Younger Consumers Are Buying Leather Upholstery
Last year; 4.3 million U.S. households purchased leather upholstery,
spending an estimated $11.1 billion at retail. Demographic data from 2015
consumer buying trends survey reveals that households buying leather
stationary sofas, motion sofas and recliners are a younger group. Three out of 10 buyers are
between ages 25 and 34 and 19% are between 35 and 44. Overall, 55% are married
or are living with a partner and 39% are single and have never been married.
Leather furniture buying trends
Leather furniture buyers tend to spend on the average 1.6 times more than those buying fabric furniture. Leather furniture shoppers are also split almost equally between stationary and motion seating in the medium price points while motion leather like recliners, sectional sofas and home theater command the lead in the higher end category. Leather upholstery makes up on the average in the upper middle to high end price points about 35% of the stationary sofas sold while in motion sofas the margin is much wider at 65% and leather recliners is even more of the leather furniture sales picture at a whopping 70%.
Most important features in leather furniture for consumers
The consumers polled by Furniture Today Magazine's poll overwhelmingly choose leather furniture for its durability/quality followed by style/design then the least important feature for their decision was the brand. The largest age group spending their money on high end leather furniture was the age group 25 to 34 followed by the age group 35 to 44 then 45 to 54 and 55 and older were about the same. One thing for sure leather is a very popular choice when it comes to consumers buying new living room furniture. Household incomes under 50K were the ones choosing leather furniture for its durability follow then by 100K or more for combined family income for the same reason.
Buying better now saves more in the long run. Leather lasts far longer than any cloth upholstery material. Keeping leather at the top for durability and longevity for furniture products. There are many furniture manufactures offering leather but only a few can claim the upper middle to top position. Most all of the manufactures that fall into category are made in America. Most imports will be classified more to the promotional or middle range price point. These products are the ones you will most often find in the big box stores.
Good, Better, Best You will find leather furniture under all these titles but according to the most recent pole upper better and best is what furniture shoppers are spending their money on.
