Floors are changing across Europe. According to the study "IC Customer Insight – Floor Coverings in Germany, Poland, Spain 2025" by Interconnection Consulting — based on 1,455 interviews with homeowners aged 18+ across the three countries, covering material preferences, brand awareness, and buyer behavior — demand for Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) is on the rise. In Poland, 20.4% of non-satisfied homeowners are considering switching to LVT, while adoption in Germany already stands at 11.1%. Spain lags behind with 3.5%, but 12.6% plan to adopt it — highlighting a clear gap between current use and future demand. This shift is putting pressure on traditional materials such as parquet. While wood flooring remains popular in Poland and Spain, Germany shows a more advanced transition: 65.9% of LVT owners say they would not switch back, signaling strong consumer satisfaction and pointing to broader European trends. In contrast, ceramics remain dominant in wet areas. Tiles account for over 75% of bathrooms and kitchens across all three markets, confirming their continued relevance where moisture resistance is critical. Meanwhile, textile and carpet flooring are falling out of favor. Nearly half of surveyed homeowners — 45.9% across the three countries — are considering replacing them with an alternative floor covering. Spain leads this trend, with close to 50% of respondents willing to make the switch. Distribution dynamics are also evolving. Manufacturers are losing direct influence, ranking only third or fourth as a purchase channel, with their direct sales declaration share declining by 6.4 percentage points in Poland and 2.2 points in Germany in comparison to last year’s edition. Retailers and specialist dealers increasingly shape decisions: in Germany, DIY chains account for 53.7% of purchases, while in Poland and Spain specialist stores lead with 47.2% and 37.8%, respectively. Notably, in Spain nearly 30% of purchases are made via installers or interior designers. A major industry challenge is low brand visibility. Only 27.4% of homeowners can name the brand of their flooring, with figures as low as 19.7% in Germany. Instead, consumers recall retailers rather than manufacturers. At the same time, digital research is becoming essential. Across the three countries, 65.5% of consumers research flooring online before making a purchase, indicating a clear shift toward digital decision-making. “We are clearly seeing a market in transition. Consumer preferences are evolving faster than the installed base, while low brand awareness and the rise of digital research require companies to rethink how they engage with end customers,” said Aritz Blanco, author of the study. Overall, the data points to a market where demand is shifting, consumers are increasingly informed, and brands must adapt quickly to remain relevant.

Outsourcing, nearshoring and rising cost pressure are reshaping the Facility Services (FS) market in Central and Eastern Europe. In the CEE-3 region—Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania—the external FS market grew by 6.1% in 2025 to €20.5 billion, with a further 5% increase expected in 2026. This refers exclusively to outsourced services, which are increasingly replacing in-house operations as companies respond to labour shortages, ESG requirements and operational complexity. Infrastructural Services remain the largest segment (53.5%), while Technical Services are expanding faster (+5.6%), driven by demand for energy management and smart maintenance. Growth differs across countries. Poland remains the largest market, growing by 5.9% on the back of strong outsourcing demand and infrastructure investment. The Czech Republic recorded more moderate growth of 3.5%, supported by expanding high-spec commercial real estate requiring advanced technical services. Romania clearly stands out, with a surge of 10.6% in 2025. This growth is structural. As nearshoring accelerates, multinational companies relocating production to cities like Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca are increasingly adopting Integrated Facility Management (IFM), boosting outsourcing penetration. Energy Management is the fastest-growing segment (+7.9%), while cleaning remains the largest service line. Industry is the main demand driver (34.6%), followed by commercial and office buildings, with transport gaining importance due to infrastructure expansion. “Companies are no longer focusing only on cost savings. They are increasingly looking for integrated and technical services to manage more complex operations and meet sustainability goals,” says Saša Spiridonov, author of the study. Overall, the CEE-3 external Facility Services market is shifting toward a more technology-driven and integrated model and is expected to reach €25.5 billion by 2029. The competitive landscape remains fragmented. Local providers dominate labour-intensive services, while international players such as Atalian, B+N, Compass Group, Engie, Impel Facility Services, M2C, Securitas, Seris Konsalnet, Sodexo and Solid Security are strengthening their presence.

The worldwide roofing market is expected to reach €27.2 billion in 2026, representing 4.9% year-on-year growth in value, while volume is projected to increase by 3.2% as the US lacks behind in terms of growth. Despite economic uncertainty and shifting construction dynamics, the global roofing industry continues to demonstrate resilience, driven by innovation, price sensitivity, and structural changes in roof design. "While global demand for roofing solutions remains stable, Europe is currently the main growth engine of the market. Regulatory pressure related to sustainability and energy efficiency, together with the recovery of construction activity, is accelerating demand for innovative and multifunctional roofing systems," says Konstantinos Ioannou, analyst at Interconnection Consulting. From a regional perspective, growth trajectories differ significantly. Europe is expected to grow by 6.9%, supported by recovering construction activity and stronger regulatory demand for energy-efficient and sustainable roofing solutions. The United States is forecast to grow by 3% in 2026, driven mainly by non-residential expansion and renovation activity. The Middle East, with growth of 8.5%, benefits from large infrastructure projects and strong new construction momentum, while Asia is expected to expand by 2.8%, supported mainly by renovation projects and public-sector investment. Material trends further underline the transformation of the global roofing industry. While traditional materials such as concrete and bitumen show only modest growth, plastic and EPDM roofing solutions (7.6% increase in 2026 in quantity) are leading the market growth due to their durability, lightweight properties, and cost efficiency. Metal roofing (5.1% increase in 2026) also continues to expand, benefiting from recyclability and versatility, while non-traditional roofing solutions are gradually gaining share. Roof type preferences continue to favor flat roofing systems, particularly in commercial and industrial construction. Flat roofs account for 55.0% of installations in Europe, while inclined roofs represent 36.1% of the market. Innovation plays a central role in sustaining growth. Solar-integrated roofing systems (10.1% increase in 2026 in quantity) are expanding rapidly, supported by rising energy costs and sustainability targets, while green roofs (7.1% increase in 2026) continue to gain traction in urban and commercial developments. Growth is primarily supported by urbanization, strong support of the renovation sector and intensive activity in the non-residential sector. Looking ahead, the roofing industry globally will increasingly become a game of margins and innovation. Cost-efficient products and multifunctional solutions are expected to shape supply. The total market is forecast to reach €33 billion by 2029, growing by an average of 6.2% per year. Despite its size, the global roofing market remains highly fragmented, with competition driven by price competitiveness and supply chain relationships. Key industry players include Atlas Roofing Corporation, Bauder, Carlisle, Etex, Holcim, IKO, Kingspan, Lindab, Mapei, Owens Corning, Saint-Gobain, Sika, Soprema, Standard Industries, Tamko Building Products, and Wienerberger.

The boating industry is trying to strengthen its presence on social media to reach new audiences and support a generational shift in its customer base. However, many brands appear to be running aground in this effort. Boat and yacht brands achieve an average social media engagement rate of just 1.3%, according to the study “Social Media Insights – Boating Industry 2026” by Interconnection Consulting. By comparison, other luxury industries achieve engagement rates of around 3% on average, more than double the level seen in boating. Engagement simply measures how often people interact with a post—by liking it, commenting on it, or sharing it—compared with the number of people who see it. Instagram remains the main platform for boating brands, with almost all companies actively using it. On average, the brands analyzed have around 174.5 thousand followers, significantly lower than the 956.9 thousand followers typically seen among luxury brand accounts. One reason is the lack of differentiation, as many brands publish similar highly polished images that make it difficult to stand out. Other platforms remain less developed. Only around 30% of the analyzed brands use TikTok actively, while YouTube is often used mainly for product presentations or boat tours. However, YouTube shows strong potential, with audience retention rates between 60% and 75%, indicating that viewers are willing to watch longer boating content when it is engaging. Interaction levels remain a key challenge. Social media algorithms increasingly reward comments and conversations, yet the analyzed brands generate an average of only 6.1 comments per post in Instagram and 3.9 in YouTube, which limits organic visibility and makes it harder for content to reach wider audiences. The analysis also highlights brands that perform particularly well on specific platforms. On Instagram, Azimut clearly stands out, achieving engagement rates well above the industry average thanks to frequent posts, diverse content, and targeted paid campaigns across Meta platforms. On YouTube, Sunseeker delivers some of the strongest results, generating high view numbers despite not having one of the largest subscriber bases, supported by a balanced mix of shorter and longer video formats. “The boating industry has clearly embraced social media, but many brands are still using these platforms as digital brochures rather than as spaces for real conversation,” explains Rubén Eduardo Rodríguez, author of the study at Interconnection Consulting. “In a sector driven by aspiration and lifestyle, the brands that succeed online will be those that move beyond polished images and start building genuine dialogue with their audiences.” Despite generating €25.5 billion in revenue in 2025, the boating sector is still struggling to define a clear digital strategy capable of attracting new audiences and sustaining long-term growth. As social media increasingly shapes how luxury brands are discovered and perceived, companies now face a decisive moment. Those that succeed in turning passive viewers into engaged communities will ultimately set the course for the sector’s future. The study reviews several well-known companies in the sector, including Azimut, Bavaria, Beneteau, Brunswick, Ferretti Group, Hanse Yachts, Princess Yachts, Sanlorenzo, Sunseeker, and Yamaha Boating, which together represent a significant share of the global boating market. Copyright: Interconnection Consulting. Publication free of charge for coverage regarding the study and Interconnection Consulting.