Share this on

Motion chairs move all age groups

Recliners lead category as consumers plan to spend $2B

By Vicky Jarrett -- Furniture Today, December 16, 2001

Motion chairs — the stuff that comfort is made of — are furniture purchases that cut across all age groups, life stages and income levels.

This is the purchase that means reclining comfort in front of the TV, smooth gliding for those wee-hour feedings and the favorite chair for curling up with a good book. It can be dad's favorite chair for putting his feet up or a new parent's haven for cuddling the baby.

And households that planned to purchase reclining chairs and upholstered chairs that swivel, rock or glide earmarked more than $2.5 billion for those pieces this year.

Reclining chairs outpace the other motion chairs in plan-to-buy dollars by about three to one, with about 4.7 million households earmarking nearly $1.9 billion for those nifty cushioned comforts that effortlessly raise the feet.

Life stages accounting for the nearly three-fourths of recliner purchases, 69%, include middle singles, working older couples, retired older couples, young parents and older parents (who lead the group with 19%).

For upholstered chairs that swivel, rock or glide, a little more than 2 million households plan to spend more than $600 million by the year's end.

The key life stages for these chairs, accounting for 69% of the planned purchases, are evenly distributed between working older couples, retired older couples, young parents, middle parents and older parents.

Judging from the median dollar amount households plan to spend on all motion chairs, $300-$400, there is a great opportunity for retailers to tap into consumers' search for product in the lower price points. It also points to the need to educate consumers to the value in this upholstered category to step them up to higher-priced product.

Share this on

Young take biggest bite of dining pie

Nov 11, 2001

Master bedroom

Feb 23, 2003

Consumer Chase

Dec 30, 2001

Swivel, rock or glide in comfort

Dec 16, 2001

Dining room

Feb 23, 2003

Also by this author

Also by Vicky Jarrett

Featured Company

Surya

For more than 30 years, the name Surya has been synonymous with high quality, innovation and luxury. Our Fall 2009 collections are no exception. Our designers have masterfully created some of the most cutting edge and versatile pieces to date. Encompassing... more

Related Resources

Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Here is a selection of products shown at this month's International Gift & Home Furnishings Market here.

Networking at the 13th annual F/T Leadership Conference

NAPLES, Fla. — Industry executives and guests took the opportunity to network and play golf during down time at Furniture/Today's 13th annual Leadership Conference here this month.