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Home Gaming Chair News

Lockdown Trends In The Gaming Chair and Office Chair Industries

When you buy something using an affiliate link in this post, ChairsFX may receive a small commission, at no additional expense to you. This has no influence on our editorial content. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
July 3, 2021 - Updated on September 28, 2023
Reading Time: 7 mins read

After the pandemic struck, gaming chair sales skyrocketed. At the same time, office chair sales crashed. Based on recent financial trends, lockdowns are the likely catalyst. When those happen, gaming chair sales surge. Assuming they end, office chair companies are poised to rebound. In between, office chair furniture companies catering to gamers are thriving. Here we explore how lockdowns have impacted the gaming and office chair industries.

Ergonomic seating industry lockdown trends
Gaming chairs are trending up, but for how long?

Most gaming chair brands are private entities without the need to reveal sales figures. Even so, some have released numbers giving good insight into a red-hot industry.

Gaming Chair Pandemic Sales Surge

In 2020, Secretlab, Killabee, AKRacing, and Amazon all broke gaming chair sales records. Here’s a summary:

Secretlab Breaks Sales Records

For a few years, Secretlab has reigned as the gaming chair industry leader. In 2020, its sales doubled over the previous year. According to TechInAsia, the company’s sales exceeded $260 million in FYE 2021. That puts the company in a position to reach a $1 billion valuation.

Secretlab annual revenues 2019-2021

Year by year, growth has been spectacular. In 2019, Secretlab sold over 200,000 chairs. In 2020, it produced 500,000 chairs. 60% of sales come from North America and Europe.

Secretlab gaming chair brand
Secretlab Omega, Titan, and Titan XL gaming chairs.

While Secretlab’s marketing targets hard-core gamers, the pandemic sparked surprising demand from office clients. Company CEO Ian Ang told TodayOnline that wasn’t planned.

Once the company noticed a ‘spillover effect’, Ang says that it “shifted to 24/7 production… right now, our focus is trying to make sure that whoever wants to get a chair can get their hands on one.”

Buy a Secretlab Gaming Chair

Learn more in this review of the Best Secretlab Gaming Chairs.

Anji Wanbao (Vanbow) Breaks Sales Records

Anji Wanbao Smart Home Technology (‘Vanbow’ in English) is the parent company of several gaming chair brands. These include Killabee, Fantasylab, Healgen, and Blue Whale. All sell affordable racing-style gaming chairs generally priced under $200. Check out this product tour from their HQ:

In 2020, the company’s sales doubled to reach $250 million in revenue. 60% of sales go to the United States, while 30% goes to Europe.

Fantasylab 400 lbs gaming chair review
Fantasylab gaming chairs are selling like hotcakes.

CEO Xue Dong says that during the pandemic, sales held steady at Black Friday levels. In 2021, he expects sales to grow by 20%. Teams are still working overtime. At present, Vanbow factories produce 60,000 chairs every month.

Beyond consumer sales, the company welcomes bulk orders. Vanbow can help with production, customization, logistics, and even after-care support. The team speaks English and seems pretty efficient. Check out the company’s website for contact details.

Other Gaming Chair Lockdown Sales Records

Between March to mid-May 2020, Amazon reported a 300 percent increase in gaming chair sales. Scott Richards (president of AKRacing’s North American operations) reported a similar surge.

He told the New York Times that December 2020 was the best sales month in the history of AKRacing’s U.S. operation. Then, in April 2021 (peak lockdown time), sales doubled beyond the Dec. peak.

Office Chair Pandemic Sales Plummet

While gaming chair sales surged during the pandemic, office chair sales flagged. In 2019, the office chair industry was valued at $67.6 billion, with projected growth of 5.2%.

Office chair industry sales decline

In spring 2020, sales collapsed. As covered in our 2020 Gaming Chair Industry Report, the dropoff had to do with the office chair industry’s B2B sales model.

Office chair industry procurement model
Most major office chair companies typically focus on B2B sales.

As retail spaces closed during the pandemic, so too did the demand for corporate furniture. As a result, the industry was forced into a quick transition to consumer sales. That led to predictable growing pains.

B2C gaming chair business model illustration
While most gaming chairs companies are adept at B2C sales, office chairs companies are racing to adjust.

One Steelcase supplier explained the difficulty to Reuters. “We’re not used to dealing with the end user… if we get a call from a customer about a missing screw, we’re not set up to handle that.”

Office chair company rankings chart by revenue
Leading office furniture companies based on revenue.

Here’s a look at how three of the biggest office chair companies fared during lockdowns:

HNI Corporation ↓

HNI is one of the largest office chair furniture companies in the world. In Q1 2021, HNI’s office furniture sales were down by 12%. This rate of decline was the lowest the company has seen since the pandemic began.

Best Respawn gaming chair reviews
Respawn Gaming is one of HNI’s best-performing groups.

Even so, its gaming chair division Respawn has been a bright spot. In a Q4 2020 earnings report, Respawn was said to be “driving growth well beyond market rates.” Moving forward, the company plans to use Respawn as a model for HNI’s entire “e-commerce business in 2021 and beyond”.

Best Respawn Gaming Chairs Reviewed

Steelcase ↓

Over at Steelcase, Fiscal 2021 revenue dropped by 28 percent. But in June, 2021, the company released positive First Quarter Fiscal 2022 results. Compared to the previous year, revenue increased by 15%.

Steelcase Gesture task chair review
Steelcase plans to maintain focus on B2B sales as the world re-opens.

Continued growth is dependent on the world re-opening. Said CEO Jim Keane: “We have already been seeing strong increases in customer visits… as customers restart previously planned projects. As their employees return to offices this summer, many… are assessing how they need to invest in their facilities.”

Review of the Best Steelcase Ergonomic Chairs

Herman Miller ↑

Soon after the pandemic struck in 2020, Herman Miller sales dropped by over 70%. After a swift restructuring, the company rebounded with a flourish.

Herman Miller gaming chair collection
Herman Miller’s Gaming Chairs have helped fuel a strong resurgence.

Herman Miller’s Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Report delivered record numbers. Over the previous year, sales in this area grew by 63%. In particular, its home office division saw growth exceeding 326 percent!

Is Herman Miller’s stellar rebound gaming-related? In mid-2020, the company released a line of furniture designed especially for gamers. Earlier this year, it began partnering with major names like TimTheTatMan on chair promotions.

Review of the Best Herman Miller Gaming Chairs

Key Takeaways

The above numbers and strategies provide enough data to draw broad conclusions.

Office Chair Corporate Strategies

Steelcase, Herman Miller, and HNI are among the biggest office chair companies on the planet. All traditionally operate as B2C providers to schools, government offices, and corporations.

In the pandemic era, each has adopted a unique strategy:

  • Steelcase: they’ve gone all-in on the world re-opening. Assuming that happens, they’re poised to crush B2C sales.
  • HNI: continued B2C focus. Its sub-brand Respawn caters exclusively to gamers and is thriving.
  • Herman Miller: suffered big losses in the early pandemic. Soon after they rebounded with a special collection for home gamers. Soon after, home office sales skyrocketed.

Gaming Chair WFH popularity

When lockdowns forced millions to work and study from home (WFH), many were unprepared. The sudden shift left many to spend long hours sitting on a floor, sofa, or bed. As a result, lower back injuries skyrocketed.

Problems with home study ergonomics
Studying at home without ergonomic support can cripple health, wellness and productivity.

Like ergonomic office chairs, gaming chairs support good posture over long periods of sitting. But compared to ergo office chairs, gaming chairs offer three key advantages:

  1. Good posture support for much cheaper than premium ergonomic chairs.
  2. Easy to order online from many reputable brands.
  3. More versatile when working from home.

In a sudden shift to WFH, gaming chairs are good for your back, easy to buy, and affordable.

Beyond that, they’re a lot more versatile. While ergonomic office chairs support good posture, they force users to sit upright at all times. In comparison, gaming chairs come with full-back support and deep recline functionality.

Gaming chairs versus ergonomic office chairs
Gaming chairs allow for more casual postures while sitting all day at a desk.

Those working from home get the freedom to operate on their own schedule. In an office chair, you’ll be forced to sit with crisp posture, with limited recline functionality.

Versatile users for gaming chairs during study from home
A racing-style gaming chair can provide support through a full day of work mixed with leisure.

In contrast, a gaming chair gives you more options. Beyond healthy upright working, you can also enjoy full support while relaxing, watching movies, or even napping.

Gaming Chairs vs Ergonomic Office Chairs

Hot Chairs Brands in the Lockdown Era

Here’s are the top brands mentioned in this article and their standings in the lockdown era:

  • Secretlab: best premium gaming chair brand. They’re enjoying record-breaking sales to both gamers and office workers.
  • Vanbow: popular cheap gaming chair provider. They sell cheap chairs at double the volume of Secretlab.
  • Respawn Gaming Chairs: powerful gaming chair brand. Powered by the HNI Corporation, Respawn thrives by selling affordable gaming office hybrid chairs.
  • Herman Miller: best office-style gaming chairs. Its home office and gaming chair divisions saw sales increase by over 300% during lockdowns.
  • Steelcase: dedicated B2B provider. Instead of joining the home gamer bandwagon, they’re banking on corporate business picking up.

Easy Prediction: Lockdown-Driven Sales Growth

Assuming that lockdowns end and the world re-opens, companies like Steelcase look poised to prosper.

Then, surging gaming chair brands like Secretlab and Vanbow may see sales level off.

No matter what happens, Herman Miller looks well-positioned. If things re-open, they’re poised to continue with B2B sales, while also growing its thriving new gaming and home office e-commerce projects.

Anil Ramsey

Anil Ramsey

I'm the ChairsFX founder and Chief Editor. I'm a member of the OSHA Education Center Association (OECA), with an OSHA Ergonomics Certification. Beyond these credentials, I've been hands-on testing the world's finest ergonomic desk chairs since 2018. Learn more about me and this website on the About Us page.


 

Table of Contents

  1. Gaming Chair Pandemic Sales Surge
    1. Secretlab Breaks Sales Records
    2. Anji Wanbao (Vanbow) Breaks Sales Records
    3. Other Gaming Chair Lockdown Sales Records
  2. Office Chair Pandemic Sales Plummet
    1. HNI Corporation ↓
    2. Steelcase ↓
    3. Herman Miller ↑
  3. Key Takeaways
    1. Office Chair Corporate Strategies
    2. Gaming Chair WFH popularity
    3. Hot Chairs Brands in the Lockdown Era
    4. Easy Prediction: Lockdown-Driven Sales Growth

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