Chapter 1: Executive Summary
Scope of the Report
Methodology
Product Definitions
The Market
A Robust Market Slows Down
Figure 1-1: U.S. Sales of Garage and Shed Storage, 2004-2008 (in millions of dollars)
Figure 1-2: Sales by Product Category, 2008 (percent)
Garage Organization Products and Sheds About 2% of Housewares
Table 1-1: U.S. Retail Sales of Housewares 2007 (in billions of dollars)
U.S. is Global Garage Organization and Shed Leader

Factors Affecting Growth

Increasing number of households
Figure 1-3: Number of U.S. Households, 2000-2008 (in millions of households)
Housing Boom Creates Demand for Organization
Easy Credit Drives Consumption
Larger U.S. homes but trending smaller
Americans Love Big Garages
Table 1-2: Type of Parking Facility of New One-Family Houses Completed (percent)
Big Spenders, Non-Savers
Lower Prices Drive Spending
Bulk Buying Takes Up Space
Investing in the Home
Gardening Boosts Shed Sales
Demographics Continue To Boost Storage Need
Raw Material Prices Impact Manufacturers

Market Projections

Slower Growth in Future
Figure 1-4: Projected U.S. sales of garage and shed storage, 2008-2013 (in billions of dollars)

The Marketers

Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestitures
Market and Product Trends
Easy Assembly Still Drives DIY Market
Specialty items continue to grow
Creating Space
Bigger is Better
Selling Value
Toughness to Appeal to Men
Aesthetics to Appeal to Women
Eco-friendly Initiatives Begin to Emerge
The Emotion of Organization
A Storage Crisis
Organization Reduces Stress
Peace of Mind
Outdoor Sheds Not Just for Garden Tools

Market Dynamics

Distribution Channels
Installed Versus DIY Trends
Installed Segment Local, Regional, Struggling
DIY Segment Stressing Price, Convenience
Retail outlets
Exclusivity
Lowe’s, Home Depot Target Women
Internet Sells, Promotes and Educates
Marketing and Promotion Trends
Contests And Sweepstakes Still Popular
Product Placement Provides Exposure
Sponsorships Generate Publicity
Spokesperson Connects with Consumers
Price Promotions Stress Value
Dealer Incentives Encourage Sales
Leveraging Partnerships Extends Reach
Selling Homebuilders and Home Sellers
Branding Continues to Be Important
Licensing Popular Brands
Some Store Brand Activity
Branding Commodities
Shed Brands Communicate Functionality

The Consumer

Same Percentage of Households Spend More and Less Than $1,000 Annually on Home Improvements
Sixty Percent of Households Do It Themselves with Home Improvements
Other Spaces Higher Priorities Than Garage
Younger Families With Higher Incomes, Advanced Educations Tend to Remodel Basements, Attics and Garages
Purchase of Storage Sheds Remains Steady
Majority of Households Spend More Than $500 on Sheds
75% of Households Assemble and Install Sheds Themselves
Older Boomers With Larger Families, Young Children More Likely to Have Bought Sheds
Southeast is Strongest Region for Sheds
Boomers and College Graduates More Likely to Have Bought Garage Doors
Central Region Strongest for Garage Doors
Psychographic Traits of Remodelers and Shed Buyers
Consumers Want Quality, Performance and Closet Storage
Consumers Value Quality and Performance Most
Closet Storage Most in Demand
Consumers Do Want Large, Organized Garages
Listening to Women
Enormous Purchasing Power
She Wants to Eliminate Clutter
Builders Take "Women-Centric" Approach
Do-It-Herself
Consumers Say They Want Green Products
Consumers Want But Don’t Often Buy Green
Organization Calms Consumers
Empty Nest Not So Empty
Empty Nesters Downsizing
Boomerangers Come Home
A Fuller House for the Sandwich Generation

Chapter 2: The Market

Scope of the Report
Methodology
Product Definitions


The Market
A Robust Market Slows Down
Figure 2-1: U.S. Sales of Garage and Shed Storage, 2004-2008 (in millions of dollars)…
Figure 2-2: Sales by Product Category, 2008 (percent)
Garage Organization Products and Sheds About 2% of Housewares
Table 2-1: U.S. Retail Sales of Housewares 2007 (in billions of dollars)
Regional Differences
Figure 2-3: New One Family Houses Sold, Percent with Basements, 2007
U.S. is Global Garage Organization and Shed Leader

Factors Affecting Growth

Increasing number of households
Figure 2-4: Number of U.S. Households, 2000-2008 (households in millions)
Housing Boom Creates Demand for Organization
Table 2-2: Percent of Home Ownership, 1990-2008
Figure 2-5: U.S. Quarterly Homeownership Rates, 2004-2008 (percent)
Table 2-3: Annual Existing Home Sales, 2002-2008
Table 2-4: Annual New Home Sales/Median Annual Sales Price, 1995-2008
Table 2-5: Quarterly House Price Appreciation, 2005-2008 (percent)
Table 2-6: Annual Housing Starts 2000-2008, Single Family Homes
Easy Credit Drives Consumption
Figure 2-6: Average Mortgage Rates, 2005-2008 (percent)
Figure 2-7: First-Time Home Buyer Index in U.S., 2005-2008 (index)
Figure 2-8: Consumer Credit in U.S., 2003-2008 (in billions of dollars)
Figure 2-9: Home Mortgage Borrowing in U.S., 2003-2008 (in billions of dollars)
Larger U.S. homes but trending smaller
Table 2-7: Median Square Feet of Floor Area, New One Family Houses, 1985-2007
Americans Love Big Garages
Table 2-8: Type of Parking Facility of New One-Family Houses Completed (percent)
Big Spenders, Non-Savers
Table 2-9: Personal Income and Its Disposition, 2001-2008 (in billions of dollars)
Figure 2-10: U.S. Quarterly Personal Consumption Expenditures and Gross Domestic Product, 2005-2008 (in billions of dollars)
Lower Prices Drive Spending
Figure 2-11: Consumer Price Index (CPI) Department Store Durable Goods, Dec. 1998-Jan. 2009
Bulk Buying Takes Up Space
Table 2-10: Club Store Sales and Membership, 2002-2008 (in billions of dollars and millions of members)
Investing in the Home
Table 2-11: U.S. Average Annual Consumer Expenditures, 2006 (percent)
Table 2-12: Annual Home Remodeling Expenditures, 1995-2008 (in billions of dollars)
Table 2-13: Home Improvement Products Sales (in billions of dollars)
Self Storage Decline Could Boost Home Storage
Gardening Boosts Shed Sales
Demographics Continue To Boost Storage Need
Raw Material Prices Impact Manufacturers
Figure 2-12: Producer Price Index (PPI) of Crude Petroleum, 2005-Jan. 2009
Figure 2-13: Producer Price Index (PPI) of Plastics Material & Resins Manufacturing, 2004-Jan. 2009
Figure 2-14: Producer Price Index (PPI) of Metals and Metal Products, 2005-Jan. 2009
Figure 2-15: Producer Price Index (PPI) of Lumber and Wood Products, 2005-Jan 2009

Market Projections

Slower Growth in Future
Figure 2-16: Projected U.S. Sales of Garage and Shed Storage, 2008-2013 (in billions of dollars)
Figure 2-17: Number of U.S. Households, 2007-2010 (in millions of households)

Chapter 3: The Marketers

Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestitures
Whirlpool Corporation
Overview
Products
Table 3-1: Gladiator GarageWorks Products
Promotion
Stack-On Products Company
Overview
Products
Table 3-2: Stack-On Products

Sauder Woodworking

Overview
Products
Table 3-3: Sauder Woodworking Garage Organization Products

Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

Overview
Performance
Table 3-4: Newell Rubbermaid’s Sales 2004-2008 (in millions of dollars)
Table 3-5: Newell Rubbermaid Sales Composition, 2008 (in millions of dollars and percent of total)
Product portfolio
Table 3-6: Rubbermaid Garage and Shed Storage Products
Distribution
Advertising and Promotion
Stanley ZAG
Overview
Products
Table 3-7: Stanley ZAG Garage Organization Products

Storage Squared

Overview
Table 3-8: Storage Squared Products

GarageMaid

Overview
Table 3-9: GarageMaid Products

FoldAWay Storage Systems

Overview
Table 3-10: FoldAWay Storage Systems Products

Emerson Electric Co

Company Profile
Performance
Product portfolio
Table 3-11: Emerson Electric Garage Organization Products
Distribution
California Closets
Overview
Performance
Product portfolio
Table 3-12: California Closets Garage Organization Products
Advertising and Promotion
Elfa
Overview
Performance
Product portfolio
Table 3-13: Elfa Garage Organization Products
Strategy and Positioning
Distribution
Schulte Corporation
Overview
Products
Table 3-14: Schulte Garage Organization Products
Distribution
Promotion
Windquest Companies
Overview
Products
Table 3-15: Windquest Garage Organization Products

Racor

Kevin Shaha, president of Racor
Overview
Product portfolio
Table 3-16: Racor Garage Organization Products

Slide-Lok

Overview
Products
Table 3-17: Slide-Lok Garage Organization Products
Promotion
Sterilite
Overview
Product portfolio
Table 3-18: Sterilite Products

Home Products International

Overview
Product portfolio
Table 3-19: Home Products International Organization Products

Myers Industries, Inc

Overview
Products
Table 3-20: Myers Industries Products

Iris USA

Overview
Product portfolio
Table 3-21: Iris USA Products

HyLoft Inc

Overview
Products
Table 3-22: Hyloft Products

BH North America

Overview
Table 3-23: BH North America Products

Storewall LLC

Overview
Promotion
Products
Table 3-24: Storewall Products

HandiSolutions

Overview
Table 3-25: HandiSolutions Organization Products

Spacewall International

Overview
Products
Table 3-26: Spacewall International Products

Redline Garage Gear

Overview
Products
Table 3-27: Redline Garage Gear Products

Gracious Living Industries

Overview
Products
Table 3-28: Gracious Living Home Organization Products

Bald Head Cabinets

Overview
Products
Table 3-29: Bald Head Products

Diamond Life

Overview
Products
Table 3-30: Diamond Life Products
RSI Home Products OverviewProducts
Table 3-31: RSI Garage Organization Products
ModuLine
Overview
Products
Table 3-32: ModuLine Products

Hercke International, LLC.

Overview
Products
Table 3-33: Hercke International Products

GarageTek Inc

Overview
Products
Table 3-34: GarageTek Products

House Wall Garage System

Overview
Products
Table 3-35: House Wall Garage System Products

Premier Garage

Overview
Promotion
Products
Table 3-36: Premier Garage Products

Vault

Overview
Products
Table 3-37: Vault Products

Arrow Group Industries

Overview
Products
Table 3-38: Arrow Group Products

Duramax Building Products

Overview
Products
Table 3-39: Duramax Products

Suncast Corporation

Overview
Products
Table 3-40: Suncast Products

Tuff Shed Inc

Overview
Promotion
Products
Table 3-41: Tuff Shed Products

Backyard Products, LLC

Overview
Products
Table 3-42: Backyard Products LLC Products

Reynolds Building Systems

Overview
Table 3-43: Reynolds Building Systems Products

Barrette

Overview
Products
Table 3-44: Barrette Products

Lifetime Products

Overview
Products
Table 3-45: Lifetime Products

Outstanding Solutions Ltd

Overview
Products
Table 3-46: Outstanding Solutions Products

Step 2 Company

Overview
Products
Table 3-47: Step 2 Storage Products

Finley Products

Overview
Table 3-48: Finley Products

Little Cottage Company

Overview
Table 3-49: Little Cottage Company Products

Chapter 4: Market and Product Trends

Easy Assembly Still Drives DIY Market
Hercke Cabinets Assembled In Seconds
GarageMaid’s Interlocking Connections
EZup Easy to Assemble Sheds
Specialty items continue to grow
Gladiator Claw
Organizing Totes
Creating Space
Off The Wall
New Way to Store on Walls
Easier Access
Cabinetry Storage
Loft-It In The Air
Bigger is Better
Selling Value
Toughness to Appeal to Men
Truck-bed toughness comes to storage cabinetry
Steel signals strength
Heavy duty
Powder Coating
Aesthetics to Appeal to Women
Design and Style
Color
Eco-friendly initiatives begin to emerge
Garage Envy Green Garage
Premier Garage PG Green
Windquest EcoElements
Slide-Lok’s Eco-Friendly Plywood
Eco-Nize is Eco-Friendly
Homz Hybrid Collection
The Emotion of Organization
A Storage Crisis
Organization Reduces Stress
Peace Of Mind
Outdoor sheds not just for garden tools
New Product Introductions
Table 4-1: Select Garage Organization Products and Shed Introductions

Chapter 5: Market Dynamics

Distribution Channels
Installed Versus DIY Trends
Installed Segment Local, Regional, Struggling
DIY Segment Stressing Price, Convenience
Retail Outlets
Exclusivity
Lowe’s, Home Depot Target Women
Internet Sells, Promotes and Educates
Marketing and Promotion Trends
Contests and Sweepstakes Still Popular
Product Placement Provides Exposure
Sponsorships Generate Publicity
Spokesperson Connects with Consumers
Price Promotions Stress Value
Dealer Incentives Encourage Sales
Leveraging Partnerships Extends Reach
Selling Homebuilders and Home Sellers
Branding Continues to Be Important
Licensing Popular Brands
Some Store Brand Activity
Branding Commodities
Shed Brands Communicate Functionality

Chapter 6: The Consumer

Same Percentage of Households Spend More and Less Than $1,000 Annually on Home Improvements
Figure 6-1: Total Home Improvement Spending (percent of households)
Sixty Percent of Households Do It Themselves with Home Improvements
Figure 6-2: Who Does Home Improvement (percent of households)
Other Spaces Higher Priorities than Garage
Table 6-1: Households Added or Remodeled Garage, 2006 and 2008 (percent of households)
Younger Families with Higher Incomes, Advanced Educations Tend to Remodel Basements, Attics and Garages
Table 6-2: Demographic Profile of People who Remodeled Basement/Attic/Garage, 2008 (index)
Purchase of Storage Sheds Remains Steady
Table 6-3: Home Improvement Purchases, 2006 and 2008 (percent of households)
Majority of Households Spend More Than $500 on Sheds
Figure 6-3: Amount Spent on Storage Sheds (percent of households)
Figure 6-4: Storage Shed Spending Compared to Garage Products, 2008 (percent of households)
75% of Households Assemble and Install Sheds Themselves
Figure 6-5: Installation of Sheds and Garage Products (percent of households)
Older Boomers with Larger Families, Young Children More Likely to Have Bought Sheds
Table 6-4: Demographic Profile of People Buying Storage Sheds, 2008 (index)
Southeast is Strongest Region for Sheds
Figure 6-6: Storage Shed Purchases by Region, 2006 and 2008
Boomers and College Graduates More Likely to Have Bought Garage Doors
Table 6-5: Demographic Profile of People Buying Garage Doors, 2008 (index)
Central Region Strongest for Garage Doors
Figure 6-7: Garage Door Purchase by Region, 2006 and 2008
Psychographic Traits of Remodelers and Shed Buyers
Table 6-6: Psychographic Traits of Remodelers and Shed Buyers (index)
Consumers Want Quality, Performance and Closet Storage
Consumers Value Quality and Performance Most
Table 6-7: Most Important Factor When Purchasing Storage Products, 2008 (percent)
Closet Storage Most In Demand
Table 6-8: Home Area Where Consumers Will Most Likely Use New Storage Container, 2008 (percent)
Consumers Do Want Large, Organized Garages
Listening to Women
Enormous Purchasing Power
She Wants to Eliminate Clutter
Builders Take "Women-Centric" Approach
Do-It-Herself
Consumers Say They Want Green Products
Consumers Want But Don’t Often Buy Green
Organization Calms Consumers
Empty Nest Not So Empty
Empty Nesters Downsizing
Boomerangers Come Home
A Fuller House for the Sandwich Generation

Appendix

Purchase Information