In keeping with its traditional role as a launching pad for new technology in the retail channel, RetailVision Spring ’99 saw the introduction of hundreds of new products from the vendors attending the event.
According to RetailVision VP Nancy Splaine, more than 40 of the vendors at the show were first-time attendees looking to interest retailers in new products or lines.
Among the key trends evident at the event was the continuing migration of products and technologies that were once exclusively within the province of business and commercial markets into the home and small office environments.
For example, home networking gear – including phone-line, power-line and wireless solutions – and CD-R and CD-RW drives were highly visible at RetailVision, as were the growing number of USB devices, peripherals and adapters. And while the strong market for sub-$1,000 PCs – and in many cases, sub-$700 PCs – has meant a slower adoption of DVD-ROM drives by PC OEMs, the situation is providing an opportunity for aftermarket sellers of portable add-on DVD drives.
In addition, the growing ranks of uniquely colored peripherals provided testimony to the resurgent Apple market and the success of its new iMac and G3 computers.
