The important ‘Nine Days’ - that's the average amount of time it takes for consumers to complete a purchase.It's just one of the unexpected facts to emerge from the first LOFA Market Research report. 

LOFA commissioned ShopperCentric, a specialist shopper behaviour agency, to conduct a wide ranging independent study and analysis of the current market. The headline finding is that the size of the Outdoor Leisure market in 2013 was in the region of £975M, significantly higher than previous estimates of the market. 

The data also shows that the general public still prefer to see and touch garden furniture and barbecues before purchase, although the internet is playing a bigger role in research and final purchase.

Three in ten people now buy on-line but, significantly on-line business accounts for 40% of the value. ShopperCentric also identified four distinct consumer categories. 

This study forms a baseline of the market and LOFA plans to update it at regular intervals. 

Paul Bevington, LOFA’s Chairman commented: “This report is long overdue, but we now have information that will be invaluable to the whole industry. It is an important source of reference that our members can share with their customers for the benefit of everyone in the trade.”