490

490

Investments in furniture design: the Italian furniture industry

Furniture | June 2003

490

June 2003, I Ed. , 84 pages
Price (single user license): EUR 490 / USD 529.2
For multiple/corporate license prices please contact us
Language: English

Report code: S.22
Publisher: CSIL
Status: available for online purchase and immediate download

Italy is the leading furniture exporter and the second largest furniture manufacturer in the world. Among the competitive factors determining the success of Italian furniture is the fact that the Italian furnishings industry is at the forefront in terms of quality of planning and product aesthetics, and Italian design has a clear role as a global trendsetter.

Italian design is a by-product of a virtuous circle composed of quality workmanship, a winning manufacturing model (the industrial furniture districts), constant technological innovation and a strong creative attitude to the marketplace. This is an important success factor for the furniture related sectors (furniture components, woodworking machinery, household appliances) and is fundamental for the image of Italian furniture.

This report offers a deep analysis of the role of design in the Italian furniture and furnishings industry, taking into consideration the various stages of furniture production, the decision-making process, the human resources involved in the decision of investing in design, the impact of design on communication strategies and branding policy.

The result is clearly applicable to the Italian market (as data refer to the Italian furniture and furnishings industry), but also provides a tool for any business intending to evaluate the role of investments in design within company policy.

The research is based on interviews with 250 Italian furniture manufacturers, 150 among furniture and furnishing designers and consultants to the furniture industry, 250 furniture and furnishings distributors operating both in the Italian market and overseas.

Addresses of 100 designers are also included, as well as a list of 100 design magazines and 50 design related websites.

Among the considered products: office furniture, furniture for shops, public furniture, contract furniture, home furniture (household furniture), kitchen furniture, upholstered furniture, bedroom furniture, wardrobes, children’s bedrooms, living room furniture, seats, tables, occasional furniture, bathroom furniture, furniture parts, lighting fixtures, mattresses, built-in appliances, complementary furnishings/accessories, modern/contemporary furnishings, classic/traditional furnishings.

SummaryA definition of industrial designInvestments in design and turnover in a sample of Italian furniture companiesInvestments in design: the decision-making processRole of the company committee in investments decisionParticipants in the decision-making process in companies with and without a company committeeParticipation of designers in the decision-making processInvestments in design: the role of human resourcesBreakdown of investments in design:- internal planning/development office and external consultantsInternal company resourcesPlanning/development office employees by:- company size and market range- qualification (engineers, architects, design schools, other)External consultants: role of the designerBasic data on design consultancy for the furniture and furnishings industry:- turnover, number of designers, number of clients per designerCompanies using external consultants, by company size and market rangeDesigners using internal/external collaboratorsBreakdown of professional studios employees by type of work relationship and qualificationIdentikit of designers in the Italian furniture and furnishings sectorDesigners by: age, date of starting activity, qualification, type of clientDesigners teaching in design schools and universitiesDesigners specialising in the furniture and furnishings sectorType of furniture item planned by designersHow a new design project is born: who takes the decision to plan a new productInvestments in promotion, branding policy, quality certificationImpact of investments in promotion on company turnover by:- market range- style of furniture produced (modern-contemporary, classic-traditional furniture)- type of design (trendsetter, follower)- type of spending (fairs, advertising, promotion at distribution level, sponsorship)Companies with a branding policy:- market range, turnover, product style, design type, exports, promotional costs, investments in designCompanies with quality certification:- market range, turnover, product styleCatalogues and productsNumber of products/lines in catalogue and launched annually by market range and company sizeRate of catalogue renewal, by style and segment (office furniture, household furniture, kitchen furniture, upholstery)Turnover and type of products’ designWhy invest in design?The impact of design on the definition of company strategyThe reasons underlying investments in designInvestments in design: a tool for competing on the overseas marketThe impact of design on Italian exports of furniture and furnishingsThe popularity of Italian furniture with overseas distributors: competitive factorsThe virtuous circle of Italian design: trendsetter companies, industrial furniture districtsAppendix:- addresses of 100 designers of furniture and furnishings- list of 100 design magazines- list of 50 design related websites

Italy is the leading furniture exporter and the second largest furniture manufacturer in the world. Among the competitive factors determining the success of Italian furniture is the fact that the Italian furnishings industry is at the forefront in terms of quality of planning and product aesthetics, and Italian design has a clear role as a global trendsetter.

Italian design is a by-product of a virtuous circle composed of quality workmanship, a winning manufacturing model (the industrial furniture districts), constant technological innovation and a strong creative attitude to the marketplace. This is an important success factor for the furniture related sectors (furniture components, woodworking machinery, household appliances) and is fundamental for the image of Italian furniture.

This report offers a deep analysis of the role of design in the Italian furniture and furnishings industry, taking into consideration the various stages of furniture production, the decision-making process, the human resources involved in the decision of investing in design, the impact of design on communication strategies and branding policy.

The result is clearly applicable to the Italian market (as data refer to the Italian furniture and furnishings industry), but also provides a tool for any business intending to evaluate the role of investments in design within company policy.

The research is based on interviews with 250 Italian furniture manufacturers, 150 among furniture and furnishing designers and consultants to the furniture industry, 250 furniture and furnishings distributors operating both in the Italian market and overseas.

Addresses of 100 designers are also included, as well as a list of 100 design magazines and 50 design related websites.

Among the considered products: office furniture, furniture for shops, public furniture, contract furniture, home furniture (household furniture), kitchen furniture, upholstered furniture, bedroom furniture, wardrobes, children’s bedrooms, living room furniture, seats, tables, occasional furniture, bathroom furniture, furniture parts, lighting fixtures, mattresses, built-in appliances, complementary furnishings/accessories, modern/contemporary furnishings, classic/traditional furnishings.

SummaryA definition of industrial designInvestments in design and turnover in a sample of Italian furniture companiesInvestments in design: the decision-making processRole of the company committee in investments decisionParticipants in the decision-making process in companies with and without a company committeeParticipation of designers in the decision-making processInvestments in design: the role of human resourcesBreakdown of investments in design:- internal planning/development office and external consultantsInternal company resourcesPlanning/development office employees by:- company size and market range- qualification (engineers, architects, design schools, other)External consultants: role of the designerBasic data on design consultancy for the furniture and furnishings industry:- turnover, number of designers, number of clients per designerCompanies using external consultants, by company size and market rangeDesigners using internal/external collaboratorsBreakdown of professional studios employees by type of work relationship and qualificationIdentikit of designers in the Italian furniture and furnishings sectorDesigners by: age, date of starting activity, qualification, type of clientDesigners teaching in design schools and universitiesDesigners specialising in the furniture and furnishings sectorType of furniture item planned by designersHow a new design project is born: who takes the decision to plan a new productInvestments in promotion, branding policy, quality certificationImpact of investments in promotion on company turnover by:- market range- style of furniture produced (modern-contemporary, classic-traditional furniture)- type of design (trendsetter, follower)- type of spending (fairs, advertising, promotion at distribution level, sponsorship)Companies with a branding policy:- market range, turnover, product style, design type, exports, promotional costs, investments in designCompanies with quality certification:- market range, turnover, product styleCatalogues and productsNumber of products/lines in catalogue and launched annually by market range and company sizeRate of catalogue renewal, by style and segment (office furniture, household furniture, kitchen furniture, upholstery)Turnover and type of products’ designWhy invest in design?The impact of design on the definition of company strategyThe reasons underlying investments in designInvestments in design: a tool for competing on the overseas marketThe impact of design on Italian exports of furniture and furnishingsThe popularity of Italian furniture with overseas distributors: competitive factorsThe virtuous circle of Italian design: trendsetter companies, industrial furniture districtsAppendix:- addresses of 100 designers of furniture and furnishings- list of 100 design magazines- list of 50 design related websites

SEE ALSO

Living room with sofa and a coffee table with some flowers on it.
590

France Furniture Outlook

January 2024, XXVIII Ed. , 20 pages

This market research analyses the furniture market in France providing value and trends of furniture production and consumption, furniture imports and exports. Top furniture companies. Demand determinants, market potential and future prospect for the Furniture market.

Living room with sofa, vintage tv and coffee table.
590

Italy Furniture Outlook

January 2024, XXVIII Ed. , 38 pages

This market research analyses the furniture industry in Italy: furniture market size and forecasts, trends in furniture production, consumption, imports and exports, list of top furniture companies. Demand determinants, market potential and future prospect for the Italian furniture market.

Living room with sofa, armchair and coffee table.
590

United Kingdom Furniture Outlook

January 2024, XXVIII Ed. , 23 pages

Analysis of the furniture market in the United Kingdom, with value and trends of furniture production and consumption, furniture imports, and exports. Top furniture companies in the UK. Demand determinants, market potential and future prospect for the Furniture market.

Windows with grey curtains
590

Germany Furniture Outlook

January 2024, XXVIII Ed. , 23 pages

This market research analyses the furniture market in Germany providing value and trends of furniture production and consumption, furniture imports and exports. Top furniture companies in Germany with short profiles. Demand determinants, market potential and future prospect for the Furniture market.

Living room with sofa and a coffee table.
590

Poland Furniture Outlook

January 2024, XXII Ed. , 25 pages

Market research analyses the furniture industry in Poland: furniture market size and forecasts, trends in furniture production, consumption, imports and exports, list of top furniture companies. Demand determinants, market potential and future prospect for the Polish furniture market.