2019 Houzz State of the Industry reports slowest growth in five years
2019-houz-stateoftheindustry.jpg

Photo By Houzz

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Houzz Inc.’s 2019 U.S. State of the Industry report, based on data reported by nearly 4,800 design and home renovation professionals in the Houzz community, shows that although less bullish than the last five years, companies across all industry sectors cite a positive outlook for 2019.
 
“Residential construction and design service professionals large and small have sustained a remarkable multi-year run with upper-single to double-digit revenue growth,” said Nino Sitchinava, Houzz principal economist. “Based on qualitative feedback, the recent deceleration in growth of construction services is likely a function of capacity constraints due to labor shortage, rather than a contracting demand. That said, it is clear that the remodeler's mood with respect to the economy is quickly changing and clouding their business outlook.”

2019 U.S. State of the Industry major findings:

  • Optimism prevails for 2019: More than half of residential renovation and design companies cite a positive outlook for 2019 (58 to 80 percent), although this is less than last year (71 to 88 percent). The majority of companies among six of the seven industry groups expect profits to increase in 2019 (63 to 70 percent) and revenue growth in the upper single digits (eight to nine percent).  
  • Confidence in the national economy wavers: While companies maintain a positive outlook on the demand for their services in 2019, they are more likely to expect the national economy to deteriorate over the coming year (35 to 61 percent) than improve (11 to 18 percent).
  • Hiring continues amidst tight labor market: One-fifth of design-related and over a third of construction-related industries plan to hire in 2019, though companies anticipate challenges to labor availability and costs in the year ahead. 
  • Construction sector faces rising costs: In 2018, firms across sectors experienced widespread challenges in the rising costs of doing business, with the construction sector reporting the greatest impact (76 to 81 percent). At least half of remodeling and design companies expect the costs of doing business to increase in 2019 (48 to 68 percent).
  • Revenue growth positive despite deceleration: While average annual growth remained positive in 2018, five of the seven industry groups experienced a notable deceleration in average annual growth rates (five to eight percent), compared to 2017 (eight to 11 percent). These trends are consistent among businesses of all sizes. That said, over half of companies feel that 2018 revenues met or exceeded their expectations (58 to 65 percent). 
See detailed results in the full 2019 Houzz U.S. State of the Industry report at houzz.com
 
 

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Profile picture for user michaellebradford
About the author
Michaelle Bradford | Editor

Michaelle Bradford, CCI Media, is Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine and Woodworking Network editor. She has more than 20 years of experience covering the woodworking and design industry, including visits to custom cabinet shops, closet firms and design studios throughout North America. As Editor of Closets & Organized Storage magazine under the Woodworking Network brand, Michaelle’s responsibilities include writing, editing, and coordinating editorial content as well as managing annual design competitions like the Top Shelf Design Awards. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media.