Abstract
The UK housing market has slowed dramatically and with house prices and the number of transactions forecast to fall this year, this must be bad news for furniture retailers. Already in 2008 there have been a number of casualties, including Sleep Depot and New Heights, and most recently Ilva and ScS.
At the same time furniture retailers are facing unprecedented levels of competition from outside of the specialist market from the likes of Tesco, Asda, Woolworths, Argos, Homebase, B&Q, and even Next and M&S. Is it all doom and gloom for the furniture specialist?
Main themes of the report:
- What impact has the expansion of the supermarkets' furniture ranges had on the specialists?
- Are non-specialists increasing competition and driving down prices? If so, what can the specialists do to differentiate their offer?
- What are the prospects for the UK furniture market given the worsening economic outlook?
- IKEAhas had a profound effect upon UK furniture retailing, but is it reaching saturation point?
- What are the prospects for furniture retailing online?
- Are furniture shoppers getting enough, and the right kind of, in-store and after-sales service?
- The potential for premiumisation within the furniture retail market?
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