Carpets May Be Making a Comeback As Laminates Fall Out of Favour

    Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c56310) has announced the addition of Carpets and Other Floorcoverings in the United Kingdom 2006 to their offering.

    The carpet and floorcovering market for the purpose of this report is broadly sub-divided between fitted carpets, as well as rugs, and what are termed smooth floorcoverings such as wood laminate and vinyl. The market has been in a state of change for the last decade with the rising popularity of laminate and hardwood floorcoverings presenting a challenge to existing materials such as carpet which has seen their share of the market decline.

    When we last reported on this market in December 2004 the carpet and floorcovering market was seeing considerable innovation with consumers increasingly being attracted to non-traditional floorcoverings such as laminate. In part the growth in popularity of new materials was being boosted by low prices as well as fashion with laminate in particular being viewed increasingly as modern and cleaner/healthier alternative to the fitted carpet.

    The period since the last report has been overshadowed by a slowdown in the wider market for floorcoverings with this in large part related to a slowdown in growth in the UK economy. Although carpets too have been affected there is evidence that they may be coming back into fashion with some consumers suggesting that the honeymoon period with laminate may be at an end.

    Abridged Contents:

    Issues in the Market

    Definitions

    Market in Brief

    Internal Market Environment

    External Market Environment

    Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market

    Market Size and Forecast

    Companies and Products

    Carpets

    Brintons

    Innovation and strategy

    Ulster Carpets

    Innovation and strategy

    Victoria Carpets

    Innovation and strategy

    Smooths -- Wood and laminates

    Kronospan

    Innovation and strategy

    Unilin Group

    Innovation and strategy

    Balterio

    Innovation and strategy

    Others

    Vinyl/Linoleum

    Armstrong

    Innovation and strategy

    IVC

    Innovation and strategy

    Forbo Nairn

    Innovation and strategy

    Tarkett-Marley Floors

    Innovation and strategy

    Flooring retailers

    Channels to Market

    B&Q

    Wickes

    Carpetright

    Floors-2-Go

    Topps Tiles

    Allied Carpets

    United Carpets Group

    Storey Carpets

    Brand Communication and Promotion

    Consumer -- Ownership Trends

    Appendix

    For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c56310