With the sunny May Bank Holiday weekend approaching and many Brits looking to revamp their outdoor spaces, the first warm spell of the year is prompting a spike in demand for garden furniture – but for some, a much-anticipated delivery has turned a relaxing day into an unwanted workout.

Innovative location tech what3words has staged a stunt in central London to highlight what can happen when deliveries go to the wrong address. Two people were spotted awkwardly navigating the crowds from Oxford Street to Westminster Bridge – carrying a bulky sun lounger through the city after a delivery mix-up – followed by someone holding signs reading: “Delivered to wrong address = hot mess. Use what3words at checkout.” and “Don’t let a delivery fail ruin your tan. Use what3words at checkout.”

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The stunt taps into a frustration many will recognise: street addressing often lacks the precision needed to get deliveries – especially large, bulky items like garden furniture – to the right place. In fact, a study by what3words found that 70% of Brits have had their deliveries lost or sent to the wrong place before. According to Nottingham-based retailer The Worm That Turned, just a few continuous days of sunshine can be enough to send demand climbing – making accurate delivery information more important than ever.

“When it shines long enough to start warming up the nation’s patios and balconies – three or four consecutive days can be enough – orders begin a clear upward trajectory,” said Stuart Isbister, Managing Director at The Worm that Turned. “There’s nothing worse than a highly anticipated delivery arriving at the wrong location, and adding what3words at checkout has undoubtedly reduced the chances of things going wrong.”

what3words divides the globe into a grid of 3m squares, each with a unique three-word address. This means every garden gate, side entrance and front door has its own precise address, helping deliveries arrive exactly where they’re needed.