New market data confirms what you probably already suspected, South Korea is the #1 supplier of TV products to the world. Home to both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, S. Korean media is calling itself the ‘Country of TV.’
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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
Bullish on 2015, Japan’s Electronics & IT Companies Boost Production Plans
Japanese consumer electronics and information technology companies appear to be quite bullish on 2015 and have put plans in place to boost production levels, according to Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. The association released the results of an industry-wide survey earlier this week that show the stage is set for another year of growth.
See more on the plans of Japan’s TECH companies… [Read more…] about Bullish on 2015, Japan’s Electronics & IT Companies Boost Production Plans
‘Showrooming’ is in Decline, ‘Webrooming’ on the Rise – Favoring Brick & Mortar Retailers
New data from GfK’s annual FutureBuy survey of shoppers shows a dramatic turn in the effect of “showrooming” (shoppers looking at/picking items in stores, then buying them online) with a decided edge going to brick-and-mortar retailers. The survey tracks omni-channel shoppers – both those engaged in showrooming and those that conduct “webrooming” (shopping an item online, but then buying it in a retail store) – in 17 countries and across 15 product segments…including consumer electronics.
See the surprising results showing a significant swing in favor of retailers… [Read more…] about ‘Showrooming’ is in Decline, ‘Webrooming’ on the Rise – Favoring Brick & Mortar Retailers
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
CEDIA on Latest Market Data, ‘Installers are Having a Good Year’
The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) released new preliminary market data at their Expo held earlier this month – in a decidedly more optimistic presentation than in past years. Erica Shonkwiler, CEDIA’s Market Research Manager, was obviously pleased with the data she was to share with the media – and she conveyed an optimism that appears to be due to the new data showing an upturn in CEDIA members’ business results.
Not only was there a business upturn, it was the second year of positive results… [Read more…] about CEDIA on Latest Market Data, ‘Installers are Having a Good Year’
If $100,000 Unexpectedly Dropped into Your Lap, How Would You Spend It?
Imagine for a moment that you won the lottery, or gained an inheritance, of a substantial amount of money…say, $100,000. How would you spend it? That was the intriguing question pollster Harris Interactive asked an online panel of U.S. Internet users. Would they buy a new car? Would they remodel their home to add a home theater? Would they buy a nice present for their spouse? Would they donate some or all of it to charity?
Think you know YOUR customer? Then you better check out this survey – the answers to the above scenario may surprise you. [Read more…] about If $100,000 Unexpectedly Dropped into Your Lap, How Would You Spend It?
In Semi-Annual Update, CEA Says Industry Sales Will Hit New High
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) maintains a semi-annually updated forecast for all major categories of consumer electronics and has announced the results of their latest update for July saying the industry will hit another new high watermark in industry-wide sales. In a minor revision of their initial January 2014 forecast, the CEA now says total industry shipments in dollars will total $211.3 billion.
What product categories are driving this growth? See more below… [Read more…] about In Semi-Annual Update, CEA Says Industry Sales Will Hit New High
Builders Group Holds Mid-Year Construction Forecast Meeting; Economists Cautiously Optimistic
The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., (ABC) a builders trade association, held their third annual Mid-Year Construction Forecast presentation this week…inviting economists from three industry-related associations to present their outlook on the construction industry. This year, the invited economists included Kermit Baker (American Institute of Architects, AIA), David Crowe (National Association of Home Builders, NAHB), and their own Anirban Basu (ABC).
The economists this year were, overall, cautiously optimistic – with a heavy emphasis on caution.
See more on the presentations from the construction industry economists… [Read more…] about Builders Group Holds Mid-Year Construction Forecast Meeting; Economists Cautiously Optimistic
Marketers Continue to Shift B-to-B Advertising Dollars to Digital
Whether you’re a manufacturer/brand, distributor, rep…or even an integrator selling largely commercial installations…you are a business-to-business or B-to-B marketer. And you’re going to want to pay attention to this new data on marketing trends for B-to-B marketers.
New data released by Advertising Age shows a continued swing away from traditional media to digital media spending by B-to-B marketers. Some of the numbers from this new survey are eye-popping.
