119 Million Tablets To Ship This Year: Gartner

By Doug Olenick On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

STAMFORD, CONN. – Gartner is forecasting media tablet sales of 118.9 million for 2012, a 98 percent increase over 2011.

Apple will continue to dominate the category, garnering 61.4 percent share this year, although Android-based tablets will slightly close the gap, with 31.9 percent of the market.

A lack of dedicated tablet Android apps is still hindering this category, Gartner said.

 

PC Shipments Show Surprise Q1 Growth

By Doug Olenick On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

STAMFORD, CONN. – Worldwide PC shipments made an unexpected jump during the first quarter, according to Gartner’s latest research.

First-quarter PC shipments worldwide totaled 89 million units, up 1.9 percent from the 87.3 million shipped during the same period in 2011. Gartner had forecast a 1.2 percent decline for the quarter.

The unexpected increase was due to stronger sales it the EMEA region, despite a slowdown in India and China.

More Watching Mobile TV; Price Hampers Growth: Study

By Lisa Johnston On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

TORONTO — The number of users interested in a multi-screen video service is up from last year, according to an independent study commissioned by Quick- Play Media, but fear of cost is still the biggest reason why people won’t try it.

The “2012 Market Tools” survey reported that 57 percent of respondents are interested in a multi-screen video service, up from 48 percent in 2011.

HTSA Holds Spring Meeting In San Diego

By TWICE Staff On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

SAN DIEGO – Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), the 63-member buying group of custom installers and high-end retailers, held its first convention with managing director Bob Hana at the helm earlier this month at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, here.

The group drew most of its members here and drew its top suppliers, including new key vendors: Key Digital, Lenbrook America (NAD and PSB brands), Leon Speakers, Pakedge and Sunbrite TV.

Buying Groups Change Strategies, Broaden Benefits

By Alan Wolf On May 8 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — It’s been a busy year for the nation’s buying groups.

The retail confederations, which provide merchandising, marketing and business support services for independent CE, majap and furniture dealers, have been scrambling to stay ahead of the structural changes sweeping the industry.

Distributor Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Mar 26 2012 - 4:01am

AVAD Begins Vendopalooza Tour In San Jose, Calif.

VAN NUYS, CALIF. – AVAD, a leading distributor of custom electronics, took dealers in San Jose, Calif., and the surrounding areas to a special Vendopalooza event at the city’s Club Auto Sport venue on Wednesday, March 14. It took place at Club Auto Sport, a facility featuring luxury car condos, a vital business community and an event center.

Dealers Diversifying Through Industry Downturn

By Alan Wolf On Apr 9 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — When the going got tough in CE and appliances, the toughest dealers got going by broadening their assortments into new and varied product categories.

Recalling their entrepreneurial spirit — and leveraging the web and their buying groups — retailers have ventured beyond their comfort zones to mine fresh profits from the prosaic (mattresses), the trendy (designer sunglasses), and just about everything in between.

Conn's Sees Furniture As Growth Category

By Alan Wolf On Apr 9 2012 - 4:01am

BEAUMONT, TEXAS – Conn’s foresees its burgeoning furniture and bedding business to comprise as much as 50 percent of its sales mix over time at the expense of CE.

Chairman/CEO Theo Wright said the category may also eventually occupy 40 percent to 50 percent of the chain’s sales floors while CE revenue and real estate “will diminish proportionately.”

Distributors Suggest SKU Alternatives

By Steve Smith On Apr 9 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK – Distributors see a wide variety of CE products and accessories, as well as those categories not usually part of the electronics retailing realm as alternatives for retailers this year.

Those were the collective views of distributors who participated in the TWICE Special Report: Distributors, which was a virtual roundtable that appeared in our March 12 issue.

Dealers Waking Up To Bedding

By Alan Wolf and Steve Smith On Apr 9 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Mattresses have proven to be a lucrative adjunct to many CE and appliance dealers’ core assortments.

Rick Bellows, group president and chief appliance merchant of the Mega Group USA buying organization, lauded bedding as “a great category and an easy business to get into.”

“Every dealer we put it in has been successful,” he said, and following a period of market oversaturation, mattresses are now outpacing all other Mega sectors in growth.