INTRODUCTION and OVERVIEW 

AMA Research have published the 7th edition of the ‘Office Furniture Market UK Report 2004-2008’.  The report incorporates original research and is a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the market – representing a worthwhile investment and with over 120 pages giving excellent value for money.

Product areas covered include:-

• Desking - Executive, System, and Economy.

• Seating - Adjustable and Non-Adjustable.

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

• Other - Screens and Computer Trolley's.

The office furniture market was worth around £730 million in the UK, with the market negatively impacted by a recession in the financial services and TMT industries, in addition to the reduced business confidence caused by 9/11 and the Iraq conflict etc, resulting in uncertainty. The commercial office sector has continued to witness a decline in new orders and output underpinned by the recession, resulting in weakend demand for corporate office furniture, whist the SOHO sector was affected but not by as much.

The current market conditions remain difficult, although the market is showing signs of a recovery as consumer and business confidence is returning. The market remains highly competitive with a surplus of supply remaining and increasing threat from imports, resulting in changes in certain distribution channels.

The report assesses this situation and presents forecasts of performance for the office furniture market, covering desking, seating, storage and other furniture, through to 2008.

Of particular interest:-

• The impact of technology on the office furniture market.

• 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.

Also available: Multiple use database of around 500 office furniture dealers in the UK, see web page for details.

Key areas of coverage in the report include:-

THE MARKET

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

• Future prospects of the office furniture market to the year 2008.

• 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, percentage share of the market.

• Desking market – analysis by size, historical trends with forecasts to 2008.

• 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 2008.

• 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 2008.

• 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.

SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS

• 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 growing 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.