Retail Observer

October 2024

The Retail Observer is an industry leading magazine for INDEPENDENT RETAILERS in Major Appliances, Consumer Electronics and Home Furnishings

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RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2024 6 Moe Lastfogel moe@retailobserver.com Moe's Musings Views Happy Retailing, We proudly support the following trade associations and buying groups throughout North America whose news and information greatly contribute to the quality of The Retail Observer and the education of our readers. www.asid.org www.cedia.net www.dpha.net www.feigroup.net www.htsa.com www.cta.tech www.cantrex.com www.unitedservicers.com www.NKBA.org www.necoalliance.com www.psaworld.org www.prosourceinfo.com THE RETAIL www.nahb.org www.natmcorp.com Follow us on: Join us at: Become a Fan: www.NARI.org nationwidegroup.org www.aham.org www.rtohq.org www.joinbrandsource.com I remember listening to a speech at a NARI meeting more than 30 years ago given by Gordon van Zuiden, founder and president of CyberManor in Los Gatos, CA. Gordon talked about all the things that would be coming in the new digital age and left us spellbound by the endless future possibilities. Thanks to visionaries like Gordon, many of those products are now available and for sale in your stores. While the home connectivity market is still in its infancy, consumers can now open their doors without keys and start their car from the warmth of the home. They can monitor their smart appliances' performance remotely and turn off lights they forgot and left on. Their refrigerators can send them a shopping list to let them know they're out of milk and that the eggs are past their expiration date. The internet has opened even more possibilities. Consumers now have access to information, education, and entertainment content that has turned them into savvy customers with complicated demands. They want to surf the Internet on the TV in the family room, as well as check their email, bank balance, access YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, or all their other accounts from anywhere. They want to make video calls from the couch instead of in front of a tiny laptop. They want to share multimedia throughout the home, including family photo albums, music libraries, videos, and games. Yet even though many consumers today are tech-savvy, many still are not! This is where you, the retailer, have a great opportunity to profit by educating your staff and yourself so you can help educate the consumers. CEDIA, CEA, and many buying groups offer courses on new technologies. Manufacturers and distributors offer seminars to inform you about particular product lines. Once you become an expert, shout it from the rooftop! Advertise in the local paper and on the news channel and home show, and let the public know that you're the area's go-to store for solutions to their connectivity needs. tribgroup.com CONNECTING TO CUSTOMERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

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