Gift List Services - UK - May 2009

Table of Contents

• Issues in the Market
• Key themes
• Definitions
• Abbreviations
• Market in Brief
• Market struggling?
• Is the age of indulgence over?
• Weddings and partnerships slow down
• Wrapit sends shock ripples
• Department stores still lead
• Fewer high street choices but lots of online options
• Tradition still has its place
• Sunglasses not wine glasses
• Does charity begin at home?
• There are some big spenders
• Internet is essential
• Potential pending for other occasions
• Internal Market Environment
• Key points
• Marriage figures
  • Figure 1: Number of weddings and divorces in the UK, 1998-2008
  • Figure 2: Number of marriages in England and Wales, by first marriage or remarriage, 2006
  • Figure 3: Percentage breakdown of marriages in England and Wales, by first marriage or remarriage, 2002-06
  • Figure 4: People cohabiting, by marital status, 2006*
  • Figure 5: Age at marriage of men and women, 2002-06
• Mock marriages
• Civil versus religious
  • Figure 6: Number of marriages in England and Wales, by type of ceremony (civil or religious), 1996-2006
• Weddings abroad
  • Figure 7: Number of weddings in the UK and abroad, 2002-09
• Seasonal fluctuations
  • Figure 8: Seasonality of marriages in England and Wales, 2001-06
• Not in the pink
  • Figure 9: Number of UK registered civil partnerships, 2005-07
• Size of weddings
• Births and christenings
  • Figure 10: Number of births, 1999-2013
  • Figure 11: Adult, infant and child baptisms, 2002-06
• Broader Market Environment
• Key points
• Economic climate
  • Figure 12: Consumer expenditure, at current and consatant 2004 prices, 2004-09
• Consumer confidence
  • Figure 13: Consumer Confidence Index, Jan 08-Apr 09
• What' s happening to the affluent consumer?
  • Figure 14: Population breakdown, by socio-economic group, 2004-14
• Demographics
  • Figure 15: Population breakdown, by age, 2004-14
• House moves
  • Figure 16: Housing transactions and average years between moves, 2004-14
• Internet use
• Celebrity wedding replaced by credit crunch chic
• Competitive Context
• Key points
• All retail sales
  • Figure 17: All retail sales, at current prices, 2002-08
• Sales via non-specialised non-food stores
  • Figure 18: Retail sales through non-specialised non-food stores, at current prices, 2002-08
• The wedding market
  • Figure 19: Number of UK marriages and total wedding expenditure, 2002-08
  • Figure 20: Estimated value of the weddings abroad market, 2003-08
• Celebration is a priority
  • Figure 21: Expenditure priorities, 2007-09
• Strengths and Weaknesses
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Market Size and Forecast
• Key points
• Hard to pin down
  • Figure 22: Wedding list type, 2008
  • Figure 23: Wedding average value of gift lists, 2004-08
  • Figure 24: Estimated market size for wedding gift lists, 2004-14
• The future
• Usage of Gift List Services
• Key points
• Well-known names lead the way
  • Figure 25: Wedding services used or planned to use, March 2009
• Online making in roads
• Store choice matches profile
• Specialists versus the DIY list
• Regional differences
  • Figure 26: Repertoires of wedding list services use/plan to use, March 2009
• Are lists for the well-off?
• Technology opportunities
• Wide spectrum of spending
  • Figure 27: Value of gift list, March 2009
• Value increases with age
• Big spenders not insignificant
• What Makes a Good Wedding List Service?
• Key points
• Comfort in the name
  • Figure 28: Most important attributes when choosing a gift list service, March 2009
• Online is a must-have
• Guests come first
• Choice unlimited
• Going beyond the norm
• Young like the store experience
• Retail Competitor Analysis
• Key points
• List closures
• High street versus online
  • Figure 34: Comparison of wedding gift list operators, 2009
• Market share by value
  • Figure 35: Estimated market shares of gift list market, by value and volume, 2008
• Retailer Profiles
• Key points
• Department stores
• John Lewis
• Debenhams
• Beales
• Harrods
• House of Fraser
• Specialist housewares shops
• Heal' s
• Divertimenti
• Specialists
• Selfridges (The Wedding Shop)
• Mulberry Hall
• Variety stores and other non-specialists
• Argos
• Next
• Internet services
• Amazon
• Thebottomdrawer.co.uk
• Weddingpresentsdirect.com
• Other services
• Charity
• Give It Ltd
• Appendix -- Usage of Gift List Services
  • Figure 36: Any usage/planned usage of gift list services, by demographics, March 2009
  • Figure 37: Repertoire of wedding list services used/plan to use, by demographics, March 2009