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Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Jacob Lang Jacob Lang London, United Kingdom Last Updated: September 2023 SIC G46.470

Revenue

£5.1bn

2023-24

£5.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

22,723

Businesses

2,398

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry analysis

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.In 2023-24, the outlook for property reads pretty grim, with the average two-year fixed mortgage deal rate at approximately 6.8% in July 2023. Soaring rates dampen the number of residential property transactions – the number of transactions in May 2023 was 27% lower than in 2022, according to the ONS. As demand falls due to affordability worries, house prices are falling, which may spark upward movement during the latter part of 2023-24. The poor housing market conditions may encourage people to renovate their homes rather than buy new ones, sparking some demand for furniture, carpet and lighting wholesalers, supporting revenue growth of 1% in 2023-24.Wholesalers will likely adapt their product offerings to reflect sustainability and energy efficiency trends. Downstream retailers are expanding their ranges of sustainably made and long-lasting products, with wholesalers responding by increasing their catalogue of reclaimed furniture, energy-efficient lighting and carpets made from renewable fibres that biodegrade. Profit can expand if opportunities to automate business operations are embraced. The government's plan to build 1 million homes by December 2024 will offer a short-term revenue bump as new houses require furniture, carpets and lighting. Over the five years through 2028-29, wholesalers' revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.2% to reach £5.7 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Soaring mortgage rates suppress housing transactions. High-interest rates and gloomy economic forecasts have reduced property sales and forced homeowners to lower their asking prices, leading to a 27% drop in residential transactions in May 2023 on the year.
  • Falling property transactions impact indoor furniture sales. Due to lower residential property transactions and higher mortgage rates, indoor furniture sales, including dining sets and sofas, are under pressure as home renovation activities slow down.
  • London emerges as a key furniture retail hub. The city's affluent population and cluster of major furniture outlets make it a thriving hub for furniture retail activity.
  • The market is fragmented due to the diverse range of products sold. The variety of goods like furniture, lighting and carpets leads to multiple niches among wholesalers, resulting in a segmented industry.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £5.1bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Soaring mortgage rates dissuade property transactions

  • According to Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed deal mortgage rate was approximately 6.8% in July 2023.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Sustainable products will be at the forefront of buyers' priorities

  • Furniture, carpet and lighting wholesalers will seek to take advantage of downstream buyers' growing preference for sustainably made and long-lasting products.

Biggest companies in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
Howden Joinery Limited
1,782.5
Headlam Group plc
584.4
Rexel UK Ltd
230.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Carpets and rugs, Indoor furniture and Outdoor furniture. Carpets and rugs is the largest segment of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Falling residential property transactions limits sales of indoor furniture

  • Indoor furniture is a broad segment, including sofas, dining tables, drawers and mattresses.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

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.

What's included in this industry?

Carpets and rugsOutdoor furniture LightingIndoor furniture

Companies

Howden Joinery LimitedHeadlam Group plcRexel UK Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TUFTED CARPETAXMINSTER CARPETSWHOLESALE BYPASS

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 46.47 - Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Soaring mortgage rates suppress housing transactions. High-interest rates and gloomy economic forecasts have reduced property sales and forced homeowners to lower their askin...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Falling property transactions impact indoor furniture sales. Due to lower residential property transactions and higher mortgage rates, indoor furniture sales, including dinin...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London emerges as a key furniture retail hub. The city's affluent population and cluster of major furniture outlets make it a thriving hub for furniture retail activity.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The market is fragmented due to the diverse range of products sold. The variety of goods like furniture, lighting and carpets leads to multiple niches among wholesalers, resu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Sustainability shapes Howden Joinery's practices. The company has committed to green initiatives by achieving carbon-neutral manufacturing, reducing waste from its depots and...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Howden Joinery Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Headlam Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Rexel UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Howden Joinery Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Headlam Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Rexel UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Strict regulations underscore consumer safety. Regulations like the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 e...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Declining purchase costs are set to amplify wholesalers' profit. This follows easing producer price inflation, reducing the expense of importing products like furniture, cont...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2021)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2021)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2021)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2021)
  • Assets (2017-2021)
  • Liabilities (2017-2021)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £5.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in 2023?

There are 2,398 businesses in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling market in United Kingdom are Howden Joinery Limited, Headlam Group plc and Rexel UK Ltd

What does the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Carpets and rugs and Outdoor furniture are part of the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Howden Joinery Limited.

How competitive is the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Furniture, Carpet & Lighting Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Carpet & Rug Manufacturing in the UK
  • Household Appliance & Television Wholesaling in the UK
  • Carpet, Rug & Curtain Retailers in the UK
  • Furniture, Lighting & Homeware Retailers in the UK

International industries

  • Furniture Wholesaling in the US
  • Home Furnishing Wholesaling in the US
  • Furniture & Furnishings Wholesaling in Canada
  • Furniture and Floor Covering Wholesaling in Australia
  • Furniture and Floor Covering Wholesaling in New Zealand

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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