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Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.
Published: Jan. 1, 2003 - 139 Pages
Table of Contents
Introduction and Abbreviations
Definitions
Research methodology
Consumer research
Abbreviations
Executive Summary
Strong market growth
The major drivers
Peak age group for marriage continues to decline
Growth in ABC1 population augurs well
Number of marriages in long-term decline, despite blip in 2000
First marriages account for less than six in ten marriages
Average age for first marriage rises to 28.2 for bride and 30.5 for men
Rise in number of couples cohabiting before marriage
Civil ceremonies increase, at expense of religious
Wedding lists have become more popular
Argos, Debenhams, John Lewis and M&S prove most popular
Key features of a wedding list service
Satisfaction levels with services are high
Four players now hold a 56% share
The future
Market Size
Figure 1: Market size for wedding list services, 1998-2002
Figure 2: The wedding lists market, by volume and value, 1998-2002
Figure 3: Approximate value of gift list, 2001 and 2002
Market Factors
Age of UK population
Figure 4: Total UK population, by age group, 1997-2006
Population growth by lifestage
Figure 5: The UK adult population, by lifestage group, 1994-2002
Increase in ABC1s auspicious for wedding list services
Figure 6: Total UK population, by socio-economic group, 1997-2006
Marriage and divorce
Figure 7: Number of marriages and divorces in the UK, 1992-2006
First marriages and remarriage
Figure 8: Number of marriages in England and Wales, by first marriage or remarriage, 2000
Figure 9: Percentage breakdown of marriages in England and Wales, by first marriage or
remarriage, 1990-2000
Big increase in civil ceremonies
Figure 10: Number of civil and religious marriage ceremonies in England and Wales, 1990-2000
Figure 11: Number of marriages in England and Wales, by type of ceremony (civil or religious),
1990-2000
Average age for first marriage rises to 28.2 for bride and 30.5 for men
Figure 12: Number of marriages in England and Wales, by age of bride and groom, and whether couple give identical residential addresses before marriage, 2000
London and the South East key for weddings
Figure 13: Number of marriages and divorces in England and Wales, by area of occurrence, 2000
Seasonality of marriages
Figure 14: Seasonality of marriages in England and Wales, number of marriages in each month,
1990 and 2000
Increase in weddings abroad
Gay marriages?
PDI and consumer expenditure
Figure 15: PDI and consumer expenditure, at constant 1997 prices, 1997-2006
Implications for retailers
Consumer Shopping
Occasions for using wedding list services in the last five years
Figure 16: Occasions for usage of wedding list services in the last five years, 1997 and 2002
Figure 17: Occasions for usage of wedding list services in the last five years, by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Wedding list services bought from during the last five years
Figure 18: Wedding list services bought from in the last five years, 1997 and 2002
Argos users - women, 20-34, C1C2, South/Anglia/Midlands, ABC1 families and third age
Debenhams users - both sexes, 25-34 and 55-64, ABC1, South
John Lewis - 25-34 ABs from London
Marks & Spencer - 25-34, ABC1 third age, one-person households
Other stores/services
Figure 19: Wedding list services bought from in the last five years, by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Yorkshire/North East and South West/Wales biggest users of lists personally compiled by bridal couple
Third age ABs living in Scotland most likely to purchase gift of own choice
Non-users most likely to be retired from the South West/Wales
Figure 20: Non-users of wedding list services in the last five years, by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Factors considered most important when buying from a wedding list service
Figure 21: Most important factors when buying from a wedding list service, 1997 and 2002
Important factors relating to merchandise
Figure 22: Most important factors relating to merchandise when buying from a wedding list service,
by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Important factors relating to customer service issues
Figure 23: Most important factors relating to customer service issues when buying from a wedding list service, by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Important factors relating to mechanics of using a wedding list service
Figure 24: Most important factors relating to mechanics of using a wedding list service, by demographic sub-group, lifestage, Mintel's Special Groups and ACORN categories, September 2002
Important factors for users of particular list services
Figure 25: Important factors when buying from a specific gift service, September 2002
Important factors when buying from list compiled by bridal couple, or a gift of own choice
Figure 26: Important factors when buying gift from list compiled by bride and groom, or buying gift
of own choice, September 2002
Problems encountered when using a wedding list service
Figure 27: Problems encountered by consumers who have used a wedding list service, 1997 and
2002
Figure 28: Problems encountered with wedding list services, by service used, September 2002
Conclusions and implications
Retail Market Shares
Figure 29: Retailers' estimated shares of the wedding lists market, by volume, 2002
Figure 30: Wedding lists: Retailers' estimated shares, 2002
Figure 31: Type of wedding list planned, 2001 and 2002
Major Wedding List Services
Allders
Argos
Debenhams
House of Fraser
John Lewis
Marks & Spencer
Beales
Bentalls
Fenwick
Harrods
James Beattie
Selfridges
Specialist household goods retailers
Heal's
The Conran Shop
Mulberry Hall
Wedding list specialists and Internet specialists
Bliss (blissonline.com)
Confetti.co.uk
The General Trading Company
The Wedding List (theweddinglist.com)
The White House Wedding List Service
Wedding List Services (wedding.co.uk)
The Wedding Shop (theweddingshoponline.com)
Wedding Presents Direct (weddingpresentsdirect.co.uk)
Wrapit plc
Other companies
Key Retail Issues
Current market trends in wedding list services
Major factors influencing trends
What makes a good wedding list service?
Which retailers are doing well in wedding list services?
Developments in wedding list services
Seasonality
Customer service issues
Gift wrapping and delivery
Technological developments and the impact of the Internet
Operational issues
Advertising and promotion
Figure 32: Main media advertising expenditure on wedding list services, by leading department
and variety stores, 1997-2001
The Future
Forecast
Figure 33: Forecast of wedding lists market, 2002-2007
Appendix: Research methodology
Index of reports
Abstract"Wedding lists are a form of 'viral marketing' - it's a great way of catching a customer - winning a bride brings 40 new customers in."
- Managing director, wedding list specialist
It is almost five years since Mintel last reviewed the retailing of wedding list services in the UK, and since then there have been a considerable number of developments in the sector. The proportion of bridal couples choosing a professional wedding list service has risen strongly, as has the average amount spent on gifts. There has also been an increase in the number of couples choosing more than one gift list provider, with one perhaps covering more basic household items and another for more aspirational items or lifestyle experiences. One of the most important trends has been the impact of technological developments, particularly the emergence of the Internet over the last few years.
The top four department/variety store retailers of wedding list services - Debenhams, John Lewis, Argos and Marks & Spencer - have increased their dominance of this market, driven by technological developments, flexibility and ease of use, their strong brand reputations and marketing campaigns, and their strong national presence. The market is increasingly polarising between these main volume players at one end and a number of small-volume, high-value specialists and online players at the other. With a few exceptions, other department stores, unable or unwilling to invest in the technology that is now key to success, have witnessed a decline in share, with some exiting the market altogether, while others have moved into wedding account services rather than operating gift lists.
The concept of wedding presents has really changed over the last few years. People tend to get married later, and both bride and groom will, in all likelihood, be equipped with at least the basics. This means that guests have quite a challenge when it comes to choosing a present that they can be confident the couple will welcome. In the not-too-distant past the typically conservative British consumer would have felt embarrassed about giving or sending out wedding gift lists, but these have become much more acceptable nowadays - most people see them as the practical and sensible way of buying a present that the couple actually want.
The compilation of a list and registration with a reputable wedding list service has the benefits of giving the bridal couple peace of mind and enables guests to choose the gifts they know the couple want without fear of duplication. The days of receiving two or three toasters or the same number of randomly chosen tea/dinner services that are not to the couple's taste should be well and truly over. Many couples now opt for a professionally managed list as managing it themselves can be very time-consuming and it can be difficult to keep track of who has bought what. One industry respondent went so far as to say that guests buying something not on a gift list, which the couple had spent a great deal of time and effort in putting together, were actually insulting the couple in spurning their choice.
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