| In this Market Report, the UK childrenswear | | | | handbags etc,which can boost spending. Boyswear |
| market is defined as clothing for children under | | | | has seen increased branding in recent years, but |
| the age of 15 years. The main sectors of the | | | | sportswear continues to play a major role. In the |
| market are infant clothing, girls' clothing and boys' | | | | babywear market, the rise in the UK birth rate |
| clothing. In 2005, Key Note estimated the value of | | | | has boosted spending, but again, price deflation |
| the childrenswear market was PS6.3bn, having | | | | has depressed sales rises. |
| risen by 13.1% since 2001. This increase was | | | | The UK retail childrenswear market is product and |
| lower than overall spending rises on clothing, as | | | | brand led, with retailer own label and exclusive |
| well as total household spending. | | | | lines dominating overall sales. This position has |
| Price deflation has been prevalent in the UK | | | | been reinforced by the success of the |
| clothing market as a whole, with prices falling by | | | | supermarkets and value retailers who tend to |
| an average of 7.9 percentage points since 2002 | | | | focus on non branded items. This has further |
| and in the childrenswear market this has been | | | | encouraged a focus on price. However, some |
| even more pronounced. The main factor driving | | | | areas of the market have managed to maintain |
| price deflation has been the success of | | | | differentials; for example, fashion and designer |
| supermarkets and value retailers. The major | | | | brands, and character-licensed clothing. |
| multiples have been keen to extend their | | | | Children's clothing is purchased by around three in |
| non-food sales, and childrenswear has been an | | | | ten consumers. Even those without children tend |
| important area for groups such as ASDA and | | | | to participate in the market, buying products as |
| Tesco. Value retailers, led by Primark, have also | | | | gifts, for example. As children get older they are |
| brought down price points for childrenswear. This, | | | | increasingly likely to self purchase items rather |
| in turn, has led to price cutting across a group of | | | | than allocate this role to adults. |
| retailers in order to maintain a more competitive | | | | The childrenswear market will continue to benefit |
| position. | | | | from trends led by high per capita spending on |
| Girlswear accounts for the largest share of sales | | | | children. This has been driven by factors such as |
| in the market although the female under-15 | | | | later parenting ages and smaller family sizes. A |
| population is smaller than the male. More clothing is | | | | focus on lower prices is not indefinitely sustainable |
| purchased for girls and they often have a much | | | | as profit margins will eventually be affected. As a |
| more extensive wardrobe than their male | | | | result, price points at the bottom end of the |
| counterparts. In addition, the market is more | | | | childrenswear market will begin to rise in the |
| fashion led, such as replica purses,replica | | | | medium term and this will boost sales values. |
| watches,replica handbags,replica louis vuitton | | | | |