Prices on our stoves for 2012 are as follows:
Homewood Heritage – $11,440 + GST
Homewood Matriarch – $17,860 + GST
Homewood Companion – Price to be announced on public launch

Due to the recession we have had a freeze on price increases, keeping our prices static since November 2007. However, the intervening four years have seen inflation (as measured by the consumer price index) increase by 13.4%. We’re rounding that down to an even 10% for our much delayed increase on the cost of the Homewood Heritage. Over this time we have also had supplier increases well in excess of 10%, and the unfortunate reality is that we can no longer continue to absorb the extra costs.

Ouch, 10% is pretty steep, what’s up with that?
This is the result of our trying to hold our prices for so long – great for the people who were able to get stoves from us over the last few years, but unfortunately that doesn’t make a difference to any of you who are interested in one now. Of course, had we gone up in increments over the last few years we would still be at the same price today, so the end result is still the same.
We appreciate that this kind of price review can leave a bad taste in the mouth, so from here on out we’ll be adjusting our prices annually as a matter of course, keeping in step with inflation, and keeping abreast of any supplier cost increases encountered during that year. This transparency should eliminate any surprises in the future.

Can we get warning of future price rises, then?
Yes, I will post a “final orders at 2012 prices” post here toward the end of this year, with the new 2013 pricing and cut-off dates, to give people the opportunity to sneak in under current pricing if the timing suits them.

Does this mean that if I had ordered a week ago I would have saved 10%?!
No, we’re still backed up with orders and have a bunch of people waiting for stoves from whom we haven’t collected deposits yet, so even if you were already on our waiting list you would have fallen under the new 2012 pricing anyway.

Drats, I think this means we can no longer afford a Homewood.
Inflation isn’t fun for anyone. We’re not the cheapest wood stoves on the market (though of course we believe our prices are a fair and accurate reflection of their high quality and value, and we’re certainly not the most expensive) so you are welcome to look into alternatives, and there is always the second hand market – Trademe can often have decent wood cookers listed.
If you are on a budget but do have your heart set on Homewood, the single oven Companion will be significantly more affordable than the double oven Heritage, provided you are not in a rush (we have a backlog of interest to work through first!).

Zak – January, 2012