HIGH POINT — “Slip Slidin’ Away” could be the theme song of furniture stores — at least the smaller ones — as their share of total furniture and bedding sales continues to erode.

Furniture|Today estimates that furniture stores garnered 65% of all furniture and bedding sales in 2012, down from 70% in 2002 and 74% in 1997. 

The latest U.S. Department of Commerce figures indicate total spending on furniture and bedding increased 14.7% from 2002 to 2012. Furniture|Today estimates that furniture store sales of furniture and bedding rose by a more modest 8% during the same period.

The big furniture stores — the Top 100 — gained two points of market share between 2002 and 2012, capturing a 34% share in 2012 versus 32% in 2002.

While the smaller independent furniture stores are losing ground to the Top 100, other channels also are horning in on the action. The discount department store channel and the direct-to-consumer channel each gained two percentage points of market share from 2002 to 2012, according to Furniture|Today’s estimates.

While the Top 100 is taking a bigger bite of the apple, it’s too simple to say the big furniture stores are gobbling up the little guys. As always, the devil is in the details, and in how a furniture store is defined. 

*For the complete story, see the Aug. 21 print issue of Furniture Today.  Click here to order an electronic copy of the exclusive report Top Retail Giants.