Custom furniture is becoming increasingly popular as people become more and more interested in unique furniture pieces that reflect their individual styles and decor.
Many people like the idea of owning furniture that is both unique and of high quality. They also tend to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making a piece of custom furniture, especially if it’s handmade.
Having custom furniture in their houses, instead of off-the-shelf pieces, is often a way for people to show their guests that they have good taste.
So who are these people who are the target market for custom furniture?
If you’re thinking about getting into this business, you will need to answer this question. You will also need to understand why people buy custom furniture and how they decide from whom to buy it.
That’s what we’ll cover in this article.
Stay tuned!
Who is the Target Market for Custom Furniture?
To best understand the target market for custom furniture, we need to ask ourselves – who needs custom furniture? And why?
When we understand the customer’s needs and therefore their motivations, we can categorize the market into groups or segments. Then we can analyze each segment independently of the other and build products and services that can cater to the needs of specific segments.
Such a needs-based segmentation approach gives us the following main segments of the target market for custom furniture:
- Homeowners who want unique furniture that will make their house stand out
- People who appreciate top craftsmanship and are willing to pay for it
- People who need furniture that fits in odd places
- People who want to avoid the mass-produced look of most off-the-shelf furniture
- Businesses that need specific types of furniture for their offices or workspaces
- Furniture stores that want to sell unique, high-quality furniture
- Retail shops that need special furniture for their displays
Now let’s take a closer look at each of these market segments.
1. Homeowners who want unique furniture that will make their house stand out
Homeowners are the classic target market for custom furniture.
Many homeowners have custom furniture built because it allows them to add a personal touch to their homes that they cannot get from furniture bought in a store.
They may want furniture that is unique and not like anything else their friends or family have. Or they may want furniture that reflects their individual style, personality, or the decor of their home.
Sometimes people see a piece of furniture while on vacation but are unable to bring it home with them. And if they can’t find anything like it in their local stores they may decide to have a duplicate made by a local craftsman or furniture maker.
2. People who appreciate top craftsmanship and are willing to pay for it
This segment of the target market for custom furniture sees it as an investment. They know that a piece of well-made furniture will last for many years and appreciate in value.
They are also willing to pay for the time and skill that goes into making a piece of furniture made by a talented craftsman.
People in this market segment may be looking for specific types of furniture, such as antique reproduction furniture or they may just want something that is well-made and unique.
3. People who need furniture that fits in odd places
Sometimes, people need furniture to fit in a specific space in their home or office. They may have an oddly shaped room or space that is difficult to furnish with standard, off-the-shelf furniture.
In these cases, people often turn to custom furniture makers to create a piece that will fit perfectly in the available space.
For example, rooms in the attic or basement often have slanted walls or other irregularities that make it difficult to find furniture that will fit and look good.
Likewise, someone may have a garage where they want to set up a workbench but there is no standard-sized piece of furniture that will fit the space.
In these cases, custom-made furniture can be the perfect solution.
4. People who want to avoid the mass-produced look of most off-the-shelf furniture
Many people are tired of the unexceptional, mass-produced look of a lot of today’s furniture. They may feel that it is cheaply made and not built to last.
Or they may simply want something that looks different from what everyone else has.
This segment of the target market for custom furniture is often willing to pay more for one-of-a-kind furniture because they know they will get something that will be of higher quality and have a unique look.
5. Businesses that need specific types of furniture for their office or workspace
Businesses that want to give a certain look or feel to their office or workspace often turn to custom furniture makers.
For example, a software company may want their office to have a cutting-edge, high-tech look, so they may commission furniture that reflects this image.
Or an architectural firm may want sleek, modern furniture that reflects the type of work they do.
Small business owners who have workshops or ateliers often need special types of furniture, such as work tables or storage cabinets, that are not available from standard office furniture suppliers. Such businesses often hire carpenters to build exactly what they need starting from raw materials.
6. Furniture stores that want to sell unique, high-quality furniture
Many furniture stores are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. One way they do this is by selling unique, high-quality furniture that is not available in other stores.
Many furniture stores are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. One way they do this is by selling unique, high-quality furniture that is not available in other stores.
Custom furniture makers can provide such furniture, and many stores are willing to pay a premium for it.
This type of furniture is often made using traditional methods and materials, which can make it more expensive than mass-produced furniture.
But the unique design and superior craftsmanship are usually worth the higher price to people who go to furniture stores to find something special.
7. Retail shops that need special furniture for their displays
Many retail shops need special furniture for their displays.
For example, a clothing store may need a custom-made dressing room or a jewelry store may need a display case that is not available from standard suppliers.
In these cases, the shop owner will often commission a local carpenter or furniture maker to create the desired piece of furniture.
Sometimes, retail shops also have custom furniture made to match the theme or decor of the store.
For example, a country-themed store may need a rustic table or cabinet, and an upscale furniture store may need a sleek, modern sofa.
Conclusion
The target market for custom furniture includes people who are looking for alternatives to standard, off-the-shelf furniture pieces.
This includes homeowners who are looking for ways to make their homes stand out from those of others they know. It also includes people looking for furniture for oddly shaped spaces.
People who do not like the look of mass-produced furniture or those who appreciate the work of a craftsman also turn to custom furniture makers for items that are unique and special.
Likewise, businesses with offices, workspaces and retail stores also need custom furniture. This can be to reflect the style and culture of their company or simply for practical reasons like to display their products in a unique and interesting way.
