Month: February 2010

The European surface materials market is important to the tropical hardwood sector for two reasons. First, because significant volumes of tropical hardwood sliced veneer continue to be used by European door, flooring and furniture manufacturers. Second, because European furniture designers and manufacturers are influential in setting fashions for interiors worldwide, impacting on the choice of all materials, both wood and non-wood.

At this time of year, European garden furniture merchants and retailers are typically busy preparing for the spring season. But reports from European agents and distributors suggest demand is likely to be very slow this year. In public, designers and manufacturers continue to talk-up the market opportunities in the recession from the trend to “improve not move” and consumers’ desire to protect themselves from the harsh realities of life through home improvement. But in private, there is more talk of the very real difficulties of parting consumers from their money, particularly for “non-essential” items like garden furniture.