See 2015 Hearth Retail Survey Report — Part I

In only two regions did more than 50 percent of hearth retailers post a positive year – the Midwest (57%) and the West (62%).

In 2015, vented gas increased its market share (38%) at retail by four percent. Electric fireplaces stayed the same as the prior year, at four percent.

In Canada, wood rules the roost at 40 percent, followed by vented gas at 35 percent. Electric units, at eight percent, apparently did better in Canada than in the U.S.

In both Canada and the U.S., the market share of fireplaces remained just about the same, while stoves in Canada increased by nine percent.

Pellet-burning inserts were much more in demand in the U.S. (31%), than they were in Canada (8%).

While wood-burning stoves in both countries are requested by consumers close to 50 percent of the time, inserts are more popular in the U.S. than in Canada, and wood-burning fireplaces less popular.

As usual, retailer days of being backlogged peaked in November, at 26 days.

Sixty-six percent of hearth product sales were new installations.

In 2015, 28 percent of hearth product sales were to replace inefficient wood fireplaces, and 24 percent to replace pre-EPA stoves.

In 2015, the average hearth dealer derived 49 percent of his/her revenue from hearth products, 18 percent from “Other,” 10 percent from Patio furnishings, and eight percent from Barbecues.

Sixty-two percent of specialty hearth dealer purchases occur in the last half of the year.

While 2015 was far from a banner year for hearth products, optimism remains in the hearth specialty channel. Fully 55 percent of respondents believe sales in 2016 will be greater than in the past year.