Home Accents Today's Consumer Report for 2012

Consumers choose product by style, price, comfort

Style trumps everything else, according to consumers. In fact, 93% choose home furnishings based on a product's style and design. That's one of the key findings from Home Accents Today and New York-based Apartment Therapy's exclusive 2012 survey.

The product's comfort and structural materials are also important, chosen as key characteristics by another 84% and 78% of respondents respectively.

Tough economic conditions are a reality for a full 86% of consumers as they choose new furniture based on price. A similar percentage of respondents, 88%, claim that lack of money stops them from buying new home furnishings. Per the data, once a buyer finds something they like, 85% shop around for the best price, while 15% go ahead and buy it, regardless of price. Furthermore, 54% only shop for furniture when they need something.

This exclusive report also highlights the rooms in the need of the most updating; what consumers plan to buy and do to update the rooms; where consumers regularly shop for home furnishings; the desired features of a furniture store and a furniture website; what consumers want most for their home this year; and mobile/smartphone behavior.

Home Accents Today partnered with New York-based Apartment Therapy to conduct two consumer surveys. The online surveys posted on Apartment Therapy's site in January and May and collectively garnered responses from more than 1,600 consumers.

【Source :Dana French -- Home Accents Today 】