WHOLESALE ELECTRONICS REPORT:
Small Electronics are Selling Strong
While the economic slowdown has had obvious, far ranging effects on many wholesale and retail sectors, it's actually been a boon for many wholesalers specializing in small electronics. Cell phones, televisions, MP3 players, and even kitchen appliances are all selling strongly, according to a number of entrepreneurs.
"With a lot of our kitchen appliances, we're selling them as fast as we can get them," says Addison Everett, manager at Odom's Wholesale. "Since we're a discounter, people have been flocking to us. They're thrilled to find something like a KitchenAid mixer at a discount price."
Yaniv Arai, president of Buy 4 Less Electronics, reports that sales have been solid, with LCD television sets, MP3 players, portable DVD player, and GPS systems being particular standouts. Digital cameras, he notes, have also done well.
"Our margins are down, but our volume is up," notes Betty Laham, marketing director at Electroline Electronics, which specializes in televisions. "We've obviously felt a slowdown, but there's no doubt that people are still buying." Manufacturer mandated price reductions in both flat screen and LCD television sets have been a boon, she adds.
And the price reductions aren't limited to TVs. "The price has come down considerably," says Sam Maktabi, sales and marketing director at cell phone wholesaler, Wireless Warehouse. "They've come down probably 10 to 15 percent over the past few months." The ever-growing mobile phone space continues to evolve, Maktabi says; the devices' styles and storage capabilities keep changing, and thanks to the iPhone and similar competitive devices that have popped up in its wake from manufacturers like Nokia, LG and Samsung, the appetite for the "latest and greatest," has shown very few signs of abating.
"We're in a very competitive market," Maktabi declares, "and as a result we have to be more innovative than ever, seeing what people need and want and bringing in more product lines as necessary." The iPhone and Bluetooth lines currently lead Wireless Warehouse's sales, and Maktabi expects to mine similar success with a line of Wii accessories.
The company also continues to do "decent," business with its line of iPods and accessories, he says. Besides the players themselves, Wireless Warehouse offers a full range of iPod skins and cases. The company also offers a line of MP4 players, devices which offer music, video and gaming applications. While the U.S. market for MP4 players has yet to clearly emerge, total MP4 sales for ten leading countries in Asia were nearly $1 billion last year, according to research company, GfK Asia.
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Accessories for Handhelds
DOUBLE DRAGONS DIGITALMATES INC. offers more than 500 different accessory items for iPods, cell phones, PDAs, MP3 and MP4 players and other hand held electronic devices.
The most popular at the moment are MP4 and iPod earpieces that allow for hands-free use. These wholesale for $2.50 to $8.50, depending on the capacity and number of special features. Suggested retail prices range from $10 to $20.
There are hard and leather cases as well as skin cases for all brands and styles of cell phones, including the iPhone. The most popular now are units for the Blackberry and Sidekick.
The leather cases wholesale in a range of $1.15 to $1.75. The suggested retails are from $5 to $10. Hard cases and skins wholesale for $1.50 to $2.50, and suggested retail is $5 to $9.
Double Dragons requires a minimum of $100, and it can include a mix of any of its products. They include utilitarian accessories, such as phone chargers, as well as a wide array of fashion accessories.
For more information, contact:
Double Dragons Digitalmates Inc.
34 West 27th Street # B
New York, NY 10001
Tel.: 212-725-3366
Fax: 212-725-3377
Website: www.caseko.us
