Market potential and determinants for eco-smart furniture attending consumers of the third age

Author(s):

Ioannis Papadopoulos (Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece)

Marios Trigkas (Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece)

Glykeria Karagouni (Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece)

Aikaterini Papadopoulou (Department of Business Administration, Athens University of Economics, Athens, Greece)

Vasiliki Moraiti (Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece)

Aikaterini Tripolitsioti (Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece)

Evanthia Platogianni (Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece)

Citation:

Ioannis Papadopoulos , Marios Trigkas , Glykeria Karagouni , Aikaterini Papadopoulou , Vasiliki Moraiti , Aikaterini Tripolitsioti , Evanthia Platogianni , (2016) "Market potential and determinants for eco-smart furniture attending consumers of the third age", Competitiveness Review, Vol. 26 Iss: 5, pp.559 - 574

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/CR-06-2015-0058

Downloads:

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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: 

Market research, Green wooden furniture, Sustainability, Smart furniture, Third age

Type:

Technical Paper

Publisher:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Received:

12 June 2015

Revised:

12 June 2015

Accepted:

24 June 2015

Acknowledgments:

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.

Copyright:

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited 2016
Published by Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only

For further details log on website :

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/CR-06-2015-0058