INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW 

AMA Research have published the 2nd edition of the ‘UK Garden Rooms and Buildings Market – 2009-2013’ report.  The report represents an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the growing garden rooms and buildings market. Included in the definition of ‘garden rooms and buildings’ are: log cabins, modular garden rooms and timber framed garden buildings as well as insulated tree-houses, shepherds huts and modern designs such as spherical rooms. The garden rooms and buildings market saw good growth between 2004-08 supported by the increase in homeworking, relatively immature nature of the market and the generally good performance of the housing market during most of this period.  The market fared less favourably in 2009 due to difficult economic conditions, but medium term prospects are generally optimistic reflecting underlying consumer interest.

Areas of particular interest:

• Review of market structure - performance in 2008-09, with prospects into 2010.

• Review of major product groups - analysis of product sub-sectors where appropriate.

• Identification of key market influences – consumer interest, homeworking, product design, environment, housing transactions etc.

• Review of key suppliers and distributors for all product groups – shares, trends, market developments.

• Future prospects up to 2013 – future growth expectations and possibilities and threats to the market.

Some of the companies featured include:

1st Choice Leisure Buildings, Alsford Timber, B&Q, Barretts Leisure (Barretts Online), BillyOh, Blue Forest UK, Crane Sheds and Summerhouses, Dobbies Garden Centres, Dunster House, Eurowood (Eurovudas), Finnforest UK, Forest Garden PLC, Garden Adventure, Garden Affairs, Garden Chic, Garden Lodges, Garden Products Online, GBC Garden Building Centre, Grange, Green Retreats, Halls online, Henley Garden Buildings, Hillhout UK, Hillier Garden Centres, Homebase, Homelodge Buildings, Homestead Timber Buildings, InsideOut Buildings, Jewson, Kybotech, Leisure Building Specialists, Lugarde, Luoman Oy, MPB Garden Buildings, Newbury Garden Buildings, Nottcutts Garden Centres, Palladium, Pinelog, Rooms Outdoor, Rowlinson Garden Products, Sanctuary Garden Offices, Scandinavian Log Cabins Direct, Shedstore LLP, Simply Summerhouses,Smart Garden Offices, Solid, Taylors Garden Buildings, Tesco PLC, The Garden Centre Group, The Garden Escape, The Garden House, The Lindahl Lodge Company, The Qube, Travis Perkins, Valcke & Zoon NV, Walton Garden Buildings, Weka, Wickes.

Key areas covered in the report include:

MARKET STRUCTURE

• Definition of the garden rooms and buildings market – detached from main house and generally suitable for all year round use – key products included.

• Market size by value 2004-2009, including and excluding installation, electrics and other accessories added. Forecasts from 2010-2013

• Market size by volume 2004-2009, with forecasts of 2010-2013.

• Key influences on the market up to 2013 – planning permission, increase in homeworking, housing transactions, sustainability, price and availability of timber, performance of UK economy, potential impact of General Election etc.

• Summary of available product options on the market.

PRODUCT MIX

• Overview of key product sectors – log cabins, modular, timber-framed and ‘others’.

• Share by volume and value – differences between product sectors.

• Mix between self-assembly and installed - differences between products, key added value items.

• Recent trends, charges in product mix, growth in added-value designs, market prices, forecasts of future developments.

SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTION

• Overview of the market - distribution flow-chart indicating key routes to market.

• Supply structure  - including review of key suppliers by product groups.

• Market share by volume and value for the major suppliers – key players, overview of market position, distribution strengths etc.

• Profiles of key suppliers – buildings only suppliers/complete package suppliers etc.

• Distribution overview – DIY outlets, on-line and mail order retailers, garden centres, builders and timber merchants, direct supply, others.

• Channels of distribution share by volume – recent trends, future prospects.

• Channels of distribution share by value – recent trends, future prospects.

 GENERAL & FUTURE PROSPECTS

• Review of prospects in 2010-2013. Short term prospects in 2010-11 and medium term prospects up to 2013. Future trends likely to affect this market.

• Review of socio-economic factors influencing this market, such as disposable income, age distribution, housing trends etc.