in some urban areas.

Extended warm spells through October and November are pushing the buying window for heaters later into the season, softening early demand. Retailers are adapting by expanding stocks of dual-purpose appliances and using real-time weather data to adjust inventory dynamically. Meanwhile, energy efficiency remains a top priority: consumers are favoring inverter-equipped hot-and-cold ACs that cut power use by 30–40% versus non-inverter models, aligning with rising energy costs and sustainability concerns.

Industry experts predict this trend will persist as climate patterns grow more erratic, driving manufacturers to prioritize dual-season functionality and smarter, weather-responsive features in home appliances.