Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM DECEMBER 2020 54 T he "new normal" has affected every industry we can think of, beyond even the obvious ones like healthcare or restaurants, nightclubs and bars. All home industries sold through the AVB/BrandSource buying organization have been affected in some lesser or greater way. Mattresses, furniture, white goods, brown goods ... all have suffered, much like the workers (and their families) who make a living building, shipping, sourcing and selling those products. Our hearts go out to them and all folks affected by the pandemic the world over. Expert Warehouse (EW), the tech distribution arm of BrandSource, has also seen significant setbacks in two critical areas: Freight delivery times and inventory. The first, freight times, can be attributed to a dearth of available labor and the subsequent lack of trailer space. Product shortages, however, are reflective of several factors: a tariff backlash and the subsequent shuffling of countries of origin; ripple effects from COVID-related factory closures; and increased demand gobbling up existing short supply driven by stimulus funds, home entertainment needs and household upgrades as families hunker down and attend work and school from home. In EW's discussions with vendors, the "Big Three" of TV – Samsung, LG and Sony – had predicted tight inventory through the end of the year. This probably means shortages will loom, past the traditional holiday sales period, especially in entry-level video. Looking back, we can see how the trailing credit (TC) roadmaps for Black Friday narrowed from October, from what had been a heavily promoted cycle to a much more focused collection of increased TCs. Couple this with the closing of big-box stores the day before Black Friday, and you had what for the first time in decades was slim pickings for "value TV" and other doorbuster-type promotions. In audio, A/V receivers from Denon to Yamaha are all experiencing huge inventory shortages, with single-digit units trickling into multiple warehouses. This category is not showing any signs of improvement, but we continue to work with vendors and widen our partnerships to find solutions. Shipments of soundbars are also spotty, but the category has better availability overall. Deliveries of speakers, as a general term for something that produces sound and is driven by an amp, seem for the most part to have slowed but not stopped. Lastly, we leave you with a brief overview of the golden quarter now closing. With the ever-shifting dynamic of balancing school, work, entertainment and health, it seems clear that Americans will be adjusting to more time at home for the foreseeable future. The shopper consensus seems to center on making sure we spend what we can afford on products that educate, entertain, and ultimately provide joy and satisfaction. "Our COVID situation is not changing and we cannot stop it, so spend the money on the family and live as best you can," the thinking appears to be. Even with a controversial election, and unemployment due to COVID at the highest point ever before inauguration day, financial markets seem to point to a quick but delicate recovery. Housing starts and automobile sales also seem to suggest that scenario. It may therefore be a good time for consumers to cash in some investments and enhance their living space. As reflected in the way the consumer tech market is trending, the mood of the consumer tilts positive toward spending, so let's all make sure we buy what we can now so we can sell to our customers later. With apologies to Stanley Kubrick, customers, with retailers' help, will hopefully stop worrying and learn to love working from home* (WFH). If that is the hand we are dealt, we should embrace it and help consumers get what they need. Stephen Paczkowski Consumer Electronic Trends EXPERT WAREHOUSE AND THE NEW NORMAL Or how consumers can stop worrying and learn to love WFH* Stephen Paczkowski is a Buyer/Channel Manager at Expert Warehouse, the tech distribution arm of BrandSource parent AVB Inc. Contact: steve.paczkowski@expert-warehouse.com RO Hunkered-down consumers are investing in their homes – and home entertainment.

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