Prague, May 21 (CTK) –
Czech furniture shops raised sales in 2012 as shoppers spent several dozen billions of crowns on furniture, the shops and experts have said.

Data from the Incoma Research company and the Moderni obchod magazine showed Ikea CR was the leader in the segment with sales up from CZK 2.68 billion to CZK 4.5 billion in 2012.

Growing competition on the market forces shops to cut furniture prices.

“We cut prices by 5.5 percent in 2004 and by 7 percent in 2012. For the fiscal year 2013 we have reduced prices by 10 percent,” Ikea spokeswoman Katerina Horova told CTK.

On the other hand, shops selling expensive furniture have found a place on the Czech market too. Wagner Design sold several dozen beds that cost CZK 200,000-300,000 in 2012.

“We want to sell more than 1,000 beds a year in the years to come,” said Karel Vagner from the company.

The Association of Czech Furniture Producers ACN said Czech furniture output had been growing slowly in the past years. Its annual volume is now CZK 45-50 billion, of which 60-70 percent is exported.

The Czech Republic registers about 4,500 furniture makers employing 45,000 staff.

ACN vice-president Radek Brychta said Czech furniture makers made up 40-50 percent of total sales in the Czech Republic. Imported furniture comes mostly from Poland.

“But the production of Czech furniture is bigger. It is exported mainly to EU countries and, recently, to Russia and Ukraine,” said Brychta.

Sales of the largest Czech furniture shops

Company
2004
2012
Ikea CR
2.68
4.5
Asko Nabytek
1.4
1.9
Sconto Nabytek
1.34
1.4

Source: Incoma Research