Probably the biggest news in business today is that the Federal Reserve Board hiked interest rates for the first time in almost a decade. Wall Street celebrated by driving up stock values in the wake of the news. Yet consumer specialists and others are sounding the alarm. So is the Fed’s rate increase good news or bad news?
Economic Trends
Dramatic Changes in Features New Home Buyers Want (Like Tech)
Outdoor Kitchens & Media Rooms are Out, Walk-in Closets & Programmable Thermostats are In
The National Association of Home Builders has completed a comprehensive survey of home builders to learn what features home buyers are asking for in homes being built today. The survey, which the association conducts every year, showed a huge shift in priorities this year and reflects a fundamental shift in consumer preferences – a shift that will also impact the custom integration industry.
See what features are desired & shunned and what it means for us in tech… [Read more…] about Dramatic Changes in Features New Home Buyers Want (Like Tech)
Hey Retailers – Forget the Millennials, Follow the Money
New data from market researcher Forrester Research Inc. suggests that retailers should forget about trying to attract millennials or other younger shoppers and instead shift gears to reach out to baby boomers. Why? Quite simply, that’s where the money is.
See the interesting results from this new research on buyer trends… [Read more…] about Hey Retailers – Forget the Millennials, Follow the Money
Sharp Officially Announces Its Exit from the Canada TV Market
BREAKING NEWS
Canadian tech industry website WiFiHiFi (wifihifi.ca) announced today that it has confirmed that Sharp Corp. will exit the Canadian TV market. Much in line with our recent reporting on the troubled brand, this is probably just the first shoe to drop…there will most likely be more.
See more on what WiFiHiFi has learned about the situation… [Read more…] about Sharp Officially Announces Its Exit from the Canada TV Market
Sharp to Launch Major, and Painful, Restructuring
Out of Osaka, Japan we learn that Sharp Corp. is about to embark on a major restructuring of its business that will likely change the company in fundamental ways. Plans call for closing domestic factories – a first for Sharp – staff cuts, and a possible exit from a major business segment for the company. Sharp is also seeking to raise capital, something that is not easy for a struggling company.
See more on this new announcement from Sharp… [Read more…] about Sharp to Launch Major, and Painful, Restructuring
U.S. Market Hit With Largest Decline in Retail Sales in 11 Months
New data released by the Commerce Department showed an unexpectedly large drop in retail sales for the month of December. In fact, U.S. retail sales had their largest across-the-board drop in the past eleven months – plunging economists into vigorous debate over just what this means for the economy.
What were the worst performing retail segments? Read below to see more… [Read more…] about U.S. Market Hit With Largest Decline in Retail Sales in 11 Months
Here Are Affluents’ Holiday Shopping Plans
If you are like many of our readers, you are either a custom integrator or specialty AV retailer who serve the Affluent ($75,000 per year income and up) market. Two new pieces of market research provide colorful illumination of the holiday shopping plans of Affluents for this coming holiday season.
And the results of this research may give you pause… [Read more…] about Here Are Affluents’ Holiday Shopping Plans
Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
Saying that there is “rising uncertainty” with regards to the country’s debt situation, Moody’s has cut Japan’s credit rating. Yet another indicator of fundamental problems in one of the world’s most powerful economies, Japan’s problems go well beyond its dramatically changing TECH industry.
See more on this surprising downgrade and what it means… [Read more…] about Economy Falling into Recession, Moody’s Cuts Japan’s Credit Rating
Economists Predict Rapid Ramp-Up in Residential Construction
We were fortunate enough to receive an invitation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) allowing us to participate in their annual Fall Construction Forecast presentation, a webinar put on for the benefit of their members last week. Boy! Are we glad we attended! Not only did the organization offer up a roster of world-class economists with really interesting insight into what’s going on in the economy – they also offered reams of really valuable data delineating the latest trends in construction.
Their predictions were – to put it mildly – shocking! Read below to find out why…
[Read more…] about Economists Predict Rapid Ramp-Up in Residential Construction
Sharp to Close European Operations; Licenses Brand to UMC of Slovakia
3,000 Sharp European Employees to be Cut
Sharp Corp. said late last week that it has reached an agreement with Universal Media Corp. of Slovakia to license its brand and market Sharp branded products in Europe. As part of this strategy, Sharp will either sell or close its factory in Poland, cutting approximately 3,000 employees in total between their company-owned factory and European operations.
