Blanket coverage

摘要

Electric blanket sales suffered during 2003, as, yet again, the UK had a mild autumn/winter, "The electric blanket market is in decline-down 18.1%value year-on-year to just over ￡18 million and 15.2% in volume to 600,000 units, (Gfk May 2004)," says Karen Thirlwell, group product manager at Morphy Richards, "This is partially due to winter 2003/2004 being one of the mildest in the last few years with temperatures averaging five degrees centigrade during December and January, compared to three degrees centigrade and lower in previous years. "The impact of these conditions are three-fold; current owners are less likely to trade up, non-owners are much less likely to consider purchase and those who do by opt for lower priced non-fleecy products ratherthan higher priced fitted, luxurious blankets."