The iPad has had an ‘amazing impact’ on retail sales, claims JB Hi Fi, who also said that small medium priced devices such as iPods, Smartphones and notebooks were also contributing to growth. In the TV market, sales are soft with most mass consumer electronics retailers now waiting for stock of large screen TVs with 3D and IPTV capability.
Scott Browning, Marketing Director at JB Hi Fi, said the launch of the iPad had created momentum at a retail level. “Consumers are buying connectivity in devices to the point that products without connectivity are struggling to sell. 4G is going to be excellent as it drives sales even further” he said.
“Consumers want Wi Fi and SIM connectivity and anything with it such as cameras, navigation is in demand,” he added.
This week several companies are set to announce their financial results, which many observers claim will give retailers an insight into the state of the industry.
This week Intel forecast a fifth- straight upbeat earnings report. Big improvements are expected from Apple and Google who are benefitting from Android phone sales and the placement of advertising on new handsets.
The Wall Street Journal claims that anecdotal evidence points to continued consumer demand for smartphones, laptop computers, software and other products, while some businesses are beginning to step up spending on servers, storage systems and networking equipment.
According to new Gartner research the market for personal computers keeps defying predictions of an inevitable slowdown. The WSJ said that PC sales were expected to fall in 2009 due to the recession, but new Gartner research showed that shipments wound up rising 4.7 per cent. The company projects a 20.3 per cent jump in global unit shipments this year, aided by a nearly 29 per cent increase in the home computer market.
According to Browning the launch of new Apple products is a big driver at a retail level. Later this month JB Hi Fi will start selling the new Apple iPhone 4.
Recently Apple said it sold more than 1.7 million iPhone 4s in the Smartphone’s first five days on the market. The new phone is expected to be launched in Australia on July 24.
Further sales success is set to come from the launch of a new range of large top end TVs that have built in Internet connectivity, 3D and new wireless capabilty, said Browning.
Tomorrow Samsung launch their new 9 Series TV range and currently Panasonic is rolling out a new range of plasma TVs.
