A New Study Of The Giftware Market By Unity Marketing Identifies Key Opportunities For Future Growth

Where people buy gifts is changing dramatically with more people saving time and money buying gifts over the Internet, rather than going to the store to shop.  This according to the latest market research study of the $65.2 billion gifts and decorative accents market conducted by Unity Marketing.

In 2007 the Internet was the second most important shopping venue for giftware shoppers, trailing only discount department stores as a place of purchase.  For purposes of this study giftware is defined as items that are designed and manufactured to be bought and given as a gift or collectible items that are designed and manufactured specifically for the purpose of collecting.  The giftware market includes items such as occasion-specific giftware, personalized giftware, character-licensed giftware, collectible figurines, and others.

Commenting on the emergence of the Internet as the second most popular source for consumers to buy giftware, Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of Shopping:  Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience, says,  "The Internet came from virtually nowhere just five years ago to become the second most important channel of distribution for giftware companies.  While discount stores take the lions' share of the giftware market, consumers value the convenience and ability to comparison shop in order to find exactly what they are looking for in the online world.  This plus the ability to ship gifts conveniently to the recipient makes the Internet a favorite place for people to shop for gifts."

Specialty gift stores are losing their edge as a distribution channel for giftware manufacturers

As the way people shop for gifts has changed, the industry's traditional channel of distribution, the specialty gift store, has continued to decline in importance as a place where people shop for gifts.  In 2007 the gift specialty stores accounted for only 7 percent of the overall giftware market.  Not surprisingly, the study reports that the number of specialty gift shops have declined 21 percent in the past five years, from 75,102 stores in 2002 to 59,032 today.

The specialty gift stores that remain have found success by expanding the product lines they carry, particularly moving into personal care, jewelry, fashion accessories, music and other related items popular to boutique shoppers.  As the industry's manufacturers become less reliant on specialty gift stores for distribution, so too are gift stores becoming less reliant upon the giftware manufacturers for new merchandise.

Drawing on the results of the study, Danziger explains, "The key for success for both manufacturers and retailers of giftware products is to stay out in front of the consumer, offering them products that are out of the ordinary, new, fresh and special.  The giftware market is a fashion business and companies are rewarded primarily for innovating and offering something new to consumers.  Successful retailers are merchandising their stores with this in mind.  When it comes to choosing giftware, nobody wants the 'same-old, me-too' items; rather they want something fresh, new and different which makes it memorable.  That is the ultimate key to success in today's giftware market."

About Unity Marketing's Gifts & Decorative Accents Report 2008: Who Buys Gifts and Home Decorative Accents, What They Buy and Why They Buy

Unity Marketing's Gifts and Decorative Accents Report 2008 is the definitive study of  this $65.2 billion market. It reveals consumers' buying and spending habits related to giftware and home decorative accessories.  The new study is written by Pam Danziger, the nation's leading expert on the gifts market.

The Gifts and Decorative Accents Report 2008 is based upon both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.  It includes a survey among 1,644 recent buyers of one of 26 product categories (average income $75,100; age 42.4 years and 68 percent female/32 percent male).

This report provides vital market size, growth and demographics for companies and retailers that that sell giftware and home accents. The Gifts & Decorative Accents Report 2008 is an essential business tool to understand the dynamics of this market, today and into the future.

Special Investigation:  Consumers' shopping preferences for gifts and home decorative accents

The value of this report is enhanced for product marketers and retailers through its special investigation into the shoppers' preference and attitudes related to specific types of stores where gifts and home accents can be found.  Stores included in this special investigation are:

• Department stores
• Discount department stores, mass merchants, dollar stores and/or warehouse and membership clubs
• Direct selling and party plans
• Internet websites
• Jewelry stores and/or luxury boutiques
• Mail order catalogs and/or direct mail brochures
• Specialty card and gift stores
• Specialty home furnishings stores
• Television shopping channels

Products included in the survey

Details about purchases of these 26 products were included in the most recent survey.  Comparative statistics are drawn from Unity Marketing's Gift and Decorative Accents Report, 2003.

Home Decorative Accents

• Art & Wall Decor
• Boxes, Tins & Music Boxes
• Candles & Accessories
• Clocks
• Crystal Figurines and Art Glass/Decorative Accessories
• Desk Accessories
• Dinnerware & Tabletop Items
• Figurines & Sculpture (Decorative/Not Collectible)
• Garden Decoratives
• Home Textiles & Decorative Linens
• Italian-Imported Home Furnishings
• Kitchen Gadgets & Cooks Tools
• Lamps & Lighting
• Picture Frames
• Seasonal Decorations
• Stemware, Barware, Wine & Beer Accessories
• Vases & Urns
• Giftware
• Baby & Infant Giftware
• Character/Licensed Merchandise
• Collectible Figurines
• Collegiate Licensed Merchandise
• Inspirational/Religious-Themed Gifts
• Occasion-Specific Gifts
• Personalized Gifts
• Pet Gifts
• Souvenirs & Novelties

Special Pre-Publication Offer: Unity Marketing is offering a special pre-publication price of $3,500 for this report through April 30, 2008. Thereafter, it will be offered at its published price of $3,995. 

For Media:  Charts, tables and graphs are available upon request.

Coming Soon:

• About the happiness of luxury consumers -- Money really does buy happiness, but not by much
• More trends and key findings in the giftware and home decorative accents market
• First quarter 2008 Luxury Consumption Index and spending trends
• Green marketing in the luxury market

About  Pam Danziger and Unity Marketing