In 1999, the US tabletop industry repeated the steady 3% sales growth of past years, according to a recent report. The total tabletop market generated approximately US$ 4.6 billion in retail sales in …
In 1999, the US tabletop industry repeated the steady 3% sales growth of past years, according to a recent report. The total tabletop market generated approximately US$ 4.6 billion in retail sales in 1999. Growth was posted in nearly every category, the most significant being sterling silver flatware, which grew 7% over 1998. While channels of distribution for the various categories also remained consistent and predictable – upscale tabletop sells primarily in department stores, whereas lower-end products are dominated by mass merchants – the report“s figures revealed a slight upswing in department store sales for several categories. Sterling silver flatware sales at department stores, although up by only 1% last year, may continue to grow in this channel because of renewed interest in the category. Strong consumer demand has prompted some department stores to widen, or introduce, sterling silver flatware assortments. Crystal sales grew nearly 3% last year, and the category“s channels of distribution remained relatively unchanged. Department stores and chains gained about 3% of the crystal market share in 1999. Crystal giftware, considered to be the greatest opportunity for growth in the category, accounted for the majority of sales last year. Despite turn-of-the-century celebrations and the resulting consumer interest in items such as champagne flutes and wine glasses, crystal stemware, for many manufacturers, remains a challenging segment of the business and one in need of innovation. Glassware continued its steady growth in 1999, up 3.6% in sales over 1998. Glassware for drinks, in particular, was the leader in this category, followed by serving utensils and tabletop accessories.