Market Research - Domestic Window Coverings Market - UK 2008 - 2012  from AMA Research

INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW 

The domestic window coverings market was estimated to be worth approximately £1.3 billion at retail selling prices in 2007, having achieved only modest growth on the previous year.  The overall market in 2007 has been more subdued, with consumer spending on non-essential items continuing to feel pressures from rising fuel, energy and food prices throughout 2007 and into 2008.  The prospects for the short-term are difficult to predict and current forecasts might even prove optimistic given the current volatile state of the housebuilding and house moving sectors.  In the medium term, the window coverings market is expected to experience moderate rates of growth 2009-2012, benefiting from returning consumer confidence and forecast improvements in the housing market. Product areas covered:- Curtains – ready-made, custom-made & curtain fabric. Blinds – roller, Venetian, Roman, pleated, vertical, soft, etc. Lightweight Curtains – net & lace curtains, sheers & voiles. Curtain Suspension Systems – poles, tracks, rods and wire.

Of particular interest:

• Analysis of curtains, blinds, lightweight curtains and suspension systems by sector.

• Impact of current volatile economic climate on windowcoverings.

• Continuing progress of ready-mades sector.

• Increasing import penetration into UK market adding pressures to UK based manufacturers.

• Slowing of growth rates for the blinds sector, but still achieving growth above market average.

• Trend towards metal poles and tracks in curtain suspension and decline of plastic track.

• Changes to retail distribution channels.

• Market forecasts through to 2012.

Key areas covered in the report include:

THE MARKET 

• Market Size by Value – 2002-07 at retail selling prices with estimates for 2008 and forecasts through to 2012.

• Product Mix - analysis of the market by sector in 2007, illustrating changes in market share since 2005.

• Purchase Motivation Factors – mix by purchase decision 2007 and key influences on purchasing behaviour including house moving, housebuilding and conservatories markets.

• International Trade – increasing import penetration into UK market 2002-07, source countries for window coverings imports 2007.

• Future Prospects – key factors influencing future market growth – health of the economy, fashion trends, etc - and prospects for individual market sectors. Impact on market of current downturn in house building, house-moving, and general decline in consumer confidence.

CURTAINS 

• Market Size by Value - 2002-07 at retail prices, estimates for 2008 and forecasts of sector performance to 2012, key factors influencing market growth, curtain market characteristics and future prospects.

• Mix by Major Product Sectors - overall mix for ready-made, custom-made and fabric, factors influencing performance of individual sectors, prospects for future developments.

• Influence of Fashion and Styles – styles, fabrics, linings, trends in curtain styles and influence on purchasing decisions.

• Key Suppliers – key suppliers to the market, market shares for leading suppliers of ready-made curtains and curtain fabric, changes to supply structure since 2005.

BLINDS

• Market Size by Value  - from 2002 with forecasts to 2012 at retail prices, market characteristics, innovations and design trends, key factors influencing market growth, future prospects.

• Analysis by End-Use Application – % mix by value 2007 for windows, doors and conservatories, changes to mix since 1997.

• Mix by Blind Type and Style – custom and ready-made blinds, mix by type – vertical, Venetian, roller, soft and pleated – 2007, key trends and developments for major blind styles since 2005.

• Controls and Automation – examination of trends in controls sector 2005-07, identification of leading suppliers of control and automation systems.

• Key Suppliers - identification of leading suppliers to the UK blinds market.

LIGHTWEIGHT CURTAINS

• Market Background, Characteristics and Size – by value at retail prices from 2002 with forecasts to 2012, key factors influencing current and future market development and recent trends.

• Product Mix – analysis by format – ready-made, custom made and off-the-roll, styles and trends in lightweight curtains.

• Key Suppliers -.identification of leading suppliers/distributors of lightweight curtains.

CURTAIN SUSPENSION SYSTEMS 

• Market Size – analysis by value 2002 -07 with forecasts of market performance to 2012 at retail prices, key factors influencing future market development.

• Product Mix – changes to mix of key product sectors in terms of volume 2007, characteristics and style trends, examination of key product sectors.

• Key suppliers –identification of leading suppliers to curtain suspension sector, estimated market share 2007.

DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS  

• Analysis by Channel – identification of key distribution channels for domestic window coverings, channel share analysis, recent changes to share, leading organisations within each major channel.

The report is extensive with 85  pages and over 35 tables and charts (see right hand panel for a full listing of contents including tables and charts)