Furniture Market Dynamics in the UK

¡¾2002.06.24¡¿

Timber Window Market Growing

In the UK, the British Woodworking Federation has estimated that the sales of timber windows have increased from Stg 180 mil. in 1997 to Stg 255 million in 2001. The share of fully-finished and glazed windows was Stg 95 mil. in 2001.

Total sales are predicted to grow to Stg 290 million in 2002, Stg 350 million in 2003 and to over Stg 400 million in 2004. The sales of fully-finished and glazed units will be Stg 125 million, Stg 180 million and Stg 245 million in those three years respectively.
UK Bedding Sales

Data from the National Bed Federation (NBF) suggest that bedding sales are dropping slightly. Turnover for the first quarter of 2002 of the 20 NBF members in the analysis decreased by 0,35% on the equivalent 2001 quarter. The NBF figures also show that total bedding turnover of the membership in the first quarter of this year was Stg 126.6 mil.. From this, the NBF estimates total UK bedding turnover to be Stg 168.8 mil.

The National Bed Federation is the recognised trade association representing UK manufacturers of beds and mattresses and their suppliers. Founded in 1912, its members today account for about 75% of total UK bedding turnover.

Market and Company News

Courts Suffers Downturn

Despite Courts turning its furniture operations around in 2001, overseas setbacks and losses on discontinued operations have hit profits. Pre-tax profits have fallen to Stg 9.9mil. and sales have fallen to Stg 704mn from Stg 739mil.. However with discontinued operations excluded profits for the retailer were Stg 25.1mn. Its electrical business also made a loss of Stg 7mil., but like for like sales in the UK were up 4%, and operating profit was up Stg 7mil. to Stg 7.4mil.

SCS posts profit gain

SCS posted a Stg 5.2mil. profit for the six months to 31 March 2002, up by 35%, with sales up by 35% to Stg 50.6mil. growing by 4%. The furniture retailer, which is based in Sunderland, devoted Stg 3.5mil. to branch openings during the period and is looking in 2002 to set up a further 13 outlets. By end-2004, SCS is looking to have 70 outlets and currently has about 4% of the splintered furniture sector, with DFS the leading player on 12%.

First UK store for Ethan Allen

American retailer and manufacturer Ethan Allen Interiors, which has more than 300 stores in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Middle East and Asia, opened its first UK store at Kingston Upon Thames in May. The 8500 sqft meters store will be followed by the opening of a new 16000 sqft store in September, in Kent. The opening marks the first stage of a pilot joint venture programme between Ethan Allen and MFI Furniture Group.

MDF benches

In the UK, designers John Coles and Mike Dye have developed a new form of bench seating made of laminated Medite MDF of Willamette Europe. The laminations from 25 mm thick Medite MDF are produced to precise tolerances on a CNC router. The seating, called Massimo, has been exhibited by Willamette at the Batimat building exhibition in Paris. According to Mr. Dye, Massimo has enormous commercial potential and its shape can be varied to meet specified requirements.