INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW 

AMA Research have published the 8th edition of the ‘Office Furniture Market UK 2006-2009’ report.  The report incorporates original research and is a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the market – representing a worthwhile investment and with over 100 pages giving excellent value for money.

Product Areas Reviewed:-

• Desking – Executive, System, and Economy.

• Seating – Adjustable and Non-Adjustable.

• Storage – Shelving, Bookcases, Cupboards, Filing Cabinets, Personal, Shared, Archive.

• Other – Screens and Computer Trolley’s

Compiled by marketing professionals with experience of the Conservatory market, our report answers the need for both a comprehensive review of market developments and a detailed analysis of influencing factors and possible future trends.

The office furniture market is worth around £710 million in the UK.  The market has been under pressure for some years, from a poor office construction sector and high levels of commercial office space available, though service sector business confidence levels have improved over the last 18 months and the IT and telecommunication sectors have shown the first performance improvements since the early part of the decade.  These factors suggest there are likely to be improvements for the office furniture industry over the next few years.

The current market conditions remain difficult, although the market has been supported by positive performance in the SOHO sector. The market remains highly competitive with surplus supply capacity remaining and increasing threats from imports, resulting in shifting distribution structures.

Key Areas of Interest Include:-

• Changing working practices in the UK and likely impacts on office furniture.

• The changing nature and impact of the SOHO market, growth of alternative distribution channels.

• Office property space activity and likely impacts on the office furniture market.

• Improving levels of business confidence and the likely impacts on the office furniture industry.

Key areas of coverage in the report include:-

MARKET

• Total office furniture market – analysis of size by value, current situation, historical trends, forecasts, reasons for changes and background influences.

• Future prospects of the office furniture market to the year 2009.

• Imports and Exports – trade balance, major countries supplying imports.

• Key influences on the development of the office furniture market, technology, call centres, the SOHO market, new working practices and environmental considerations.

• The office construction market – analysis by size, public/private sector mix, historical trends and future prospects, RMI and its influence on market trends

THE PRODUCTS

• Major product groups within the office furniture market, share of the market.

• Desking market – analysis by size, historical trends with forecasts to 2009.

• Trends in functionality and design, other desking trends including pedestals, impact of changing working practices and technological developments, future prospects, greater market fragmentation.

• Seating market – analysis by size, historical trends, forecasts to 2009.

• Mix of seating market by type i.e. adjustable/non-adjustable, reasons for growth of adjustable, influence of changing regulations, new product features, material usage, different types of seating, innovations.

• Storage market – size by value with historical trends and forecasts to 2009.

• Mix of storage units by material and mix by type i.e. shelving/cabinet/cupboards.

• Other office furniture e.g. mobile computer trolleys, partitioning/screening.

SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

• Major suppliers, market shares, product and market positioning.

• Key company information for major companies. Changes in market structures.

• Other suppliers involved in desking & tables, seating, storage & partitioning.

• Major channels of distribution – shares by type of channel, areas of growth and decline, future trends and opportunities.

• Key outlets involved in the major channels of distribution

FUTURE PROSPECTS

• Prospects for the Office Furniture market – major factors influencing short and longer term prospects.

• Developments in the major product and market sectors.

• Supplier and distribution developments.

The report contains over 120 pages of original research and comment on the UK Office Furniture Industry and provides an independent and incisive view into the development of the market.