Product homogeneity doesn't seem to be a phenomenon limited to the wardrobe industry; in various other sectors, the "copying" trend has never ceased. However, this trend is particularly strong in the wardrobe industry, hindering its development.

In recent years, with the gradual maturation of the industry and the increase in wardrobe companies, product homogeneity has become increasingly severe. Beyond product homogeneity, the wardrobe industry also faces homogeneity in research and development, product combinations, store design, terminal sales, and production, leading to fierce competition: more and more Brands, a wide variety of products, and increasingly lower Prices. Homogenization is a major reason for the current stagnation of the wardrobe industry's development.

Product Homogenization

From cabinet panels, sliding door frames, sliding door materials, and hardware accessories, there is almost no difference. Many suppliers of panels and hardware are the same. If there are any differences, they are only in color, shape, and Size. Most wardrobe manufacturers lack the capacity to research and develop or produce raw materials, so they can only purchase semi-finished products for further processing and resale.

R&D Homogenization

Raw materials are purchased from suppliers, but many wardrobe Brands, to save trouble, forgo R&D altogether, directly developing products based on the styles provided by suppliers. This results in almost identical products in many terminal stores. For example, small louvers, large louvers, flat doors, aluminum alloy frames, and aluminum alloy slides—there is no product differentiation. The Price differences between different Brands leave consumers feeling incredulous. Manufacturers' reduced investment in R&D is the main reason for this.

Product Combination Homogenization

Early wardrobe Brand manufacturers were more innovative; wardrobe product combinations had many styles. Whether it was cabinet combinations or door combinations, colors or shapes, there was a refreshing feeling. However, with the development of the industry, the difficulty of innovation and the scope of novelty have decreased, leading many smaller and later Brands to constantly imitate, resulting in severe homogenization. A tour of the market reveals that products from different stores are almost identical in terms of combination.

Store Design Homogenization

Wardrobe stores are almost identical in design, differing only in lighting, tone, and Brand image. They typically use a uniform display-style layout. Unlike IKEA's convenient design, experience rooms are rare. Cabinet manufacturers are ahead of wardrobe manufacturers in this aspect; their store designs are more outstanding, with increasingly richer experience rooms and simulation rooms, and continuous innovation in differentiation.

Terminal Sales Homogenization

Visits to stores reveal that almost every wardrobe Brand uses the same sales techniques, processes, and models. Explanations of panels, hardware accessories, functions, and designs are all similar, making it difficult to distinguish between Brands. The only difference lies in the Brand introduction. This clichéd sales approach is no longer a secret in the industry.

Production Homogenization

In both the cabinet and wardrobe industries, production homogenization is more severe than the points mentioned above. Wardrobe production is simpler than cabinet production, involving only material cutting, edge banding, cutting, and assembly processes, with little technological content. Cutting and edge banding machines are readily available and inexpensive, and raw materials can be directly purchased. The result of production homogenization is the emergence of numerous small processing plants, leading to stores secretly ordering from unauthorized suppliers and misrepresenting products. Because small factories offer lower prices, lower logistics costs, and faster delivery times, many wardrobe stores take the risk of being terminated by manufacturers to place unauthorized orders. Consumers find it difficult to distinguish these products from those of the original manufacturers. Another phenomenon of production homogenization is that most wardrobe Brand manufacturers have similar production cycles and delivery times, further reducing the competitive differentiation between Brands.

The homogenization of the wardrobe industry goes far beyond these points. Without addressing product homogenization or seeking maximum differentiation when operating a wardrobe Brand, it will be difficult to break through and become a leading Brand in the wardrobe market.