Attitudes

We’re coming up close to the big holiday shopping season. Like last year, I expect that flat panel TVs, iPods, home theater systems, digital cameras and video game consoles to be huge draws to your businesses. These are among the most desired products among all consumer demographics. Your stores are the best places to get them, the information and service to ensure customers pick the correct product for their lifestyle.

Just as important, though, is having the right mix of accessories and presenting them to your customers in an informative, logical and easily accessible manner. As the articles in this issue point out, it’s often the accessory that really finishes and enhances the product experience. Whether it's a cool case to protect a new iPhone or high-end HDMI cables to connect an HD DVD player to an LCD TV, accessories should be treated as integral to each sale. They also need to be placed in close proximity to the products they support. Remember the old adage “out of sight, out of mind.” Don’t trust the customer to go looking for the right accessory—put it out in his or her face. Effective POP displays and informed sales associates will maximize your accessory sales.

The lifestyle and fashion aspect of accessories also can’t be ignored. Today’s CE accessories are often as cool as their associated products. Novelty cell phone cases, laptop bags, replacement game controllers and color-coordinated ear buds are all hits with consumers looking to stand out from the crowd. Today’s consumers are proud of their gadgets and use accessories to help show them off. Including products with high “curb appeal” in your accessory mix will pay off in profits.