Abstract
The market study presented in this paper examines consumer attitudes in Germany toward lightweight furniture and the use of lightweight wood-based materials in furniture design. The multi-modal technique employed in the study is based on quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in social and economic research. A representative survey of furniture customers was conducted (n = 1,000), and the study included conjoint analysis. The survey was supplemented by expert interviews with furniture sales staff, focus group and observation of customers when they purchase furniture. The weight of furniture made primarily of wood-based materials is of secondary importance from the consumer perspective (in contrast to more relevant factors such as quality, price and design). The results of conjoint analysis reveal that for the attribute “weight” lightweight furniture materials are considered to be of at least comparable value. However, lightweight furniture is only accepted or preferred as long as there is no explicit indication that the product is lightweight furniture or features lightweight design. The majority of customers are skeptical whether furniture made of lightweight materials has the same quality as furniture made of heavy materials. Because furniture weight is less relevant to consumers, there is no indication of a need pull effect (consumer-driven) for lightweight furniture at the present time or in the near future. On the other hand, consumers can be expected to have few reservations if more lightweight furniture is placed on the market in the future. So consumers are unlikely to resist a technology push on the part of furniture manufacturers.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon (2006) Emnid consumer survey. That’s how lightweight materials will become acceptable. (Emnid Endkunden-Befragung. So werden leichte Werkstoffe salonfähig). In: Ferdinand Holzmann Verlag (Ed.): Lightweight panels 2006. A study by the magazine Möbelfertigung, (Leichtbauplatten 2006. Eine Studie der Zeitschrift Möbelfertigung), Hamburg pp 42–47
Baier D, Brusch M (2009) Conjoint analysis. Methods—applications—practical examples. (Conjointanalyse. Methoden—Anwendungen—Praxisbeispiele) Springer, New York
Eder A, Schwarzbauer P (2009) Perceptions of Austrian furniture costumers of lightweight material. In: Proceedings of the International Panel Products Symposium 2009, Nantes
Eder A, Strobl S, Stern T, Müller U, Schwarzbauer P, Oberwimmer R (2010) Market opportunities and technical limits of lightweight panels based on renewable raw materials. (Marktchancen und technische Grenzen von Leichtbauprodukten basierend auf nachwachsenden Rohstoffen) bmvit (Ed.) Wien
Feifel S, Poganietz WR, Schebek L (2013) The utilization of light weight boards for reducing air emissions by the German wood industry—a perspective? Environ Sci Eur 25:5
Fisher RJ, Katz JE (2000) Social-desirability bias and the validity of self-reported values. Psychol Mark 17:105–120
Glaser BG, Strauss AL (1967) The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research. Aldine, Chicago
Gruner und Jahr (2003) Home and lifestyle 6 (Wohnen und Leben 6). A study by the publishing group “Schöner Wohnen/Essen und Trinken”, Hamburg
Gustafsson A, Herrmann A, Huber F (2001) Conjoint measurement. Methods and Applications, Springer
Hagen R (2006) Studies on the market acceptance of lightweight furniture (Untersuchungen zur Marktakzeptanz von Leichtbaumöbeln). Diploma thesis, OWL University of applied sciences, Lemgo, cited by Stosch M (2009): 38–41
Interlübke and Emnid (2012) At home in Germany—that’s how the Germans live. (Deutschland privat—So wohnen und leben die Deutschen). A market research study by TNS Emnid by order of Interlübke. Munich
Kharazipour A, Ritter N, von Werder HK, Bohn C (2011) Development of light three-layer particleboards based on renewable raw materials. (Entwicklung leichter dreischichtiger Spanplatten auf Basis nachwachsender Rohstoffe). Holztechnologie 52(5):11–16
Knauf M (2009) Market research study veneer. (Marktstudie Furnier). Knauf Consulting, Bielefeld
Knauf M, Frühwald A (2004) Trend analysis of future wood utilization. Delphi study on trends in the German wood industry. (Trendanalyse Zukunft Holz—Delphistudie zur Entwicklung der deutschen Holzindustrie) Final report, Knauf Consulting, Bielefeld
Knauf M, Frühwald A (2011) The future of the German wood industry. “Delphi study wood 2020 revisited” product innovations (part III). [Die Zukunft der deutschen Holz wirtschaft. “Delphistudie Holz 2020 revisited”–Produkt innovationen (Teil 3)] Holz-Zentralblatt 137(7): 192–193
Marinova D, Phillimore J (2003) Models of innovation. In: Shavinina LV (ed) The international handbook on innovation. Elsevier Science, Oxford
Marotzki W (2003) Guided interview. [Leitfadeninterview]. In: Bohnsack R, Marotzki W, Meuser M (Ed.): Main concepts of qualitative social research; a dictionary. [Hauptbegriffe Qualitativer Sozialforschung; ein Wörterbuch] Leske und Budrich, Opladen
Mayring P (2003) Qualitative contentanalysis; basicsandtechnique. (Qualitative In halts analyse; Grundlagen und Techniken) 8th edition. Beltz Verlag, Weinheim/Basel
Poppensieker J, Thömen H (2005): Honeycomb panels in the furniture industry. [Wabenplatten für den Möbelbau]. Working Paper. Institut für Holzphysik und mechanische Technologie des Holzes der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst und Holzwirtschaft, Hamburg
Schulz M, Mack B, Renn O [Ed.] (2012) Focus groups in the empirical social science. From the concept to the analysis [Fokusgruppen in der empirischen Sozialwissenschaft. Von der Konzeption bis zur Auswertung]. Springer, Stuttgart
Shalbafan A, Lüdtke J, Welling J, Thömen H (2012) Comparison of foam core materials in innovative lightweight wood-based panels. Eur J Wood Wood Prod 70(1–3):287–292
Stosch M (2009) BM Special lightweight construction; materials, technology, processing. [BM Spezial Leichtbau; Werkstoffe, Technologie, Verarbeitung] Konradin, Stuttgart
Strauss AL, Corbin J (1998) Basics of qualitative research. Sage Publications, California
Strübing J (2014) Grounded Theory. 3rd edition. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden
Underhill P (2000) Why we buy: the science of shopping. Simon and Schuster, New York
Acknowledgments
The market study presented in this paper originated as “lightweight market—analysis of consumer attitudes to lightweight materials in furniture design” within the framework of the “OWL Lightweight Design Initiative” at OWL University of Applied Sciences. Funding was provided by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and the European Union. My special thanks to Martin Stosch from OWL University of Applied Sciences.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knauf, M. Understanding the consumer: Multi-modal market research on consumer attitudes in Germany towards lightweight furniture and lightweight materials in furniture design. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 73, 259–270 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0866-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0866-9