Clocks accounted for the bulk of the market by volume and value in 2001, taking 81% of volume sales and 73% of the market value.

How can consumers be persuaded to buy new clocks and clock radios? Can retailers compete with the success of catalogue showrooms?

Is the success of branded products such as Zeon Tech, Oregon Scientific and Seiko a true pointer to the future of the market?

This report examines the UK clocks and clock radios market, with Mintel having last reported on this market in July 2000. The key influences on this market are assessed with a view to identifying important trends in sales of clocks and clock radios. While the two sectors differ significantly in terms of market

characteristics and structure, both fulfil the same basic function of providing a static timepiece while also offering a range of other features including date function, decorative appeal, alarm, etc.

Clocks accounted for the bulk of the market by volume and value in 2001, taking 81% of volume sales and 73% of the market value.

How can consumers be persuaded to buy new clocks and clock radios? Can retailers compete with the success of catalogue showrooms?

Is the success of branded products such as Zeon Tech, Oregon Scientific and Seiko a true pointer to the future of the market?

This report examines the UK clocks and clock radios market, with Mintel having last reported on this market in July 2000. The key influences on this market are assessed with a view to identifying important trends in sales of clocks and clock radios. While the two sectors differ significantly in terms of market

characteristics and structure, both fulfil the same basic function of providing a static timepiece while also offering a range of other features including date function, decorative appeal, alarm, etc.

While devices such as mobile phones and personal organisers offer clock and alarm functions, most consumers still prefer to have an easily visible static alarm clock/clock radio in the bedroom as well as perhaps a more portable device for use when away from home. This report examines usage of clocks in the home in terms of the most popular locations for a clock, with Mintel's findings showing that the bedroom, lounge and kitchen are the most popular. This ties in with market segmentation data, which show that alarm clocks represent the largest market sector by volume in 2002.

For this report, Mintel examines the hypothesis that: "The level of brand awareness in the clocks and clock radios market needs to rise in order to encourage consumers to trade up and so generate future market growth."

Other Mintel reports of relevance to this market include:

- Jewellery and Watches Retailing, Retail Intelligence - UK Report, November 2001

- Luxury Watches, Market Intelligence - UK Report, July 2001

- Watches, Market Intelligence - UK Report, March 2002.