Several reports highlight the conservatory market as declining but is there light at the end of the tunnel for this market sector that has been somewhat overshadowed by the growth in orangeries, garden rooms and solid roof extensions?
With customers moving away from traditional conservatories, does this long standing product have a future?
The recent market forecasts paint contradictory pictures of exactly where the conservatory market is presently in that these forecasts predict growth in the domestic double glazing market yet the growth appears to be in the products we know are already doing very well such as bifolding doors but affecting other sectors such as the traditional conservatory.
What was the reason for the success of conservatories in the past?
Naturally the main reason was to add living space to a home and add value, however the growth of glazed extensions and orangeries is also enhancing properties in the same way but with a more versatile space that can truly be used all year round. The traditional conservatory is plagued with being too cold in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer but several years ago the mainstream double glazing industry didn’t offer the consumer the variety they have today. In the absence of the products the homeowner has available today the conservatory seemed the only choice.
People are sold to. It has be to be accepted that one reason for the growth of the conservatory in recent years and it’s subsequent decline is that people thought that was all they could have. Many window companies only wanted to sell traditional conservatories and it is easy to assume several years ago that the customer would have been swayed in some way into having the cheaper product for them and the simpler product for the installer.
The market has simply changed. This is the reason for the decline of the conservatory. Tastes have changed, designs of extensions have changed and so have customer tastes. Fuelled by Grand Designs type programmes, consumers now have greater desires and this desire does not include traditional conservatories.
Does the traditional conservatory still have its place?
Possibly. For those still on a budget but desiring the much needed additional space a conservatory or lean-to makes perfect sense especially in the smaller houses.
Does the conservatory have a place still as the UK continues with a housing shortage? In London especially with soaring house prices and more members of the same family in the same dwelling will the conservatory offer a quick and easy additional room?
With these various market experts reporting a decline in conservatory sales it is up to the window industry itself to innovate with new conservatory products and make the public fall in love with the conservatory again. However in the current design led market for bifolding doors, roof lanterns and other products that give the consumer the light and additional space like the traditional conservatory used to do this could be more challenging now and in the future for conservatory systems, manufacturers and installers.
It is all very well conservatory companies innovating and improving the traditional conservatory with modern polycarbonates and other features but the customer must desire the product in the first place. This is the challenge.
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