Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2023 48 A t Expert Warehouse – the consumer tech distribution arm of the AVB BrandSource buying group – we are always monitoring trends outside our A/V focus to help our members grow, even if it doesn't benefit our bottom line. While all manner of speakers, soundbars, large and small TVs, cables, power management systems, mounts and other items will be making their way from Expert Warehouse to members' stores and consumers' hearts this time of year, myriad other products are ramping up outside our assortment. One such category is health and fitness, as reflected in some of Samsung's keen new TV tech. The company's 2023 models with optional cameras made a big splash with their Samsung Health Monitor and Telehealth Mode at launch this year. TVs with these features can monitor key vital signs using remote photoplethysmography (today's Scrabble word) – an AI-assisted tech that scans differences in facial skin caused by heart movements. You can also connect to a physician by listing symptoms, time of experiencing them, and conduct an over-TV exam using the cam and other devices you may have handy, like a smart watch or blood pressure monitor. All this is coming to the mass market now because of the growth in popularity of devices and/or apps that perform this or similar services. Deloitte says that one in three adults track certain health or fitness goals through their phones, and the stats are similar with wrist-based tools like Fitbit, although there are now even smart rings that perform the same type of monitoring. Even more surprising is that as people age, the participation numbers rise. Global revenue for smartwatches is expected to increase 37% by 2027 to over $60 billion a year. We will be, ahem, watching this space closely over the coming months. (See what I did there?) Another explosive growth category is microphones, driven by the "influencer" and gaming markets. Creators interested in having higher quality content first need to have a good base, which anyone familiar with music or production can tell you begins with the hardware. The mic market will grow to $3.5 million by 2028 per Research and Markets. These can get pricey, too, and can have lights to match a gaming rig or multiple mic modes like "ribbon" or "condenser" patterns for multiple speakers/singers or directions. Of course, USB and XLR connections are essential for mixing to various systems for video sync. And for those more comfortable with hardware than software, there are video and audio mixing decks that make editing much easier. A third opportunity is VR (virtual reality) gaming. Whether augmented, virtual, or extended, these platforms will entirely change game play and perhaps even the way we work. Fortune Business Insights expects the VR industry to explode, growing 50% to over $1 billion by 2030. Apple has even found a way to integrate its Vision Pro into its entire ecosystem, a first for the industry. Many showrooms are reinventing themselves to present these items through guided demonstrations as a fun introduction to the technology. Have you considered adding VR, health wearables, or microphones to your tech offerings? Even just knowing about Samsung's Health Monitor option can mean the difference between a good sale and a great one. Happy holidays! LIFE BEYOND TV Here are some other tech categories to consider Stephen Paczkowski Consumer Electronic Trends Stephen Paczkowski is a product manager at Expert Warehouse, the consumer tech distribution arm of VB BrandSource. RO

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