ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to evaluate the position of lightweight panels and their application in furniture production in Iran by investigating consumers’ behavior and preferences. Here, consumers’ preferences toward effective criteria to choose furniture made of wood-based panels (WBPs) were evaluated on the basis of analytical network process method. Furthermore, respondents were asked about their attitudes and preferences regarding lightweight furniture. The results revealed that the main sub-criteria for buying furniture were product quality, design, price, environmentally-friendly, and guarantee features. Furthermore, the technological feature was the most important criterion affecting consumers buying decisions more than the visual/appearance and economical features of the furniture. Consumers believed that conventional WBPs were heavy for some applications in the furniture. Respondents emphasized that they would buy lightweight furniture, even with a bit more price (5–9%) in comparison to conventional furniture (furniture made of WBPs) if there would be a product guarantee, more varieties of the products available in the market, and environmentally-friendly certification. In general, the consumers showed a willingness to buy furniture made by panels with mid-range density (480 kg/m3 density), but they should have to be sure of the panels’ quality and the furniture made thereof before buying this product.

摘要

本研究旨在通过调查消费者的行为和偏好来评估轻质面板的地位及其在伊朗家具生产中的应用。在这里，基于分析网络过程方法评估了消费者对选择人造板（WBPs）家具的有效标准的偏好。此外，受访者被问及他们对轻质家具的态度和偏好。结果显示，购买家具的主要子标准是产品质量、设计、价格、环保和保证功能。此外，技术特征是影响消费者购买决策的最重要标准，而不是家具的视觉/外观和经济特征。消费者认为传统的 WBP 对于家具中的某些应用来说很重。受访者强调他们会购买轻质家具，即使与传统家具（由 WBP 制成的家具）相比价格更高（5-9%），如果有产品保证，市场上有更多品种的产品，和环保认证。总体而言，消费者愿意购买中等密度（480公斤/立方米密度）板材制造的家具，但在购买该产品之前，他们必须先确定板材的质量和所制造的家具。即使与传统家具（WBP 制成的家具）相比价格更高（5-9%），如果有产品保证、市场上更多品种的产品和环保认证。总体而言，消费者愿意购买中等密度（480公斤/立方米密度）板材制造的家具，但在购买该产品之前，他们必须先确定板材的质量和所制造的家具。即使与传统家具（WBP 制成的家具）相比价格更高（5-9%），如果有产品保证、市场上更多品种的产品和环保认证。总体而言，消费者愿意购买中等密度（480公斤/立方米密度）板材制造的家具，但在购买该产品之前，他们必须先确定板材的质量和所制造的家具。