Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK - Industry Market Research Report

Dampening demand: Households limit spending on furniture and lighting as inflation rises

The level of residential construction, expenditure on dwellings, disposable income and level of demand from homeware retailers all heavily influence wholesalers' sales. Over the five years through 2023-24, wholesalers' revenue is forecast to contract at a compound annual rate of 4.4% to £5.1 billion, despite muted growth of 1% in 2023-24. In the year through March 2023, CPI inflation was 10.1%, according to the ONS, while GfK's consumer confidence index read -36, indicating a severely pessimistic outlook on household finances from most people. During financial hardship, spending on discretionary items like furniture, carpets and lighting drops, with purchases typically only made to replace faulty products. ONS data revealed that the volume of new orders for construction between January and March 2023 was 14.3% below the same period in 2022, driven by substantial drops in private commercial work and private housing. New public housing and private industrial work grew during this period, offsetting the revenue loss somewhat. That's why revenue dipped in 2022-23.

Operators in this industry wholesale and distribute carpet, furniture and lighting equipment. Sofas, armchairs, dining tables, wardrobes and outdoor furniture are all included in the industry, but office furniture is not. Lighting equipment includes electrical light fixtures, ceiling light fixtures, chandeliers and table lamps.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.