| WWW.THE-LIST.CO.UK |
| REPORTFINDER |
Worldwide Business Information and Market Reports
Telephone +44 1404 891528 Fax +44 1404 891717 Email reportfinder @ tiscali.co.uk
| WWW.THE-LIST.CO.UK |
| REPORTFINDER |
Worldwide Business Information and Market Reports
Telephone +44 1404 891528 Fax +44 1404 891717 Email reportfinder @ tiscali.co.uk
WANT TO BUY THIS? Just one of a HUGE range of titles from publishers such as Aktrin, AMA Research, Key Note, MAPS, MBD, MSI and The Prospect Shop that you can BUY RIGHT NOW online from us. To buy or to browse further, use either of the Back To buttons below to activate our catalogue. If you would like to buy this title, you will find it in alphabetic order in the Index using the first Back To button. If you need further information, please contact us using the details at the top of this page. Please tell your colleagues if you find our site useful!
GO TO LATEST EDITION
Table of Contents Executive Summary
Back to Construction Index and Shopping
Cart
Back
To REPORTFINDER home page and Search
EngineWANT TO BUY THIS? The easiest way is just to ring ReportFinder on +44 (0) 1404 891528 from 0900 to 1930 UK time and ask for Sales.Just one of a HUGE range of titles from publishers such as Aktrin, AMA Research, eMarketer, Key Note, MAPS, MBD, MSI and The Prospect Shop that you can BUY RIGHT NOW online from us. To buy or to browse further, use either of the Back To buttons below to activate our catalogue. If you would like to buy this title, you will find it in alphabetic order in the Index using the first Back To button. If you need further information, please contact us using the details at the top of this page. Please tell your colleagues if you find our site useful!
Back to Top
In 1996 the bathroom products market was worth £561m at manufacturer selling prices. This represents a 4 percent increase on the previous year, reflecting the marginal improvement in the housing market and in consumer confidence.
A modest recovery took place during 1993 and 1994 as the UK housing market has improved slightly. New housing starts increased slightly and house moving also improved marginally. However in general, consumer confidence did not improve sufficiently to generate a significant increase in demand and trading remained difficult.
1995 and 1996 also remained difficult, with increasing interest rates late in 1994 and a very low level of consumer confidence, the overall market has shown little or no real growth in this period.
However, 1997 is a more optimistic year, with improving consumer confidence, windfall gains, the impact of a new government and a positive economic situation, all contributing to a year of good growth. More modest growth is anticipated in the medium term future reflecting the positive windfall impact in 1997. To the end of the decade is more likely to witness a modest improvement in bathroom product sales as house building and house moving markets grow at a steady rate.
Baths and sanitaryware continue to dominate the industry's sales in 1996. However, accessories in particular, is a sector of growing significance.
Acrylic baths continue to dominate followed by steel with cast iron taking a minor share. Materials for construction have changed with composites taking a small but increasing share and a number of manufacturers offering baths in different combinations of materials.
In this mature and saturated market the future growth is likely to be from an increasing number of niche sectors, such as corner baths, shaped baths, handles, 'easy access' baths for the infirm etc. The different features provide the opportunity to improve the average value of an installation.
Sanitaryware is a similar market. Domestic penetration is high, though en suites and cloakrooms offer opportunities for growth. In common with baths, an increasing number of niche sectors are likely to provide future opportunities for growth. The sanitaryware sector is supported by the increasing number of en suites and cloakrooms installed in new homes and also during refurbishment projects in existing homes.
The brassware market is worth under £100m at manufacturers prices, including kitchen brassware, estimated at around 32 percent of the total. Bath brassware, basin brassware and the small bidet sector account for the balance. There has been limited growth in mixers, reflecting the recent market orientation to price and mixers are particularly strong in kitchen brassware.
The key suppliers of baths and sanitaryware include Armitage Shanks, Caradon Bathrooms, Spring Ram, Ideal Standard and Shires. Armitage Shanks, Ideal Standard, Bristan and Pegler are the major companies in the brassware sector.
In terms of distribution, the merchants and factors continue to play a dominant part in the market with around 80 percent of bath and sanitaryware sales from manufacturers, though the merchant industry has improved their apprioach to bathrooms and kitchens with showrooms and a more retail-orientated offer.
The DIY multiple channel has maintained share over the last two years with further concentration in the industry limiting their opportunities for growth. Increasing levels of consumer confidence and spending may well offer opportunities for DIY multiples to improve their position over the short term future.
Accessories, Furniture and Whirlpools are part of the bathroom products market but offer very different opportunities and are at very different stages of development.
Household penetration of accessories is relatively high but they are generally replaced more frequently than a bathroom suite and the market can be supplemented with additional purchases. Bathroom fittings (soap dishes, toothbrush holders etc.) take 27 percent of the market followed by shower accessories, toilet seats and covers, scales and mirrors, bath panels and splash backs and heated towel rails with the balance.
Furniture also offers substantial growth opportunities, particularly fitted bathroom furniture, though this growth is likely to continue to be mainly through contractors/builders and the bathroom boutiques and is likely to be slow. The market is dominated by free-standing cabinets and vanity units, though fitted furniture is gaining share.
Whirlpools/Spas have traditionally been viewed as an expensive luxury but are fast becoming more affordable for the mass market. As awareness and distribution expands, this market is likely to exhibit substantial growth.
Key suppliers of accessories include Croydex, (including the recently acquired Jacques Marisa), Cavalier Bemis, Celmac, NewTeam, Aqualona, Allibert, Coram/Laconite and Metlex. Key furniture suppliers include Cloverleaf (including K J Bushill), Allibert, Roper Rhodes, Keter and Laconite with Shades (Berglen), Armitage Shanks, Ideal Standard and Be Modern strong in the fitted furniture sector.
Distribution of accessories and free-standing furniture is heavily biased to the DIY multiples, who take around half the retail share. Fitted furniture and whirlpool/spa distribution is biased to Merchants and Bathroom Specialists as neither are yet widely regarded as DIY products.
This comprehensive report represents a detailed assessment of the market, reviewing major trends, key factors influencing developments and future prospects for the sector. Analysis is both quantitative and qualitative, based on our substantial experience of the building and home improvement markets.
Text © 1997 AMA Research
Back to TopBack
To REPORTFINDER HOME PAGEAriadne - working together with our customers to enhance productivity and increase knowledge
© 1999 www.the-list.co.uk Ariadne
Last updated by Duncan Nottage 5th March 1999