UK Furniture & Floor covering Retailers 2012

Insight into the UK furniture & floorcoverings sector giving in-depth analysis of key issues, strategies for success and major players in the market. Detailed profiles of all the major retailers, along with comprehensive market sizing and forecasts.

Introduction

With continued pressure on the housing market and disposable incomes in the UK, we discuss how this affects the furniture & floorcovering sector, which is heavily reliant on sales of big ticket items to drive growth. As consumers continue to divert spend toward essential items, the report recommends strategies furniture & floocovering retailers must adopt in order to survive in a difficult sector.

Scope

• Market sizing and shares for the leading retailers in both furniture and floorcoverings retail with comprehensive analysis of the winners and losers
• Detailed breakdown of retailer operational performance including sales, profits, space expansion and market share
• Key issues affecting the market are examined including the weak housing market, low demand for big ticket items, and the impact of online on stores
• Detailed space allocation by product category for the leading furniture and floorcoverings retailers

Scope

We estimate that the furniture & floorcoverings market contracted faster in 2011 than in 2010, falling 5.5%. Since 2007 it will have contracted cumulatively by almost a quarter. We estimate that since 2006, beds and bedroom furniture expenditure contracted by just 0.6% as consumers look for greater comfort and relaxation in the home environment.

The state of the housing market remains central to the performance of the furniture & floorcoverings sector as home moves provide the major stimulus to most purchases, particularly in the case of big ticket expenditure like large items of furniture, floorcoverings, kitchens and bathrooms.

The largest players in each sector are using their economies of scale to protect margins while reinforcing their price competitive positions. Smaller and medium size operators are at a disadvantage in this situation, and unless they are able to create differentiated product ranges, their operating margins will be put under even greater strain.

Reasons to Purchase

• Who are the top performing furniture and floorcovering retailers in the UK, and who is set to perform best in 2012?
• What are the strategies adopted by the most successful retailers in the furniture & floorcoverings sector, and how can you implement them?
• What role will non-specialists play in the recovery of the sector and how is the market expected to look post recovery?