KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
We strongly recommend viewing KBzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Internet Plumbing & Heating Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis
AMA's latest industry report: 'Internet Plumbing & Heating Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis', is now available.
The report acknowledges the fact that growing numbers of UK households have internet access. In 2013, 83% (21 million) of households in the UK had internet access, compared to around 70% of households in 2009. The UK has the most active online population in Europe with some 35.7 million adult users accessing the internet every day.
The internet plumbing market has remained buoyant during the economic downturn. With lower prices and added convenience, the internet channel has been able to capitalise on weak consumer confidence and the lower levels of disposable income that has impacted on the overall plumbing market.
In 2013, the internet plumbing market was worth around £200 million at Distributors Selling Prices (DSP). This represents a 13% increase on the previous year.
Estimated at £46 million in 2013, shower controls and bathroom taps were the largest sector of the internet plumbing market. This was followed by heating products such as boilers and standard radiators, bathroom furniture and accessories and baths and sanitaryware.
It is estimated in 2013 that around 75% of plumbing products sold on the internet are through specialist online plumbing retailers. Around 65% of these specialists are pure-play retailers that do not have a showroom and only trade online.
The leading specialist online plumbing retailers are Better Bathrooms and Victoria Plumb, followed by Plumbworld and BathEmpire.com. Together they account for around 50% of the specialist market sector overall.
Non-specialists account for around 25% of the total internet plumbing market and include merchant/trade outlets such as Screwfix, DIY multiples such as B&Q, and other retail outlets such as Bathstore, Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis. Non-specialists also include plumbing manufacturers that may make specific products available for consumers to buy online.
The future performance of the internet plumbing market is likely to be driven by overall trends in online shopping, technological improvements and levels of consumer confidence and expenditure. However, forecasts indicate that the pace of growth in the internet plumbing market will gradually start to slow down in the next five years as this market matures. This change can be partly attributed to market saturation of internet users and fewer new suppliers entering the market.
By 2018, it is estimated that the UK internet plumbing market will be worth some £311 million, an increase of over 50% compared to 2013.
AMA Research's report 'Internet Plumbing and Heating Market Report - UK 2014-2018 Analysis' is available in hard copy or electronic format.
T: 01242 235724
W: www.amaresearch.co.uk
7th February 2014