Furniture Manufacturing Update
Home Working
Home working has increased the need for home office furniture as the WFH (Work From Home) movement takes a strong hold on the workforce. People are willing to invest in
WFH spaces seeing this transition as a permanent one. Not just a decent
ergonomic chair, but dedicated workspaces rather than utilising the kitchen
table or breakfast bar as a desk.
More People are Renting
As it becomes increasingly difficult for younger people to
get onto the property ladder, the option of renting also offers lower
commitment and the freedom to relocate with less headache. The challenge for
the furniture industry is to supply lower cost furniture, especially for the
18-24 age group of whom 68% said they had bought furniture in the last 12
months, compared to 34% of those aged over 55.
E-Commerce
E-commerce has provided something of a lifeline for the world of
furniture manufacturing. The challenges here have been to meet the demands of
logistics and distribution in a changing and uncertain political and economic
world. Additionally, we have seen an
increased interest for more cost effective flatpack and self-assembled
furniture.
More One Person Households
More of us live alone these days compared to previous
generations. The building industry has responded to this by building smaller, single dwellings to accommodate the demand. The challenge for the furniture
industry has been to produce more multifunctional furniture such as extending
tables or folding tables and a particular emphasis on furniture which can
maximise storage.
Furniture Exhibitions
Many exhibitions were obviously cancelled in 2020/21 with some being replaced with virtual exhibitions. This has changed and challenged our ability to network, develop contacts and increase opportunities. Quite possibly this is the future for exhibitions at least for the foreseeable future.Home Improvement
During lockdown with people spending more time at home, we
saw a massive interest in home improvement. From renewing kitchens and
bathrooms to refurbishing and redesigning them.
Where to Buy Furniture Fittings
At Unico we supply furniture fixtures and fittings to
furniture manufacturers not just in the UK but all over the world. These
include parts for dining tables, office furniture, wardrobes, kitchen storage,
drawers, cabinetry plus much more. Visit our website to see products available
to buy online or call to speak to one of our experienced and knowledgeable
staff.