Conversation groups
By Dana French -- Casual Living, 11/1/2009
Accounting for 16% of the outdoor furniture market, conversation groups pulled in $370 million in retail sales last year, down less than 1% from 2007.
2009 sales are expected to drop 5.9% to $348 million, the lowest projected sales decrease among all furniture products.
Specialty stores comprise 28% of deep-seating sales, while discount department stores account for 32% and home improvement centers own a 27% market share.
Traditional furniture stores and the direct-to-consumer channel, mostly fueled by the Internet, together are predicted to account for a combined 8% of sales this year. Furniture stores have recently begun to capitalize on the outdoor room and are finding success with deep-seating groups.
Conversation groups were cited as one of the fastest-growing categories by outdoor manufacturers in a recent industry outlook survey conducted by Casual Living. Vendors cited an increase in conversation groups on retailer floors and the product's use in a broad variety of settings as advantages for the category.
| 2008 estimated | 2009 projected | % change from 2008 | |
| Discount department stores | $118.4 | $112.4 | -5.1% |
| Specialty stores | $102.9 | $95.7 | -7.0% |
| Home improvement centers | $98.4 | $92.9 | -5.6% |
| Other | $34.0 | $32.0 | -5.9% |
| Warehouse membership clubs | $16.3 | $15.0 | -8.1% |
| TOTAL | $370.0 | $348.0 | -5.9% |
| Other includes department stores, direct-to-consumer, furniture stores, interior designers, garden centers, feed & seed stores, hardware stores, supermarkets, drug stores, home accent and gift stores and other minor outlets. All figures are based on retail sales. Figures may not add to total due to rounding. Source: Casual Living market research |
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