RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2023
6
Moe Lastfogel
moe@retailobserver.com
Moe's Musings Views
Happy Connecting,
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I
remember listening to a speech at a NARI meeting over 27 years ago by
Gordon van Zuiden, Founder and President of cyberManor in Los Gatos,
CA. Gordon discussed the wonders that would be coming in the new
digital age and left the group amazed by the seemingly endless possibilities
for the future. Thanks to visionaries like Gordon and others, many of these
products are available today and being sold in your stores.
While the home connectivity market is still in its infancy (relatively),
consumers can now open their doors without keys, start their car from the
warmth of their home, monitor the performance of their smart-enabled
appliances, and turn off forgotten lights from a distance. The fridge can now
send a reminder that they're out of milk, and that the eggs are past their
expiration date.
The internet has opened even more possibilities for consumers. They
now have access to informational, educational, and entertainment content,
which has created consumers with unique and highly individual complex
demands. They want to surf the Internet on the TV in the family room –
check email, bank balances, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other
accounts. Some consumers want to engage in video calls from the couch
instead of facing a tiny laptop screen. They want to share and distribute
multimedia more effectively throughout the home, including family photos,
music libraries, videos, and games.
However, let's not lose perspective – although many consumers are tech-
savvy, the majority still are not! And this is where you, the retailer, have a
great opportunity for profit, by educating your staff and yourself so you can
educate the consumer. CEDIA, CEA, and many of the buying groups offer
courses on new technologies. Manufacturers and distributors hold seminars
that can give you the information you need on particular product lines. Once
you become an expert, shout it from the rooftops! Advertise in your local
paper, news channel, or home show and let the public know you are the
"go-to" store in your area for solutions to their connectivity needs.
tribgroup.com
CONNECTING TO
CUSTOMERS
IN THE DIGITAL AGE
