UK is the second biggest importer of home decoration and gifts in the EU (after Germany). For the year 2006, the percentage of imports into the UK coming from the developing countries was slightly more than 46%.Generally, it can be said that the British consumers are very proud of their homes and are eager to undertake constant renovation, restyling and decoration. The growing awareness of fashion and household design will serve the industry well. Even if the last few years were somewhat disappointing, there is great scope for growth due to replacement sales. More importantly, increasingly fashion-led consumers at the higher end of the market are searching for decorative and gift articles that have a higher content of fashion than mere practicality.The British also have a profound gardening culture. The garden decoration market isforecast to grow because of the shift towards decorative rather than purely practicaldesigns.The British market is clearly divided between people from the South East (basically theLondon area) who have a higher income and prefer more fashionable products and peoplefrom the North, who are very price conscious. The forecasts indicate only a slow rise inpopulation and in consumption over the next few years.Major playersMajor companies in turnover in the British gifts and decorative articles market are:• Royal Doulton, ceramics and glass • Habitat UK, home decorations • Lakeland Limited, metal and plastic home and garden decoration. Useful sources• Association of European Candle Manufacturers • EFSA- European Floral Suppliers Association • British Candlemakers federation: • Giftware Association Trade channelsMajor wholesalers in the United Kingdom are:• Mastrading, ceramic and glass gifts and decorative articles, • Malini, textile decorative articles, • Life Style Collection, wooden and ceramic home and garden decorations,• Ganesha, textile and leather gifts and decorative articles • Lemon Tree Wholesale, ceramic and wooden gifts, candles• Something Different Wholesale, wholesalers of wooden gifts and decorative articles• Parlane International, wholesalers of wooden gifts and decorative articles• Ochre, home furniture and textile decoration Some of the major importers of gifts and decorative articles in the United Kingdom are:• Rex international, textile and ceramic gifts and decorative articles Puckator gift wholesalers, wooden gifts wholesalers • Elgate Products Limited, importers of gifts and decorative articles• Transomnia Ltd, textile gifts • Bombay duck Ltd, candles, flowers, wooden home and garden decorations and gifts.
Retail tradeThe United Kingdom retail market for gifts and decorative articles is fiercely competitive. As inmost other EU countries, mixed & independent retailers and the department stores arestruggling. Especially, the mixed & independent retailers are struggling in lower pricesegments of the market, where price and convenience are the most important purchasecriteria. These mixed & independent retailers generally purchase their assortment frommanufacturers, as well as wholesalers like Decco which breaksdown the bulk deliveries from manufacturers into manageable quantities for the independentretailers. The grocery multiples will account for an increasing share of British gifts anddecorative articles sales in the coming years. Hyper- and supermarkets are especiallyprominent in the distribution of gifts and decorative articles. Leading retailers in this segmentare Tesco Plc. , operating with 263 outlets, J Sainsbury Plc.(163 outlets) and Asda Stores Ltd.
Department Stores, still the leading retailer of gifts and decorative articles, with approximately30% of the gifts and decorative articles retail sales, are experiencing tough competition fromthe discounters and the grocery multiples. Next to these formats, specialist retailers like Ikeaare also gaining ground, with a fashionable and competitively-priced assortment.Other retail chains, offering many types of gifts and decorative articles, with central buyingoffices are:• Allders Department Stores Ltd. Debenhams PLC, beauty gifts • Harrods Ltd., textile and home gifts and decorations • John Lewis plc, retail furniture and home textile decorations • Selfridges Co. Ltd., retail chains, offering many types of gifts • Woolworths, retail chains, offering many types of gifts • The Garden Shop, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles Conran, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • Pier, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • Next, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • Cargo Home Shop, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • The Holding Company, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • White Company, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • OKA, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles • Argos, retail trade of gifts and decorative articles Fair Trade organisers (listed below)• Trade craft Shop • One Village • Oxfam • Ganesha.
Useful sources for pricing and impression of average prices can be formed by browsing through the catalogues of homeshopping companies on Internet. An alternative way to obtain information on prices and pricelevels is by visiting trade fairs or their websites. Some useful sources of price information alsoare:• John Lewis plc • Selfridges Co. Ltd. • Woolworths • Harrogate Home & Gift • Spring Fair Birmingham http://www.springfair.com/)Major trade fairs in the United Kingdom are:• Harrogate Home & Gift http://www.homeandgift.co.uk/• Spring Fair Birmingham http://www.springfair.com/Trade press:• Tableware International http://www.dmgworldmedia.com/• English Homes http://www.international-homes.com/• The English home http://www.theenglishhome.co.uk/
For more than 40 links to the above companies go to top "buy now"
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