Companies in this industry sell new home furnishings, such as decorative items, kitchen and bath products, linens, and window treatments from physical retail locations. Major US companies include At Home, Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier 1, RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), and Williams-Sonoma.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Demand is driven by consumer income. Large companies compete through volume purchasing, breadth of products, and effective merchandising and marketing. Small companies focus on a market segment and compete through depth of products and superior customer service. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 80% of revenue.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major product categories are decorative accessories (more than 55% of sales), domestics (about 15%), and kitchenware (about 15%). Domestics are towels, sheets, blankets, and table linens. Decorative accessories include lamps, mirrors, pictures, clocks, and desk sets. Other products include window treatments, dinnerware, glassware, and small appliances.