Umbrellas

-- Casual Living, 11/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Between 2006 and 2007, retail sales of umbrellas are projected to remain basically flat, growing only 0.6%.

Discount department stores, with 2006 sales of $34 million, have the largest market share at 40% and home improvement centers are in second place, with a 24% market share.

With 14% market share, specialty stores are projected to grow umbrella sales 1.3% this year, faster than the overall market.

The direct-to-consumer channel, including catalogs, the Internet and home shopping networks, registered 2006 sales of $5 million and is expected to grow 2.3% this year.

According to data from Casual Living's 2007 Consumer Buying Trends, published in June 2007, households spent a median of $80 on an umbrella last year, with 82% of buying households purchasing an umbrella for a table.