The tone was set. One presenter pointed to an average forecast of 924,000 [...]]]> By: JBertner Home Channel News

SAN FRANCISCO – After a post-recession period of positive trends for CE consumers and retailers alike, 2011 and 2012 brought a unique set of challenges to both, mostly stemming from the uncertain economy, according to a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) report based on research by TraQline.

While 2011 saw [...]]]> By: JOHN LAPOSKY, TWICE
2012-11-05

SAN FRANCISCO – After a post-recession period of positive trends for CE consumers and retailers alike, 2011 and 2012 brought a unique set of challenges to both, mostly stemming from the uncertain economy, according to a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) report based on research by TraQline.

While 2011 saw margins increasing for retailers and prices mostly holding steady, both those trends reversed in 2012. TraQline cited the steady decrease of real median income as the culprit, as average selling prices followed the same downward trajectory.

Consumer spending on consumer electronics dropped by double digits from 2010 to 2011. The average consumer spent $652 on CE in 2010 and $552 in 2011, a decline of 15.3 percent, while average household spending on CE, at a healthy $1,179 in 2010, fell 18.5 percent to $961 in 2011.

Many factors contributed to the decline according to the report, titled, “Spending, Shopping and Showrooming: What’s Happening Now and This Holiday.” Among them, price deflation, feature creep, more bargain hunting among consumers, as well as the rise of software and services at the expense of hardware purchasing.

TVs continue to lead the market downward. Whereas TV industry growth rates rose 9.1 percent from 2007 through 2009, at the height of the HDTV transition, a fatigued market declined a whop ping 25.1 percent from 2009 through 2012, with plummeting average selling prices leading the way.

The explosion of portable computing device sales would appear to have eclipsed the TV category’s losses, as the smartphone and tablet revolution drove category sales up 149 percent from 2009 to 2012. Unfortunately, average selling prices continued steadily downward, from just less than $1,000 in 2007 to less than $500 this year.

Highlights from the study, with some in-depth category snapshots appear here through p. 30.

The report was presented at the CEA Fall Forum, here, last month. The full report is available at CE.org.

NEW YORK – Showrooming’s impact on brick-andmortar retailers, and Amazon’s threat to Best Buy in particular, may be greatly overstated, new data suggests.

The research, culled from The Stevenson Company’s TraQline market studies and presented by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), shows that only 8.8 percent of Best Buy [...]]]> Alan Wolf: TWICE.com  On 2012-08-01 14:41:46

NEW YORK – Showrooming’s impact on brick-andmortar retailers, and Amazon’s threat to Best Buy in particular, may be greatly overstated, new data suggests.

The research, culled from The Stevenson Company’s TraQline market studies and presented by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), shows that only 8.8 percent of Best Buy shoppers also shop Amazon for CE, and that less than half of those (4.1 percent) ultimately buy from the e-tail giant.

In contrast, Walmart lured nearly 24 percent of Best Buy shoppers and closed 34 percent of them.

Conversely, Best Buy retained 29.4 percent of the shoppers it shared with Amazon and 40 percent of customers who cross-shopped Walmart.

The research, which covers the period of January through March 2012, was presented by CEA industry analysis director Steve Koenig at the trade group’s Research Summit, held here earlier during CE Week.

When it came to TV, nearly half (48 percent) of all TV shoppers visited Best Buy, which managed to close a commendably high 55.7 percent of them, Koenig said.

Of the 44 percent of Best Buy shoppers who bought their TVs elsewhere, only 8 percent purchased them from Amazon while 31 percent bought their displays at Walmart.

Another 9 percent were converted by Costco, 7 percent purchased them at Target, and 25 percent bought their TVs at “other” venues, the data shows.

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October 18, 2012

Showrooming does not hurt retailers as much as some say

Statistics prove that showrooming has not drastically hurt the sale of consumer electronics at brick-and-mortar retailers.

“We have established that showrooming (as a factor) that’s really driving down the channel is a myth,” Steve Koenig, director of industry [...]]]> By JEFF O’HEIR: Dealerscope

October 18, 2012

Showrooming does not hurt retailers as much as some say

Statistics prove that showrooming has not drastically hurt the sale of consumer electronics at brick-and-mortar retailers.

“We have established that showrooming (as a factor) that’s really driving down the channel is a myth,” Steve Koenig, director of industry analysis for the Consumer Electronics Association, said during Retail Changes Holiday Edition: Debunking Showrooming and What to Expect for the Upcoming Holiday Season, a presentation that was part of the CEA Research Summit at the group’s Industry Forum in San Francisco.

CEA defines showrooming like this: A consumer walks into a retailer looking for a product, leaves without buying it, and ends up buying that product at a different e-tailer or brick-and-mortar retailer. It’s true, the analysts pointed out, that more consumers are using their smartphones while they’re shopping at a retailer, but they are not using them in great numbers to actually compare prices and buy the product from a different company.

To come up with their conclusion, analysts surveyed 47,000 people who shopped for a TV between Q2 of 2011 and Q2 of 2012 (the results were essentially the same for any CE product they bought). About 40 percent of them said they physically walked into a Best Buy store. About 5.9% of them said they left the store without buying and ended up purchasing the product elsewhere, with 2.3% buying from Amazon and 3.6% buying at another retailer or e-tailer.

The results were similar for consumers who physically shopped for a TV at a Wal-Mart: 6.2% of the consumers ended up buying the TV elsewhere, with 2.1% buying it from Amazon and 4.1% buying from another retailer or e-tailer. The percentage of consumers who bought from a company other than their original Best Buy or Wal-Mart destinations peaked at about 6.5% in the fourth quarter of 2011 and dropped almost two points in the second quarter of 2012.

The numbers didn’t change much when consumers were asked about overall CE products they shopped for during the same period: 7.8% of Best Buy customers left empty-handed and bought elsewhere, while 5.4% of Wal-Mart customers did the same.

That’s not to say that consumers aren’t showrooming, it’s just that the impact of the practice has not hurt brick-and-mortar retailers as much as some have claimed. “People are also going to shop around,” said Eric Voyer, vice president of sales and marketing at TraqLine-The Stevenson Company, who present the survey along with Koenig.

“Showrooming is happening,” Voyer said, adding that the percentage of consumers who use their smartphones to price shop at a retailer, and ultimately buy the product elsewhere, will increase between one and three percent during this holiday shopping season, as the previous numbers attest.

Several major CE retailers, along with plenty of smaller ones, have said during the last 12 months that showrooming has had a deep and negative impact on their sales. Many industry insiders, though, said the impact is more a result of the bad economy, high unemployment and general pricing competition. Retailers have also said that new unilateral pricing policies,MAP, and online sales restrictions have helped to ease competitive pricing pressures, especially on TVs, during the last seven months.

Despite the numbers, showrooming is a reality and the practice will increase as more consumers adopt price comparison and other shopping apps. And it’s only natural for more consumers to use their smartphones while they’re shopping at a retailer. But all of them aren’t using their phones to price shop.

When surveyed about their m-commerce usage, about 45% of consumers said they use their smartphone to text or call their family members or friends for advice, 46% use a web browser or app to get more product information, 53% take a photo of the product, and 35% search for coupons in their email.

Many industry experts say that retail sales associates should look at a consumer using a smartphone as an opportunity to talk to them about what they’re looking for and how they can help with the purchase. To improve customer satisfaction and to close sales at physical stores, more retailers are matching competing prices, updating and remodeling their stores to create a more exciting customer experience, creating product bundles that help to increase the average ticket price, and offering more flexible return policies.

“It’s all about closing the deal. Retailers will be successful because when people shop in a store, they actually spend more (than online),” Koenig said, adding that retailers can’t skimp on POP displays, hands-on demos, traditional advertising and social marketing, and sales training. “There’s really no limit to the strategies retailers can deploy to battle showrooming and online sales.”

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Q3 2012 Data for the following TraQline products will be updated:

TraQline US
TraQline Services
TraQline Wireless Tracker
TraQline Photo Behavior

On October 29th @ [...]]]> Only one week left to setup Inbox Reports! The new market share and consumer behavior TraQline data will be published on October 22nd at 12 EST.

Q3 2012 Data for the following TraQline products will be updated:

TraQline US
TraQline Services
TraQline Wireless Tracker
TraQline Photo Behavior

On October 29th @ 12 PM EST the following products will be updated with Q3 2012 data :

TraQline Canada
TraQline PRO

As always we’re here for your questions about market share or any consumer behavior.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us!  502-271-5243 or info@stevensoncompany.com

4.6% of stereo headphone purchasers intend to use them primarily in the car. Hopefully not while driving. #ConsumerElectronics

— Stevenson Company (@TraQline) September 24, 2012

Check back [...]]]> Connect with us on social media for the latest TraQline release information, upcoming industry events we will be attending, and entertaining insights into industry trends.

4.6% of stereo headphone purchasers intend to use them primarily in the car. Hopefully not while driving. #ConsumerElectronics

— Stevenson Company (@TraQline) September 24, 2012

Check back daily for information, insights, news, or to leave us a message! 
 
Follow @TraQline

Q2 2012 Data for the following TraQline products will be updated:

TraQline US
TraQline Services
TraQline Wireless Tracker
TraQline Photo Behavior

On July 30 @ 12 PM EST [...]]]> Keep close to your computers!  The new market share and consumer behavior TraQline data will be published on July 23 at 12 EST.

Q2 2012 Data for the following TraQline products will be updated:

TraQline US
TraQline Services
TraQline Wireless Tracker
TraQline Photo Behavior

On July 30 @ 12 PM EST the following products will be updated with Q2 2012 data :

TraQline Canada
TraQline PRO

As always we’re here for your questions about market share or any consumer behavior.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us!  502-271-5243 or info@stevensoncompany.com

The Stevenson Company, a leading provider of consumer data, market strategies and product market research, has released the findings of its most recent TraQline PRO report, a quarterly survey of tens of thousands of home improvement professionals – including general contractors, painters, plumbers and landscapers – that measures their [...]]]>

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) June 20, 2012

The Stevenson Company, a leading provider of consumer data, market strategies and product market research, has released the findings of its most recent TraQline PRO report, a quarterly survey of tens of thousands of home improvement professionals – including general contractors, painters, plumbers and landscapers – that measures their purchases of home improvement and related products.

Market research shows the majority of home improvement professionals, with the exception of large commercial and residential construction pros, prefer to shop at The Home Depot. With 36 percent market share, The Home Depot is followed by Lowe’s at 25 percent market share. Sears, with its lack of building materials such as drywall and lumber, trails both with only three percent of market share.

While big box retailers receive the most traffic from general contractors, 26 percent of painters prefer to shop at Sherwin-Williams and 23 percent of plumbers favor Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. The Home Depot is gaining ground in paint sales with 19 percent share.

Other TraQline PRO findings include:

•     Competitive prices drive the majority (40 percent) of home improvement professionals’ buying habits, while 33 percent are influenced by product quality
•     Only seven percent of home improvement professionals shop online, with the majority visiting the web to compare prices, conduct basic product research and compare product features
•     Fourteen percent of landscapers choose Stihl outdoor products
•     Among general contractors, Dewalt remains the number one brand in portable power tools with 29 percent market share

“Big box retailers fare well among home improvement professionals, with more than 60 percent shopping there,” said Eric Voyer, vice president of The Stevenson Company. “As professionals look for lowest cost and convenient options, we’ll continue to track specialty retailers, lumberyards, and supply stores to see if they are able to compete on price while focusing on product quality and service.”

About The Stevenson Company
The Stevenson Company delivers improved market intelligence for retailers and manufacturers selling in North America. Delivering greater insights into market data while also delivering exceptional customer service is at the core of The Stevenson Company. Its TraQline solutions provide consumer market research and insights that can be customized based on the individual needs of the retailers and manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.stevensoncompany.com.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9618957.htm

CEA’s Research Summits offer insights through a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. We invite you to a [...]]]> Through a special arrangement with Consumer Electronics Association, The Stevenson Company clients can attend the CEA Research Summit at CE Week  for a specially discounted price by using a special registration code.  Contact your TraQline rep for this code!

CEA’s Research Summits offer insights through a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. We invite you to a unique and valuable learning and networking experience where you will learn the important market trends and transformations emerging in the consumer electronics industry today. Register today! Call us first for this special code!

Sessions include:

• Mid-year Update on Important Consumer Technology Trends
• Inside the Mind of Today’s Consumer: What Makes Potential Buyers Click
• Tales About Retail: Market Trends in the State of Retail
• Mobile Commerce: An Uncertain Future Defined
• The Exploding World of Content, Services and Entertainment

Event Details:

DATE:
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
10-5 p.m. EST

LOCATION:
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
New York

View the full research summit schedule and detailed session descriptions and check out all the other activities taking place during CE Week.