Just the Stats: Formal dining
Furniture/Today Market Research -- Furniture Today, January 25, 2010
The Just the Stats series gathers in one place data Furniture/Today's Market Research team has compiled on specific product categories; in this case, formal dining. Drawn from special research reports published throughout the year, the data points spotlight what's going on with the category.
Dining retail sales
| 2009 estimated spending in $billions | % of total furniture and bedding market | % change from 2008 |
Casual dining | $3.5 | 5% | -6.8% |
Formal dining | $5.0 | 7% | -10.7% |
Total Dining | $8.5 | 12% | -9.1% |
Source: Furniture/Today market research and Easy Analytic Software
Formal dining in furniture stores
- Accounted for 4% of furniture store sales for fiscal year 2008.
- Accounted for 5% of selling space in furniture stores in 2008.
- Median SKUs, 7, and median number of lines, 4.
- Median best-selling price points for a table and 4 chairs, $1,599.
- Average markup for table and 4 chairs, 1.18 times
Source: Furniture/Today Furniture Store Performance Report: Merchandise Mix, 2009
Style trends for formal dining
- Contemporary styles claimed the biggest chunk of market share in terms of units at 53% at low price points ($999 and below for a table, four side chairs and two arm chairs, priced at retail).
- Other Traditional, 25%, and Contemporary, 24%, shared as leaders of unit market share at middle price points ($1,000 to $2,999 for a table, four side chairs and tow arm chairs, retail).
- At high price points, Other Traditional scored as unit market share leader, with 31%, with European Country, 28%, running a close second.
- Cherry was the best-selling wood or finish at both low and middle price points. At high price points, cherry and mahogany shared the top spot.
- Formal dining room features that retailers perceived as gaining favor among consumers include self-storing table leaves, buffet/servers, tables longer than 84 inches and nickel or pewter hardware. Features losing consumer favor were skirted chairs, brass hardware and fully upholstered chairs.
Source: Furniture/Today Case Goods Style Survey, 2008
Consumers and formal dining
- 61% of responding consumers would first shop a traditional furniture store for formal dining
- 29% of consumers expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,999 for a new formal dining table and chairs; 23% expect to pay between $2,000 and $2,999; and 19% expect to pay $3,000 or more
- 37% of consumers want to know more about formal dining room furniture's construction and 32% want to know more about the quality of the furniture
Source: Furniture/Today and HGTV Consumer Views Survey, 2009
To purchase full copies of the special reports referenced above, click on the links below.
Furniture/Today Dining Room Metro Market Product Potential Report, December 2009
Furniture Store Performance Report: Merchandise Mix, September 14, 2009
Case good style survey, July 2008
Furniture/Today & HGTV Consumer Views Survey: Spotlight on Dining
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Just the Stats: Formal dining
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Just the Stats: Casual dining
Feb 22, 2010 -
Just the Stats: Casual dining
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Just the Stats: Formal dining
Aug 30, 2010 -
Just the Stats: Casual dining
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