Market potential and determinants for eco-smart furniture attending consumers of the third age
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss some of the findings of an ongoing “Green & Smart Furniture” (GSF) research project. It actually focuses on third-age consumers’ behavior and interest in purchasing smart and eco-friendly wooden furniture, providing some critical implications for the successful design and production of GSF products in the framework of innovation and differentiation.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is based on empirical data gathered from consumer research across Greece. The target group for “smart and eco furniture”, under the context of the present research, has to do with the third age, following the claims of many researchers that market orientation is essential for innovation success.
Findings
The present research promotes the development of innovation for furniture manufacturing industries, opening a new pathway in confronting the difficulties and strong competition. Firms should redesign their strategy, focusing on differentiation by including innovative products in their portfolio with high added value.
Originality/value
The present research is a prototype for the Greek and European furniture market, one designed to answer certain relevant questions regarding the drivers of innovation for the specific sector and the specific target group.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is a revised version of a paper entitled “Building the Green-Smart Way: Exploring Conditions for Green and Smart Furniture Manufacturing for People in the Third Age” by Papadopoulos Ioannis, Trigkas Marios, Karagouni Glykeria, Papadopoulou Aikaterini, Moraiti Vasiliki, Tripolitsioti Aikaterini and Platogianni Evanthia (2014), which was presented at the 7th Annual International EuroMed Conference, “The Future of Entrepreneurship”, Kristiansand, Norway, 17-19 September 2014, pp. 1215-1232.
Citation
Papadopoulos, I., Trigkas, M., Karagouni, G., Papadopoulou, A., Moraiti, V., Tripolitsioti, A. and Platogianni, E. (2016), "Market potential and determinants for eco-smart furniture attending consumers of the third age", Competitiveness Review, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 559-574. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-06-2015-0058
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited