In 2018 consumer spending on bathrooms rose by 2.3% to reach £1,330 million and in 2019 there will be an estimated further 2.3% growth. In the five years from 2019-24 the market is expected to grow by 13% to reach £1,537 million, mostly due to inflation. 2019 is a year of transition for bathroom retailing, with Bathstore bought out of administration by Homebase and DIY chains still struggling to find a route to profitable trading. More sales are being made online, either through specialist online sellers or via omnichannel trading and this is creating extra pressures on traditional, store-based retailers. Plus, more and more householders are turning to tradesmen to do up their homes, rather than tackling DIY projects. Although Brexit has been widely blamed for creating a slowdown, demand in the market has remained robust, as householders see a bathroom makeover as something which adds value to their properties, as well as making their homes a happier place to live in.

This Report focuses on bathroom retailing in the UK, looking at consumer spending on fixtures, fittings, furniture and accessories for bathrooms for domestic premises, either by end users or small professional installers on behalf of end users. It looks at DIY retailers, bathroom specialists and online specialist retailers, as well as other general retailers.