Tabletop

The tabletop industry has gone through many changes over the years. In fact, the bridal market — a major target market for the category — has changed tremendously. Formal entertaining is, for the most part, a thing of the past. Brides today are looking for practical yet stylish dinnerware. And casual dining is on the rise.

With the popularity of cooking shows, many tabletop manufacturers have turned to celebrity chefs to create lines, including Emeril Lagasse for Wedgwood and Gordon Ramsay for Royal Doulton. Manufacturers also place an emphasis on restaurant-quality dishware that highlights food — something that foodies, in particular, look for.

Another major push in tabletop over the last five years is fashion and interior designer-created place settings and accessories. Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Kenneth Cole, Barbara Barry, Thomas O'Brien and Versace have all created dinnerware patterns for major tabletop manufacturers. In these instances, vendors bank on the designer's name to attract a certain type of customer. Each collection reflects a lifestyle that vendors hope will strike a chord with new brides, as well as women who are looking to change the look of their tableware.

Style trends in tabletop tend to follow the fashion and jewelry markets. So when gold is in fashion, gold dinnerware is seen at market. For the last few years, both platinum and gold have been shown — the choice depends on an individual shopper's preference.

Another shift in the market is where customers are making their tabletop purchases. When it comes to fine china, shoppers mainly go through the big box stores such as Bed, Bath and Beyond and department stores. (Macy's Inc. — formerly known as Federated Department Stores Inc. — has dominated this market segment for quite some time now.) But when shoppers are looking for unique brands, they turn to independent retailers, who have an advantage in this area because smaller vendors often choose to work with an independent store. Customers looking for authentic Majolica or Italian dinnerware won't find what they're looking for at a big box. In addition, the perceived value of the piece will be increased because they found it in a specialty shop, not the local Bed, Bath and Beyond.