INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW

AMA Research have published the fifth edition of the “Home Office Furniture Market - UK 2008-2012”. The report incorporates original research and provides a comprehensive review of the home office furniture market and explores key product sectors.   The report contains: MARKET SIZE ANALYSIS – Overall furniture market, home office furniture market value, market growth and future prospects, international trade. PRODUCT MIX – Includes home office desking, seating and storage furniture and overall product trends. SUPPLIERS – Review of the supply structure, market shares and company profiles. DISTRIBUTION – Review of the key distribution channels, shares and company profiles. The home office furniture market was estimated to be worth around £221 million at manufacturers prices in 2007 representing 2% growth on the previous year. The home office furniture market experienced steady growth between 2000 and 2007 due to a number of underlying factors, including the increasing number of households owning computers and continued changes in working practices, leading to more people working from home. However, the market is expected to decline in the short term, reflecting the adverse economic conditions.

Of particular interest are the following:-

• Performance of the overall domestic furniture market and the home office furniture sector, including current trends and future prospects. 

• Rising imports - particularly from the Far East and Eastern Europe, which are continuing to put pressure on UK manufacturers.

• The changing nature of the home, with a greater emphasis on space utilisation and functionality as part of the design criteria for most furniture.

• In the longer term, the popularity of laptop PCs may prove to have a dampening effect on growth opportunities in the home office furniture market.

• Market forecasts up to 2012.

Key areas of coverage in the report include:-

THE MARKET

• Market size and growth of home office furniture market - developments of market size from 2002.

• Current situation - recent market performance, market drivers as well as identification of factors restricting growth.

• Future prospects for the home office furniture market, forecasts to 2012 and reasoning behind forecast trends.

• Teleworking/home working and the impact on the home office furniture market.

• Overall furniture market size, recent trends, product mix and consumer spending patterns.

• Market size and overall trends in the office furniture market.

• Total home office furniture product mix – % split workstations, desks, seating and storage.

• Home Office Desking, Steating & Storage – Historical and current trends

• Furniture types - mix of ready assembled and flat pack home office furniture and key trends.

• Product styles – style, design and material trends, contemporary and traditional styles.

• Market Share of leading suppliers.

• Details of major suppliers – including company structure, key products and financial information.

• Major channels of distribution, shares by type of outlet in the retail sector, changing profile of the distribution structure.

• Summary of key companies within major channels of distribution.

• New entrants – impact of grocery multiples on sector; growth of the Internet, etc.

• Market size forecasts by value to 2012.

• Review of key economic factors impacting the market.

• Developments in major product and market sectors.

• Forecasts of anticipated market performance to 2012 – short term prospects are difficult in 2008/09, but medium term prospects more favourable.