Bluetooth Speakers: The Next Market Phase for Bluetooth

Bluetooth has become a major player in wireless communications. It seems as though every portable device, from phones to MP3 players, is Bluetooth enabled. This technology has allowed people to share information and devices without complicated network hookups and cables. Portability and connectivity has become part of Bluetooth’s mission.

Everyone has seen people using the Bluetooth headsets that allow them hands-free use of their mobile phones. There are stereo headsets, mice, keyboards and other devices being released every year. As the Bluetooth market grows, so too does the range of products that now come Bluetooth enabled.

One area of great development is Bluetooth speakers. Until recently, the only Bluetooth speakers available were typically desktop speakers, which had limitations because of their small size. Now there are larger speakers, with rich, full stereo sound. With the convenience of Bluetooth, you do not have to worry about connecting your sound source to your speakers. Bluetooth connections make it easy to connect multiple devices without having to change wires or purchase expensive docking systems.

As the list of devices that incorporate MP3 players and Bluetooth grows, so does the convenience of using Bluetooth speakers. Even cell phones are able to store and play MP3 files. With all of these portable players available, the convenience of using full-sized speakers is even more evident. You do not need special equipment, and anyone can connect his or her devices to the speakers. This makes entertaining easier than ever before. With a push of a button, your speakers are ready to be linked with other devices. You do not need to have a single source for your music any longer.

Expect to start seeing more Bluetooth speakers in your retail shops. MANHATTAN has introduced the 2800 Acoustic Series Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker System. The design is compact enough to fit into smaller spaces, but has the full sound of floor speakers. It follows the same easy connect methods that are in use with other devices, as well. Devices like this will be appearing more often.

MANHATTAN 2800 Acoustic Series Bluetooth Bookshelf Speaker System

Mix It Up and Make It Easier for Customers to Buy More

Ideal for resellers with a broad yet related product range, cross-merchandising, or “solution selling,” can help customers realize the value in product relationships and compel them to purchase add-on items. Arrange primary-demand and complementary products together in order to offer customers a single source for purchase, installation and enjoyment. For example, a cross-merchandised “mobile computing” display might feature backpacks and briefcases, power adapters, lap desks, Web cameras and other peripherals with signage that expresses a portability theme. Other simple cross-merchandising techniques can be equally effective. Include mouse pads near mouse displays, set graphics tablets along with keyboards, and present assorted cables alongside USB peripherals. Once customers have decided to buy, cross-merchandising encourages and suggests incremental sales. Try it in several departments with different product lines and observe how customers and revenue respond to these subtle retail cues with little additional reseller effort and cost.

MANHATTAN Retail Tips:

• Keep cross-mixed displays in high-traffic areas and focused on specific scenarios using sufficient quantities of primary-demand and impulse items to make an impact

• Coordinated cross-merchandised interior and window displays increase visibility, attract customers and boost sales – try seasonal, holiday and other motifs and quickly replace when no longer relevant

• Use larger items within product lines as props for smaller items

• Cross-merchandised displays can be effective near store entrances, sales and service desks and waiting areas to satisfy immediate needs or support promotions

MANHATTAN is a leading global provider of single-source personal computing solutions protected with a lifetime warranty for work, home and mobile venues. For our full line of Components, Peripherals, Cables and Accessories, visit www.manhattan-products.com.

Put the Right Products in the Right Place

Location, arrangement, light and other visual retail elements can help catch shoppers’ attention and greatly enhance their mood to browse and buy. Most experts agree that products sell best when located slightly below eye level. Make the best use of this high-value space and display high-margin or impulse items where customers will find them. Few customers will exert any extra effort to buy hard-to-reach products. If goods don’t sell quickly, reposition them to increase visibility before discounting. Buyers are also unlikely to rummage through unorganized or overstocked shelves, peg walls, racks or aisles. The same is true for dusty and untidy presentations. Clean store fixtures often, rotate items, and remove faded, damaged or obsolete packages to maintain a well-kept appearance. A neat, orderly display, a new location or an uncluttered retail space can often give sluggish products new life and keep top sellers from an early demise.

MANHATTAN Retail Tips:

• Apply a fresh coat of interior wall paint, replace faulty bulbs or dim, outdated lighting, and accent products with colorful packaging to create interest and capture attention

• Go “digital” and incorporate flat-panel displays with audio to demonstrate products and support promotions with color, motion and sound

• Discover employees with merchandising talent and skill and give them the freedom to experiment and create store displays

MANHATTAN is a leading global provider of single-source personal computing solutions protected with a lifetime warranty for work, home and mobile venues. For our full line of Components, Peripherals, Cables and Accessories, visit www.manhattan-products.com.

Make the Most of Your Selling Space

Balancing traffic and directing customer flow throughout a retail area can help improve overall sales and optimize every square foot — or square meter — in a reseller’s shop. In most Western cultures, customers typically turn right after entering a store, which can make the wall and floor spaces near the entrance some of the most valuable selling zones. These areas are ideal for an attractive mix of affordable merchandise and a few promotional and discounted items. Prominently display highly sought, primary-demand products in the rear spaces to draw customers through the store and increase the visibility of other products along the way. Don’t forget to include add-on and impulse items near and around the sales desk. This is often among a store’s most traveled sites, and it’s the place where customers are ready to buy and waiting with their wallets open.

MANHATTAN Retail Tips:

• Measure the total amount of selling space – walls, floor and fixtures – then calculate and monitor sales by area, product category, transaction, employee and other “retail math” ratios

• Dedicate the most productive space for the most profitable inventory

• Maximize product choice and prevent stock-outs but avoid overcrowding or overstocking selling spaces
  

MANHATTAN is a leading global provider of single-source personal computing solutions protected with a lifetime warranty for work, home and mobile venues. For our full line of Components, Peripherals, Cables and Accessories, visit www.manhattan-products.com.