Major Players
STEELCASE
HMI INTERNATIONAL
HERMAN MILLER
KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL
KNOLL INC.
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REBOUNDING MARKET BUSINESS After a basically flat 2012, both the production and consumption of U.S. office furniture grew in 2013, with early forecasts of $9.6 billion for production, an increase of 4.1%, and $11.9 billion for consumption, a gain of 5.4%. Likewise, the outlook for 2014 is also positive, with projections showing an increase of 6.1% for production to $10.2 billion, and a growth of 7.7% to $12.8 billion for consumption. Although China has increased its market share into the U.S., to about 40%, Canada remains the chief trading partner of the U.S. for office furniture, with about 40% of the imports and 50% of the exports. |
| QUICK STATS: • 2014 production is projected at $10.2 billion, up 6.1%. • Consumption will grow 7.7% to $12.8 billion in 2014. • The U.S. industry's chief trading partner is Canada. |
| PRODUCT LINES: Business/Office Furniture Government Furniture Home Office Furniture Educational Furniture Healthcare Furniture Hospitality Furniture |
| Research shows approximately 110,000 people work in the sector’s 3,809 manufacturing businesses. Sustainable/green manufacturing is a driving force. DESIGN Workspace flexibility continues to be the overriding design trend, with movable walls and furniture that enable networking. Technology needs, such as power and data hubs, also continue to impact design, not only on desks and tables, but in the way we conduct business — in person and virtually. |
| Sources: Business & Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn., IHS Global Insight, IBISWorld, U.S. Green Building Council/LEED | BIFMA level certified products can be used toward LEED points under USGBC’s Pilot 80 program. | The U.S. by far is first in LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) projects, followed by Canada. | The U.S. recession also hit Canada’s 2013 office revenues, projected at $4.1 billion, says IBISWorld. |
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