Pre-christmas Season Predictions

[stratman]

Flat panel televisions will be the focus this coming holiday season, retailers fearing concerns over a flattening economy and credit crunch have begun to wrangle their collective hands deciding how to move merchandise. According to NPD Group LCD sets in the 37" to 42" and 50" 1080p plasmas are set to be aggressively targeted for deep discounts. They are citing aggressive discounts by third tier brands such as VIZIO, Westinghouse and Olevia forcing second and third tier players to get even more aggressive as the season gets closer. They're expecting "door-buster" pricing the Thursday after Thanksgiving. These "door-buster" prices are being defined as limited-time deals usually targeting third tier brands. Current Analysis, a marketing research firm, gives the following example: "a typical 37" LCD selling for $843.00 in November will drop to $794.00 by December, while the Black Friday door-buster deal for the segment will be $499.00. For a 42" LCD selling at $1150.00 in November/December the Black Friday out the door price will be $619.00. The 42" HD plasma sets selling in November/December for $1250.00 will have a predicted Black Friday special of $619.00. In 50" 720p plasma, selling price in November/December will be $1800.00, Black Friday : $999.00 The 52" 720 LCD segment selling in November/December for $3300.00, Black Friday expected at $999.00

The reasons they cite for the aggressive discounts in LCD is the time of the season and the need to cash in on the super bowl. They cite the trend in LCD gaining more shelf spacing a growth estimated at 51% increase over last year, making Panasonic the only brand that's competitive in the plasma segment holding the lion's share of the lead. As plasma and LCD prices merge on screens below 50" it's thought that 42" plasma screens will become irrelevant, at screens over 50" plasma still dominates the market in the foreseeable future.

Keep your eyes open this Black Friday, two factors are weighing in heavily on the minds of retailers and manufacturers, the slowdown of the economy and the credit crunch, this will drive the discount deeper than usually and it will be great time to get that new flat screen or receiver you're lusting after.

 

[The Dukester]

This doesn't have a lot to do with BF, but I was in a K-Mart 1-1/2 weeks ago and they were putting up the Christmas displays. There were 5 or 6 women putting up trees. They must have decorated about 25 already. Crikes, it was almost two weeks before October
My prediction is in five years from now they will start Christmas ads and displays the week after the Fourth of July

 

[Ben_in_COSpring]

I noticed today that Best Buy is offering to price match up to 60 days past the purchase date on HDTV's, meaning that means in another month you will be able to purchase a TV and be covered for the rest of the holidays in case of a price drop.

 

[stratman]

Most retailers are a plenty skittish on this upcoming Christmas season as it is predicted to be a slow one at best. All the marketing think tanks are predicting dismal numbers, which is great for those looking for bargains. Flat panel TVs will be the number one purchase in CE according to the most reliable think tanks. Low on the list, you guessed it hi-def dvd hardware. We'll see.