For years now, the single greatest driving force behind the entire consumer electronics industry has been the vibrant, forceful growth in sales of television sets. Now, in a surprising new report, we learn that American consumers are beginning to wean themselves off of TVs. What that means for integrators, or for the industry, remains to be seen.
Consumer Trends
New Study Shows Surprising Resilience of Retail Shopping
In a newly released study of consumer shopping trends, which like many others is very favorable to online shopping, analysts are discovering surprising data favoring brick-and-mortar retailers. Even more surprising, the study results indicate a resurgence in a preference to buy goods in brick-and-mortar retail by younger shoppers. This shocking result runs counter to other studies and has caught some analysts by surprise.
See the surprising results of this new study on retail shopping preferences… [Read more…] about New Study Shows Surprising Resilience of Retail Shopping
Builder Offers World’s First Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home w/Alexa
Lennar Corporation, one of the nation’s largest builders of homes, announced today the world’s first Wi-Fi Certified home designs featuring home automation built-in and voice control by Amazon Alexa. The company says this new program is part of its Everything’s Included approach to home building.
See more about Lennar’s plan to build homes with voice-controlled automation included… [Read more…] about Builder Offers World’s First Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home w/Alexa
More Consumers Prefer to Watch TV Shows on Computers, Than on TVs
The TV Set is Losing Its Position as Top Entertainment Device
In an amazingly swift, one-year shift in consumer preferences, a new survey says that most consumers would rather watch TV programming on a computer than on a TV. Just one year ago, the same survey produced the exact opposite result. Although the number of consumers watching TV content on computers has been increasing over the years, this is the first time that computers were picked by a substantial majority.
See more on this new and surprising consumer data… [Read more…] about More Consumers Prefer to Watch TV Shows on Computers, Than on TVs
New Data on Smart Home Market is Wildly Bullish
New research results released this week on the smart home market were wildly bullish on the recent impressive growth of the segment, as well as the continuing prospects for growth in the future. The survey, sponsored by PlumChoice, Inc (a technical services provider for IoT and cloud brands) and the Z-Wave Alliance (a consortium of companies promoting Z-Wave wireless technologies), offers a deeper view of the market’s momentum with some surprisingly positive results.
See more from this new research on the smart home market… [Read more…] about New Data on Smart Home Market is Wildly Bullish
Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
In new data released on Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales launched into 2017 with a 3.3% overall gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.69 million units in January – their highest level in ten years. The organization says this result “signals resilience among consumers even in a rising interest rate environment.”
See what existing home sales means for the economy… [Read more…] about Existing Home Sales Hit 10-Year High
What Kind of Advertising Do Consumers Trust? You Won’t Believe It!
Did the 2016 Presidential Election Impact Consumer Trust?
Ask any marketing professional, the last ten years have brought a dizzying array of all-new 
advertising options thanks to the continued development of digital and online marketing tools. Strata-gee has reported on several occasions the rapid ramp-up of big- and small-business investment in email marketing, social media marketing, digital media marketing and more. More companies have been investing more dollars in more different types of largely digital marketing methods.
So a new consumer survey really caught our attention when it showed which advertising method consumers most trust. It really kind of blew our mind.
You won’t believe which form of advertising consumers trust the most… [Read more…] about What Kind of Advertising Do Consumers Trust? You Won’t Believe It!
Have the Tables Turned? Internet Users Research Online, Buy In Store
The data coming out of the most recent holiday shopping period continues to offer up some surprises. Take for example, the concept of “webrooming,” or the practice of researching products online, then purchasing them in a brick-and-mortar retail store. This is sort of the opposite of the dreaded “showrooming,” where the shopper goes to a retail store to select an item…then buys it online.
In an interesting new study from ORC International conducted in September 2016, a surprising number of consumers – fully 85% – said they would be webrooming this holiday shopping season.
But what is really surprising, is the number of millennial’s who said that. Read on to find out… [Read more…] about Have the Tables Turned? Internet Users Research Online, Buy In Store
Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?
Oh I know…you’ve been reading all of the press about how Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day ever this year. So how can we be suggesting it’s losing momentum? Well, according to new data analyzed by eMarketer, that appears to be exactly the case.
So which days are gaining ground on Cyber Monday?
Read on to find out what day or days are gaining on Cyber Monday… [Read more…] about Cyber Monday was Big, But is It Losing Its Mojo?
CTA Predicts Record Black Friday Week
Nearly 50% of the Entire U.S. Population Will Buy Tech Then
In a very bullish release from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organization predicts that nearly half of all consumers in America (47%) will buy a technology product during Black Friday week, based on a newly completed survey. That result means 116 million Americans will buy tech – ten percent more than last year.
