Bridalwear : Market Research Report

Bridalwear

Published by: Key Note Publications Ltd

Published: Oct. 1, 2007 - 108 Pages

1. Market Definition: REPORT COVERAGE; MARKET SECTORS; MARKET TRENDS; Off the Peg; Covering the Costs; More Weddings in Approved Premises; Older Brides; Paradise Found; Dream Destinations — Not So Happy for the Guests; Disney Does Bridal; Weddings on the Box; Wedding Dresses Helping Charities; All in the Planning; Wedding Fashion; Real Brides; ECONOMIC TRENDS; Population; Gross Domestic Product; Inflation; Unemployment; Household Disposable Income; MARKET POSITION; The UK; Overseas
2. Market Size: NUMBER OF WEDDINGS; England and Wales; Weddings by Previous Marital Status; Weddings by Time of Year; Scotland; Northern Ireland; The UK; COST OF WEDDINGS; THE TOTAL MARKET; BY MARKET SECTOR; Retail; The Wedding Dress; Retail Market Value; Manufacturing; Budget Dresses; OVERSEAS TRADE; Imports; Exports
3. Industry Background: RECENT HISTORY; Chinese Textiles Quota Restrictions; New Ownership of Bridal Buyer, The National Wedding Show and British Bridal Exhibition; New Trade Magazine Launched; NUMBER OF COMPANIES; EMPLOYMENT; REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE MARKETPLACE; DISTRIBUTION; HOW ROBUST IS THE MARKET?; LEGISLATION; KEY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS; Bridal Industry Suppliers Association; British Bridalwear Association Ltd; Retail Bridalwear Association Ltd; UK Alliance of Wedding Planners Ltd; Other Associations; Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry; UK Fashion Exports
4. Competitor Analysis: INTRODUCTION; THE MARKETPLACE; Bridal Magazines; MARKET LEADERS; Manufacturers; Designers; Alan Hannah Ltd; Ana Cristache London Ltd; Elizabeth Todd Ltd; Hayley J Couture; Hollywood Dreams Ltd; Ian Stuart Ltd; Jenny Packham London Ltd; Kate Sherford; Louise Selby; Stewart Parvin Ltd; Retailers; Benjamin Roberts Ltd; Bird's Bridal Ltd; Ellis Bridals; Go Bridal Ltd; Miss Bush Bridalwear; Groomswear Suppliers; Anthony Formalwear Ltd; Fantasy Waiscoats.co.uk; Tartanweb Scotland Ltd; Online Wedding Services Companies; OUTSIDE SUPPLIERS; Emmy Ltd; Jupon Ltd; Yarwood-White Ltd; The Bespoke Wedding Company; MARKETING ACTIVITY; Main Media Advertising Expenditure; Exhibitions — Trade; The British Bridal Exhibition, Harrogate; International Exhibition of Textile Machinery; Exhibitions — Consumer; The Designer Wedding Show; National Wedding Shows; The Wedding Extravaganza Show; Exhibitions — Overseas; The US; UK and Europe; Industry Awards; Bridal Buyer Awards; Wrapit Wedding Industry Awards; The Wedding Ideas Awards; Fashion Awards; Wedding Awards; Destination and Venue Awards
5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: STRENGTHS; WEAKNESSES; OPPORTUNITIES; THREATS
6. Buying Behaviour: THE WEDDING DAY; Planning; As Soon as the Date is Decided; Up to 1 Year Before; Up to 6 Months Before; Up to 3 Months Before; Up to 6 Weeks Before; Up to 4 Weeks Before; 10 Days to a Week Before; Day Before; Wedding Etiquette; Receiving Line; Toasts and Speeches; The First Dance; The Bride; The Bridegroom; The Best Man; Chief Bridesmaid/Maid of Honour; Bride's Father; Bride's Mother; Ushers; WEDDING DRESS FABRICS; Duchess Satin; Silk Georgette; Organza; Taffeta; Tulle; Chiffon; Italian Satin; Crepe; Velvet
7. Current Issues: OVERVIEW
8. The Global Market: MARKET SIZE; FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
9. Forecasts: INTRODUCTION; The Economy; Population; Gross Domestic Product; Inflation; Unemployment; FORECASTS 2006 TO 2010; FUTURE TRENDS
10. Company Profiles: JENNY PACKHAM (LONDON) LTD; Company Information; Product Information; THE COLLECTION DESIGNED BY IAN STUART LIMITED; Company Information; Product Information; ELLIS BRIDALS; Company Information; Product Information; Financial information; BENJAMIN ROBERTS LIMITED; Company Information; Product Information; Financial Information
10. Consumer Confidence: METHODOLOGY; KEY FINDINGS THIS QUARTER; THE WILLINGNESS TO BORROW; Confidence Improves; Willingness to Borrow Slips Slightly; SPENDING FROM SAVINGS; Slight Increase in Spending from Savings; Saving Grows in Relative Importance
11. Further Sources: Associations; Publications; General Sources; Government Publications; Other Sources; Bisnode Sources

Abstract

According to National Statistics, the number of weddings in England and Wales decreased by 10.4% in 2005, to 244,710. Furthermore, government data show that the number of weddings in the UK fell by 9.5% in the same period, to 283,731. This trend looks likely to continue: according to several designers Key Note spoke to during the compilation of this report, orders placed for dresses 2 years in advance are down.

While declines in the market would have a serious effect on multimillion, multinational organisations, the UK bridalwear market operates on a much smaller scale. It is very much a niche market, especially at the couture end of the market, in which most UK designers operate. As a result of this, designers are able to withstand seasonal fluctuations. However, to counteract any fall in the bridalwear market itself, some are emphasising the occasionwear side of their businesses, with the `prom' dress coming to the fore.

The biggest threat to the UK bridalwear market is in the mid-market, where any downturn in the number of weddings is most likely to be felt. However, this sector is already highly competitive and fragmented, with most dresses being mass produced in the People's Republic of China and imported either through US-owned designer labels that operate on a global scale or through smaller UK importers.

Despite curbs put in place by the EU after the People's Republic of China's textile import quotas were lifted at the beginning of 2005 — as a result of the nation joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) — there has been no shortage in the UK of the availability of wedding dresses originating in the People's Republic of China. Perhaps worrying for UK importers is that Chinese manufacturers and designers are beginning to approach UK retailers directly, and there is a strong possibility that some well-known importing brands could disappear in the next decade.

The availability of cheap copies and counterfeits over the Internet is perceived by the industry as being more of a nuisance than a real threat. Brides take a big risk when ordering copies of designer gowns in this way, as there is no guarantee that they will arrive on time and it is highly likely that, while the designs may be exact copies, the fabric will be of much lower quality.

The bridalwear market has seen new players entering in the form of the high-street multiples ASDA and Marks and Spencer, both offering gowns at very low prices. This is at the budget end of the market, where competition tends to be among high-street fashion stores and second-hand resellers. There are a number of websites offering a marketplace for brides to sell their dresses and, to bring in an ethical element, Oxfam has also opened a number of bridal outlets at some stores. However, it is too early to predict whether bridalwear has proved profitable for the multiples.

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Bridalwear

Table of Contents

Abstract