GARMENT STEAMER MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Garment Steamer Market Size and Trends

The garment steamer market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.77 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3.95 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2024 to 2031.

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The garment steamer market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Increased adoption of garment steamers among households and commercial establishments such as laundry shops and dry cleaning services is driving their demand. As garment steamers help remove creases and odors from clothes without relying on polluting dry cleaning processes, their popularity is increasing globally. Portability and ease of use of modern garment steamers make them suitable for home use as well as commercial setting. Continuous innovation led by key players to launch more energy efficient and high performance steamers is further expected to support the market expansion.

Growing Demand for Quick and Easy Fabric Care Solutions

The fast-paced lifestyle adopted by modern consumers have increased the demand for time saving household chores. With both partners spending long hours at work, they look for easy to use products that can help reduce the time spent on cleaning tasks at home. Garment steamers have emerged as a popular solution for quick and easy fabric care. They allow users to remove wrinkles, refresh and sanitize clothes without much effort. A garment steamer can revitalize wrinkled clothes, curtains or bedsheets within minutes without using an iron. This saves a lot of time otherwise spent in ironing which is a tedious task. The ease of use of garment steamers especially appeals to busy homeowners and professionals who want a hassle-free way to maintain their wardrobe.

Garment steamers are lightweight and compact devices that can be easily carried while travelling. This has increased their adoption among frequent business travelers and people with active lifestyles. The portability allows one to refresh clothes on the go without having to pack an iron. This has boosted the sales of garment steamers targeting mobile users. Their convenience as a travel-friendly solution is a compelling proposition. The growing trend of nuclear families and dual income households points towards a rising demand for low effort home cleaning solutions. Garment steamers offer a practical alternative to traditional irons for daily fabric care needs. Working couples look for multipurpose appliances that combine functionality with ease of use to maximize convenience. This consumer behavior plays an influential role in driving the growth of the garment steamer market.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

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Focus on Hygiene and Wellness

With growing awareness about health and hygiene, consumers are increasingly conscious about maintaining the cleanliness of their clothing and household items. Garment steamers are marketed as offering hygienic solutions for freshening up fabrics. They help sanitize clothes, bed sheets, and curtains naturally by removing dust, allergens, bacteria and germs. Steaming kills up to 99.9% of household germs without using any chemicals. This has become an important proposition while choosing fabric care appliances. The ability to deeply clean upholstery, curtains, or furnishings without exposing them to water makes garment steamers very appealing from a hygiene point of view.

Key Takeaways from Analyst:

Rising adoption of garment steamers among consumers and laundry services to effectively remove wrinkles from clothes without using an iron is a major driver. Growing working professional population who prefers quick and easy solutions for maintaining a wrinkle-free appearance will also contribute to the increased demand.

Higher costs compared to conventional irons may limit purchases among price-sensitive consumers. Availability of cheaper alternatives like DIY methods using spray bottles can also suppress sales.

North America currently dominates the garment steamer market owing to high living standards and hectic consumer lifestyles that generate the demand for quick solutions. The region is anticipated to continue its lead. Asia Pacific will emerge as the fastest growing regional market, led by nations like China, India, and Japan. Rising disposable incomes and changing preferences towards personal grooming and fabric care are factors pushing the uptake of garment steamers.

Market Challenges: Focus on Hygiene and Wellness

Focus on Hygiene and Wellness is impacting the growth of the Global Garment Steamer market in multiple ways. With the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have become much more conscious about hygiene and cleanliness. They want products that can easily sanitize clothes and kill germs without much effort. Traditional garment steamers require users to get in close contact with steaming surfaces that get hot. This raises concerns about potential transfer of germs if the surfaces are not properly sanitized after each use.  Moreover, many people are avoiding unnecessary exposure and prefer simpler solutions that allow contact-less garment treatment. Steam from traditional garment presses could potentially spread tiny droplets carrying viruses if used carelessly. This risk is making customers hesitant to invest in such products even though steaming is an effective way to de-wrinkle and sanitize fabrics. On the other hand, innovative steamers that allow remote operation from a safe distance through built-in handles and levers are gaining more acceptance.

Market Opportunities: Growth of online retail

The rise of online retail has been a significant trend over the past decade, and this growth is expected to continue in the coming years. As more consumers conduct product research and make purchases from the convenience of the internet, online sale of garment steamers provides a huge opportunity for market expansion.

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Insights by Type: Upright Steamers Dominate Due to Ease of Use and Precision

Within the type segment of the garment steamer market, upright segment is expected to account for 57.4% of the market share in 2024 as they offer unparalleled convenience and control. Upright steamers allow users to steam large quantities of clothing quickly while leaving their hands free to adjust pieces as needed. Their vertical design ensures steam is blasted directly onto garments without inconsistencies seen in handheld models.  The upright structure gives seamsters precision targeting of steam to tackle even the toughest wrinkles. Vertical steam chambers combined with adjustable nozzles allow heat to penetrate fabrics deeply and accurately for fast yet gentle smoothing. Their towering presence over the ironing board also permits cleansing entire outfits with fewer movements than handheld alternatives.

Ease of use is another key factor in upright steamer prominence. Their stable foundation keeps the unit from toppling over mid-steam like handhelds prone to doing. Controls are within easy finger reach so power, steam and water levels can be monitored without hunching over. And larger water tanks mean fewer refills are necessary during lengthy steaming sessions.  Overall, upright garment steamers satisfy professionals and households alike through unbeatable control and workflow. Their configuration streamlines the steaming process from start to perfectly pressed finish better than any other type.

Insights by Distribution Channel: Offline Remains Crucial for Garment Steamer Shoppers

Among distribution channel, the offline segment is expected to hold 68.8% of the market share in 2024. While online shopping expands steadily, in-person stores retain importance for many buyers scoping out this kitchen/laundry appliance cross-over category. Browsers prefer test-driving different steamer models side-by-side to grasp each's unique attributes. Handling the units gives a true sense of their weight, balance, and button/trigger functions that are impossible to glean on a website. Sales associates also provide guidance comparing features, answering questions and demonstrating proper techniques.

Return policies tend to be less restrictive in brick-and-mortar locations. Customers more willing to spend a higher amount knowing an unsatisfactory steamer can swiftly be swapped at the shop. The immediate gratification of the purchase/ownership experience beats shipping wait times to some. Inventory availability, too, drives the offline channel’s dominance. In case of sudden breakdown requiring a fast replacement, online may not have the replacement in stock ready to ship today. While digital solutions progress the industry forward, offline retailers continue playing an integral role for garment steamer buyers. Their services give shoppers comfortable, well-rounded shopping experiences, cementing their place at the forefront of the distribution network.

Regional Insights

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North America has emerged as the dominant regional market for garment steamers globally. The region is expected to account for 38.7% of the market share in 2024. The large size of the textile and garment industry in the U.S. and Canada has propelled steamer sales. Manufacturing hubs like New York and Los Angeles in the U.S. produce huge volumes of clothing and other textiles each year requiring extensive ironing and steaming. Busy consumer lifestyles have increased the demand for convenient garment care appliances like steamers that can help refresh wrinkled clothes quickly. Major international brands present in the region along with local manufacturers ensure the easy availability of different steamer models at varying price points across all distribution channels. Stringent quality standards maintained by regional regulatory bodies have established North America as a reliable sourcing hub for steamers worldwide.

The garment steamer market in Asia Pacific is witnessing the fastest growth and rapidly catching up with more established markets. This can be attributed to the well-developed textile manufacturing clusters and burgeoning domestic demand in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries. These emerging markets have become important cogs in global apparel supply chains, producing clothes mainly for exports. However, a sizeable chunk is also consumed internally by their growing middle-income populations. Streamlined import-export norms have supported efficient cross-border movement of fabrics, yarns and finished garments within the region complementing robust infrastructure linkages. Local retailers stock multifarious steamer models targeting value and mass segments effectively meeting diverse needs. Aggressive marketing tactics by steamer original equipment manufacturers through television and digital mediums have heightened brand outreach helping Southeast Asia evolve as the future growth nucleus of the global garment steamer market.

Market Report Scope

Key Developments

• In January 2024, Panasonic introduced new handheld garment steamers as the Perfect On-the-Go Companion for Effortless Wrinkle-free Outfits Anytime, Anywhere
• In April 2024, Xiaomi launched Robot Vacuum S10, a handheld steamer and more
• In 2023, Philips STE3160 and STE3170 garment steamers were launched in India
• In April 2021, Hillhouse Capital, a leading equity firm, completed the acquisition of Philips home appliances business

*Definition: The garment steamer market includes various hand-held or tabletop steamers used to remove wrinkles and refresh garments without using an iron. Garment steamers pass pressurized steam through fabrics to loosen creases and folds. Different types of garment steamers include travel steamers for on-the-go use, upright steamers for bulk steaming, and combination steamers that allow both horizontal and vertical steaming. The garment steamer market caters to consumers looking for an easy and convenient way to keep their clothes wrinkle-free.

Market Segmentation

• Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Handheld
  • Upright
•  Distribution Channel Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Online
  • Offline
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • Haier Group Corporation
  • Koninklijke Philips N.V
  • Rowenta
  • Chigo
  • Midea Group Co. Ltd.
  • Conair
  • Jiffy Steamer
  • AB Electrolux
  • Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa FZE
  • Shanghai Flyco Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd
  • Pursteam
  • Philips
  • Rossmann
  • Ningbo Shuaiwei Electric Appliance Co., Ltd
  • Conair
  • Rowenta USA
  • Black+Decker
  • Singer
  • Propress
  • Groupe SEB