Forty per cent of households plan to buy some kind of garden furniture over the coming year, a comprehensive new report from the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) reveals.
The association commissioned ShopperCentric, a specialist shopper behaviour agency, to conduct a wide-ranging study and analysis of the market, which is says was worth in the region of £975m in 2013 - significantly higher than previous estimates.

The research found that furniture accounts for 71% of the market's value, at £692m, while barbecues take 16% at £156m, and other products and accessories take the remaining 13%.

Multichannel retailers have 23%, or £224m, of the market and pure etailers 17%, or £165m. But bricks-and-mortar stores have the biggest slice, 59%, or £575m, and DIY stores have the lion's share of that, 31%. Garden centres take just 13%.

The study also reveals that online purchasers, while in the minority, are spending more on average than their shop‐based counterparts. Online is also the first port of call for four out of 10 potential purchasers. However, the research says that shops have the best chance of sealing a deal.

According to the research, 88% of UK households own some sort of garden furniture, and four in 10 households plan to buy some in the next 12 months. It also found that 55% own a barbecue, and that 24% want to buy one over the next year.

LOFA says the study forms a baseline of the market and that it plans to update it at regular intervals.

Said LOFA chairman Paul Bevington: "This report is long overdue, but we now have information that will be invaluable to the whole industry. It is an important source of reference that our members can share with their customers for the benefit of everyone in the trade."