Naxos Launches Classical Music Boutique on the Net – Naxos of America, the leading independent distributor of classical music, has created an online music sales site offering direct to consumers over 5000 albums from their own label as well as releases from their distributed label partners. NaxosDirect offers not only CDs but also DVDs and audio books. Visitors can use quick and intuitive search tools to find specific items, and there are extensive composer bios, historical information and an audio player for samples of individual recordings. [www.naxosdirect.com]
Accessory Sales Critical to AV Dealers Today – Accessories for home electronics have always had a higher margin than the basic equipment and have provided stores with needed income. Back in the pre-digital age shops sold phono cartridges, stylii, blank tape, head cleaners, Dust Bugs and the like. Today they keep their doors open with accessories for our present digital and video times. The sheer number of accessories tied in with Apple’s iPod is staggering. Another area is the one pioneered by Monster Cable – replacing the cheap patch cables provided with components with thick, expensive, specially-designed cables of all types. All sorts of other brands have sprung up to supply this lucrative area. Stores selling video projectors try to sell a spare lamp with projectors so users won’t have downtime when the original lamp dies – and they’re not inexpensive either. Then there’s surge protectors and power line conditioners, with some models as expensive as the highest-end basic components. Many new owners of flat screens need a wall mount, and luxury frames and filters are now available for flat screens. There is also a very active business in equipment racks. All of these items keep the consumer electronics industry healthy.
Growth in Repair Support for Digital Home Systems – According to a new study by consumer electronics research company Parks Associates, the growth of troubleshooting and repair support services is expected to climb in the next year. Consumer spending in the U.S. for tech support on just home computers and networks is predicted to be $450 million this year and up to $977 million by the end of 2011. Consumers are becoming frustrated with the complexity of today’s digital home products and they are willing to seek professional assistance to solve their problems. Some of the factors identified by the survey which are critical to giving digital home support: Ways to simplify customer premise equipment and hardware installation, automation of troubleshoot solutions, improving service provision, building metrics-gathering solution, and improving help desk phone and Internet support systems.
Accessory Sales Critical to AV Dealers Today – Accessories for home electronics have always had a higher margin than the basic equipment and have provided stores with needed income. Back in the pre-digital age shops sold phono cartridges, stylii, blank tape, head cleaners, Dust Bugs and the like. Today they keep their doors open with accessories for our present digital and video times. The sheer number of accessories tied in with Apple’s iPod is staggering. Another area is the one pioneered by Monster Cable – replacing the cheap patch cables provided with components with thick, expensive, specially-designed cables of all types. All sorts of other brands have sprung up to supply this lucrative area. Stores selling video projectors try to sell a spare lamp with projectors so users won’t have downtime when the original lamp dies – and they’re not inexpensive either. Then there’s surge protectors and power line conditioners, with some models as expensive as the highest-end basic components. Many new owners of flat screens need a wall mount, and luxury frames and filters are now available for flat screens. There is also a very active business in equipment racks. All of these items keep the consumer electronics industry healthy.
Growth in Repair Support for Digital Home Systems – According to a new study by consumer electronics research company Parks Associates, the growth of troubleshooting and repair support services is expected to climb in the next year. Consumer spending in the U.S. for tech support on just home computers and networks is predicted to be $450 million this year and up to $977 million by the end of 2011. Consumers are becoming frustrated with the complexity of today’s digital home products and they are willing to seek professional assistance to solve their problems. Some of the factors identified by the survey which are critical to giving digital home support: Ways to simplify customer premise equipment and hardware installation, automation of troubleshoot solutions, improving service provision, building metrics-gathering solution, and improving help desk phone and Internet support systems.
