WESTERN EUROPE IS A LARGE AND MATURE MARKET FOR FURNITURE SALES

Western Europe boasts over 420 million consumers and accounts for around one fifth of the global furniture consumption. Nevertheless, the geography of the world furniture market is changing with the emergence of fast growing markets in different parts of the world thus rebalancing the share of Europe in the global scenario.

After years of difficulties, the market has followed an upward path benefitting from an improved macroeconomic environment.

According to the CSIL report “Furniture distribution in Europe” issued in 2018, the market is forecast to keep growing also in 2018 and 2019.

COUNTRIES SHOW DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES

Over the last five years market performances have been significantly different across countries and segments. The UK, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland have been the best performing markets. Kitchen furniture and upholstered furniture constitute the largest home furniture segments in Western Europe.

HIGH DEGREE OF TRADE INTEGRATION

The Western European home furniture market is characterized by a high degree of trade integration within the countries belonging to the region, but it is opening fast to home furniture imports coming also from extra-Western Europe countries.

RETAILING IS CHANGING

Furniture retailers’ role is changing: in many cases there are mixed types of business. In particular, manufacturers that have got their own distribution network or sell directly to consumers (e.g. online) and retailers that have got their own production facilities, or source directly products in large volumes, engaging in product development with an exclusive design.

HOME FURNITURE RETAILING IN WESTERN EUROPE IS INCREASINGLY CONCENTRATED

According to CSIL estimates, the top 15 retailing companies generate nearly 30% of the total value of the Western European market. The increase in the level of concentration is due to the good performances, acquisitions, agreements and the growth in market shares of large furniture chains.

Source: “The furniture distribution in Europe. Recent trends” by Cecilia Pisa (CSIL Industry Studies) – World Furniture Review 78/June 2018. Full article at https://worldfurnitureonline.com/PDFres/WF78/#p=28