ABSTRACT FOR THE CATALINA REPORT ON WINDOW TREATMENTS AND WALLCOVERINGS

SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS
U.S. demand for window treatments strengthened between 2001 and 2003 as declining interest rates stimulated demand for new home construction and existing home resales. Demand increased the sharpest for cloth and plastic shades, wood blinds, curtains and draperies, and drapery hardware. The gains in the window treatment market have been led by a surge in the availability of low-cost imported products. This put downward pressure on prices and resulted in the acceleration of plant consolidation among U.S. manufacturers. Consolidation, however, has led to rising plant profit margins as smaller, inefficient plants closed. The wallcoverings market, on the other hand, continues to weaken due to changes in consumer tastes.

WINDOW TREATMENT AND WALLCOVERINGS INDUSTRY TRENDS
Catalina Research has uncovered these trends in our 204-page in-depth report on the North American window treatment and wallcoverings market. Report sections cover the U.S. market for window shades, blinds, and drapery hardware; curtains and draperies; and wallcoverings. Each section is further segmented by product line. The section on window shades and blinds provides data on plastic, cloth and other shades; aluminum and other Venetian blinds; and wood and other blinds. The section on curtains and draperies provides data on stock knit and woven curtains and draperies, as well as custom products. Data is also provided for cotton, synthetic fiber, and other textile materials. Wallcovering market sectors include paper, plastic, and fabric-type product lines.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ACTIVITY
Import data is included to evaluate the growing importance of foreign-sourced window treatments and wallcoverings. Import data is provided for a wide range of product lines and materials on a dollar and volume basis. Import data is also provided for major countries of origin. Similar data is available for export shipments in a separate section.

END-USE MARKET ANALYSIS AND DISTRIBUTION
Purchases are provided for household, commercial, government, and original equipment markets. Household spending is analyzed for window shades and blinds and for curtains and draperies. Spending is also analyzed by household income, age of household head, household size, and region. A separate section provides data on retail window treatment sales by type of outlet. Sales data is evaluated for mass merchants, window treatment stores, other home furnishing stores, department stores, warehouse clubs, paint and wallpaper stores, direct marketers, and other retail channels. In addition, revenues and operating ratios for paper hanging and wallcovering contractors are analyzed as well.

FACTORS AFFECTING DEMAND
End-use market trends are correlated with U.S. housing demand, nonresidential construction spending, mortgage interest rates, and other economic indicators to uncover the factors affecting demand, and provide insights into the direction of domestic demand in 2004 and beyond.

PROFIT MARGINS AND THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
In addition, Catalina Research examined the cost structure and profitability of U.S. window treatment and wallcoverings plants. Data trends are compiled for material, labor, and capital inputs. As part of this analysis, Catalina profiled 26 leading North American manufactures and marketers, and compiled company window treatment and wallcoverings sales. Catalina used this information to calculate market shares of the leading suppliers. Company profiles cover product lines, manufacturing and distribution, capital investments, acquisitions, and new products. Executives are urged to review the growth- and profit-oriented strategies of leading North American and foreign-based manufacturers and compare their company's own performance to the industry averages.

CANADIAN WINDOW TREATMENT AND WALLCOVERINGS MARKET
The Canadian window treatment and wallcoverings market is also analyzed. Market sales are calculated from shipment, export, and import data. Window treatment plant operating ratios are analyzed as well.

Report Number: CR028	Published: January 2004
Pages: 204	Price: $2,495 paper, $2,995 e-mail version
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