In the past, it has been the Nintendo (OTC: NTDOY) Wii or Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone creating holiday hype -- what product will it be this year?
Quite honestly, none. The tech realm is still looking for the next big holiday hit. This is why it appears that we could be facing a holiday season full of buy-one-get-one-free specials or pushy salespeople trying to get you to allow their company to install the new flat-panel TV or add ons that will help integrate your home entertainment system.
So, what does this mean for electronics retailers?
First, it means that they could be facing a rather thin holiday retail season. Many of the people purchasing the smaller tech gadgets may not be interested in purchasing another one, or an installation or warranty package. Electronics retailers should be a bit concerned, especially since Retail Forward (a consultancy group) forecast the second-worst holiday sales (including electronics) in 42 years.
Second, we could be looking at a holiday season full of low-priced gadgets geared toward making your existing tech toys better. Watch for Santa to be tucking more iPod speakers and DVD players under the Christmas tree this year, as these will be among the most affordable tech gadgets this year.
The article pins its hopes on electronic reading devices (e-readers). These e-readers allow someone to pay a fee and download a book that will be carried in a nice, tidy little package. However, with e-readers still retailing for more than $200, I don't expect there to be too many e-reader sales come December. I don't know about you, but in the time I have to read, my library book works just fine -- and is a heck of a lot cheaper than a $200 tech toy.
Face it "techies," we could be looking at a January and February of extremely low-priced items and disappointing sales results.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-30-2009 @ 4:32AM
Beltway Greg said...
Interesting thesis.....but I think your dead wrong for two reasons.
a. Expectations are so low. Americans aren't going to buy another austere Holiday Season. See last March.
b. Apple is going to be the must have product and of course Halloween came early for RIMM.
Some day you'll figure it out. The IPhone isn't a phone and Apple isn't a tech company. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Moscow. This morning CNN International announced that their APP is #1 in the store. More free promo. The other day I heard a political candidate in a country that will go unnamed refer to technological innovation couched in terms of Apple and the IPhone.
Get long or go home.
10-02-2009 @ 9:05AM
Beltway Greg said...
Will say this about that though.........it will be difficult for any stock to fight the tape in this environment.