Tabletop is Tip-Top

By Jennifer Heebner, Senior Associate Editor -- JCK Online, 5/1/2001 2:00:00 AM

Tabletop sales are on the rise, according to results of "The Tabletop Report: The Market, The Industry, The Trends," published by Unity Marketing, Stevens, Pa.*

Nearly 65% of adults own higher-end tabletop items such as fine china, crystal stemware, and sterling flatware. In fact, sales of tabletop accessories and giftware totaled $7.8 billion in 2000, up 4% over 1999 figures.

Yet Census Bureau data show jewelers' actual tabletop sales are low. Revenues from china, glassware, flatware, and hollowware totaled $295.7 million or 2% of jewelers' overall sales in 1992, a sum that dropped to $254.7 million in 1997 (the most recent data available). But Jewelers of America's 2000 "Cost of Doing Business" survey shows jewelers have been selling slightly more tabletop in recent years: The category now accounts for 4% of jewelers' overall sales.

* Methodology: Unity surveyed 25 tabletop manufacturers and specialty retailers, and 1,000 consumers. Jewelers were not surveyed for this study. Unity can be reached at (717) 336-1601.