The New Age Electronics Outlook Part 2 – Forecasting the year for retailers with Fred Towns and Industry Friends

June 28, 2021 by ritzs

HEATHERSEMLER ⋅ PUBLISHED: JUNE 24, 2021 ⋅ UPDATED: JUNE 27, 2021

Launching as a three-part series, The New Age Electronics Outlook brings New Age Electronics president Fred Towns and selected industry friends together to share their thoughts on topics along with a forecast of the road ahead. Excerpted from the most recent video interview, this article highlights a conversation with guest Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association.

Open For Business!

Fred Towns, President,
New Age Electronics
*(image credit: New Age Electronics)*

It’s hard to believe the country is returning to a semblance of normality. Roughly midway through 2021, the year continues with some real momentum. Retailers enjoy the return of in-store shopping, offices welcome back employees and technology remains a vital link to staying connected.

Unquestionably, the pandemic has left many changes in its wake. Some things—for better or worse—may remain permanent legacies of the last 16 months, including curbside pick-up, Zoom calls (and outfits) and a more self-reliant consumer.

“Today’s consumers are much smarter than in the past,” said Fred Towns, President of New Age Electronics. “They’ll go online to find a store’s hours and check to see if items they want are available or in stock at a certain location.

“One of the biggest things is that consumers are doing so much more research before they buy. They have all the tools in front of them, and while they were home, they had the magical lesson of learning how to shop for everything online if they weren’t already doing so. They’ve figured it out, whether it’s how to make a doctor’s appointment, order food or take care of services they’re used to having.”

For New Age Electronics, that means preparing dealers to be ready for these next-level shoppers. “We want to help our retailers to keep their sites lit up with the best product availability and product information—what’s coming in that’s new, product feature sets and collateral material that gives consumers better knowledge and understanding. We’re helping the retailer attach video and content to their website to enable the customer to learn more so when they come in, they can then ask the right questions.”

Towns also noted that something popular when it first came out is having a bit of a resurgence—a nod to the touchless experience that stores are circling around now. “We’re starting to see QR codes again,” he said. “Consumers who are selectively shopping can just hit a QR code to learn more about a product. If there are discounts or savings, the codes provide that information as well as offer more options like being able to choose the color of an item. Most importantly it’s giving retailers options.”

A Fresh Coat of New

E-commerce was the only game in town for most of last year, but the in-person shopping experience is making its comeback. For retailers, the pandemic pause gave stores the chance to update interiors and entrances, install fresh signage and modernize displays.

“Many stores that might have been shut down or had limited capacity were able to upgrade the presence in their stores,” noted Towns. “In the past, these kinds of modifications could be tough to do unless the stores were closed.”

Conventional offices also are adapting to a new normal as they welcome employees back. As the pandemic dragged on, workers transitioned from makeshift workspaces to full-blown home offices that have proven to be equally, if not more, productive spaces than the corporate cube. They will be looking to bring some of those productivity tools back to the office with them.

“I don’t think at this point right now that we’re ever going to go back to a completely filled office all the time,” said Towns, whose own company is looking at ways to navigagte the world of hybrid offices. “Our sales teams are out and they’re functioning quite well, but it has educated us to know that people were very successful working from home.”

The work-from-home trend has meant unexpected wins for retailers in certain categories like peripherals and some products that were once hard to sell. “Retailers also saw a higher influx of interest in extended warranties because people wanted to be sure their products would be working when they were at home since there wouldn’t be an IT person right there to help them,” he said.

“People recognize that we’re going to be in this hybrid model now and that may mean investing in a better mesh network for their home. Folks are talking to their network providers to make sure there’s enough bandwidth especially if there are three or four people at home streaming. That can consume a lot of data.”

In general, it’s as simple as a basic desire for workers to recreate the same experience at home as they had in the office. If there were two monitors at work, then there should be two monitors at home. “Consumers also want better mice, ergonomic chairs, desks that can raise and lower—people had that in their office and now they want to have it at home, too” confirmed Towns.

Tech Makes the World Go Round

From the vantage point of Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the CTA, things are definitely looking different this year—with tech being a huge part of that.

*Gary J. Shapiro, President, Consumer Technology Association (image credit: New Age Electronics)*

“The pandemic has proven many things and one of those is that tech is changing our lives for the better,” he said. “It’s clear that technology kind of saved the world and is allowing us to communicate the way that we are today. It has changed the paradigm of where people work, how people travel and everything in the process from buying and selling, to cloud computing and video conferencing, to even something like digital health.”

No surprise to Shapiro, he shared, is that Americans got to try tech innovations during the pandemic and in the process discovered that they love technology.

According to the CTA’s 23^rd Annual Ownership and Market Potential Study,

consumer enthusiasm for technology products will grow in the next year, as 39% of U.S. households say they are more likely to buy tech products because of the pandemic.

“In fact, the consumers’ intent to buy tech products in the next 12 months is 11% higher than it was just a year ago,” said Shapiro. “So, what do we see? A surge in stay-at-home technology, 41% own a smart speaker and over half of American homes now have 4K Ultra HD TV. That’s up 16 points in just a year.” It’s also the largest growth for any product surveyed.

Indeed, 2021 brought a milestone for the video game industry—more than half of U.S. homes (53%, up 10% from last year) now own a video game console. And 30% of households plan to buy one in the next 12 months—a 43% jump from 2020.

For the fourth straight year, smart speakers lead the smart home category – 41% of homes now own a smart speaker, and 23% plan to buy one in the next year. Smart appliances and smart doorbells (both at 26%) are the second-most frequently owned smart home tech.

Interestingly, ownership of wireless earbuds (47%, up five points) now exceeds wired earbuds (45%, down eight points). Ownership of Bluetooth/wireless over-the-ear headphones also grew five points (46%).

The pandemic sped the adoption of health and wellness technologies and services. Since last March, 20% of U.S. households used online health services for the first time, and 20% plan to continue using them in the next year. Twenty-five percent of U.S. homes now own air purifiers, 23% have smart or connected health monitoring devices and 19% have connected sports or fitness equipment (up seven points from 2020). Both smartwatches (35% ownership) and wearable activity fitness trackers (31%) showed year-over-year growth.

The most-frequently owned tech products in U.S. homes are once again TVs, but the second-most frequently owned tech products, smartphones (90%), may surpass TVs in 2022. Thirty-seven percent of consumers plan to buy smartphones in the next 12 months, while 29% of consumers plan to buy TVs. The other top-five most-frequently owned products are notebooks or laptop computers (73%), portable device chargers (71%) and computer accessories such as a wireless keyboard or mouse (65%).

Peak Performing Now

In Washington, D.C., Shapiro has his eye on policies and the economy. “There are pure giveaways to the American public and extra incentives to the unemployed which have definitely hurt a lot of our businesses—not only in our industry but in every industry because now there’s a shortage of workers,” he said. “There’s been so much cash thrown into the economy—the low interest rates as well as the federal reserve just pumping money in…I’ve never seen a situation like this.”

For now, Shapiro said, the country is peaking at a great place. “But I am concerned for the future with inflation, high interest rates, a shortage of workers and an administration which is not friendly toward business.”

And while the pandemic prompted some brilliant innovation, continued Shapiro, it also exposed some of the tech industry’s weaknesses.

“It has shown our vulnerability with our supply chain with just-in-time delivery and sole-source supply,” Shapiro pointed out. “Add to that the complexity of the U.S. relationship with China and their threatening moves toward Hong Kong and Taiwan. We have to be mindful as an industry that we’re in a dangerous area if we’re putting all of our eggs in the China basket.”

Above all, summed Shapiro, the CTA’s job, with the help of its members and others, is to convince members of Congress to do no harm to what we are great at in the U.S.—to keep our economy healthy and to create jobs. “Our job is to make sure our voice in favor of innovation is the one that’s heard,” he said.

So who is CES-ing?

Vegas in-real-life is back on for January and Shapiro said he’s ready. “Of course, you should book your ticket,” Shapiro said. “As we’re in this rapid shift from home to office to some hybrid model, it’s important that you see the new products that are out there and that we revisit those relationships.

CES is scheduled for Jan. 5-8. Media days are Jan. 3 and 4. Shapiro said more than 1,000 companies have committed. “As you know, CES is a five-sense experience, and this is something where we want to get out and people want to get together,” he said.

Towns echoed that the country is opening up and the mood is positive. “Businesses are excited, people are excited to get out and shop and to just enjoy experiences again,” he said. “You just can’t do all of it virtually.”

(Source: TWICE.com/blog)

The New Age Electronics Outlook: Part 1- Forecasting The Year Ahead For Retailers

March 24, 2021 by ritzs

NEW AGE ⋅ PUBLISHED: MARCH 19, 2021 ⋅ UPDATED: JUNE 28, 2021

*Tiffany Moore, SVP of Political and Industry Affairs*
*for the Consumer Technology Association*

The year is well underway and there’s much speculation as a new administration prepares its agenda. The country continues to rally out of the pandemic as the economy and workforce push forward. The new president must also contend with climate change, a national reckoning on diversity and inclusion, and a divided electorate. With Democrats controlling Congress by a slim margin, many technology challenges remain the same for policymakers.

“With every new election it’s like being dealt a whole new hand,” said Tiffany Moore, SVP for the CTA. “As an industry, we need to know how to play that hand. We have a Democratic president and vice president and we have a Democratic Congress, so the president couldn’t ask for a better playbook when it comes to pushing his agenda. What’s important now is to understand what the priorities are. President Biden was very clear when he campaigned that he’s focused on the crisis at hand.”

Pandemic Remains Top Priority

Not surprisingly, President Biden’s top priority is vaccinating Americans against the deadly virus, which has claimed the lives of more than 500,000 in the U.S. He has set a goal to administer at least 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office and has said there will be enough vaccines by the end of May to inoculate every American.

For the industry and the CTA, that means waiting a bit for his technology agenda. “We’re looking at some of the president’s nominees and how he will fill his cabinet,” said Moore. “From there we’ll get a better sense of his perspective on technology. But for now we’re pleased with how technology continues to play such a prominent and positive role in fighting the pandemic. It’s allowing for remote work, digital health and online education. We know there will be an integral role for us as we recover and revive the U.S. economy.”

Moore also pointed to the president’s experience and relationships as setting the tone. “We’re not starting from scratch,” she said. “We’re dealing with seasoned individuals so things will be a lot more process-oriented. As President Biden fills his cabinet we’re looking forward to having measured conversations about a trade policy that opens up more markets for U.S. businesses. We’re looking forward to hearing from the Biden administration about American workers and the American workforce.”

*Fred Towns, president, New Age Electronics*
*(image credit: CTA Tech)*

“We saw some retail opportunities that started to exist at the tail end of last year and it seemed like things were getting better,” he said, “then we got close to the holiday time period—November and December when families and groups were gathering more—and we saw another spike. During that time, retailers were fighting to get their businesses running and trying to provide the goods that many consumers needed or demanded because they were limited in their shopping selections.”In the meantime, according to Fred Towns, president of New Age Electronics, most retailers are anticipating what comes next. For them, he said, the big question is this: When is it going to be the new opening?

Unable to visit stores like a normal year and to enjoy the holiday themes, Towns said consumers were left to search online for availability of the most-sought products. “There was new technology being released,” he said. “Gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony created incredible demand. With so many people stuck at home—and children and families looking for things to do—the demand for those entertainment devices was incredible.”

It was important to guide retailers as to what might be next, continued Towns. And it was challenging to deliver on all that retailers were seeking from PC products, connected home systems and entertainment devices.

“You had consumers from the elderly to the bleeding-edge adopters looking for something,” Towns said. “It was a year of learning tech. It was a year of consuming information with everyone trying to find out what was happening.”

Connectivity is Key

This past year made it abundantly clear that technology, according to Moore, is no longer just a nice-to-have. “It’s imperative particularly with access to the internet,” said Moore. “If this was 1980 and we were going through all of this, most individuals would not be able to work remotely. We would have no formal schooling for children and we wouldn’t be able to make sure people could get a tele-health check-up.”

That, said Towns, is precisely why there remains a high demand for computers, technology and digital entertainment options. “There has been a huge jump in headphones, portable devices, extended batteries and cellphones,” he said. “Consumers are updating and getting better phones so they can enjoy their content. WiFi is no longer enough. You want WiFi with a mesh network. You want the best optimal signal. And then, coming next will be 5G so people can take their devices wherever they’re going. This is the mindset of the new consumer.”

The economy will see a boost when 5G fosters significant improvements for industrial, automotive, telecom and healthcare industries. President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which promises to include funding for broadband deployment, will be a critical piece of the puzzle. His pledge to revitalize the country’s aging infrastructure and invest in domestic manufacturing were key components of his campaign.

“There are two things that are essential—one is access to spectrum—both licensed and unlicensed,” said Moore. “We need more access to spectrum and that is something that we will be advocating for. None of our devices will work without it.

“Secondly, we need broadband infrastructure—particularly for 5G. We should be hearing from President Biden soon on a big infrastructure package and one of the things we will be advocating for is to make sure broadband is essential. If you’re building roads then make sure you’re putting down fiber because we need that connectivity. No longer is there a communal laptop in the house. Everyone has their own device so broadband is essential.”

Focus on Diversity

Also essential as the country moves forward is a greater focus on diversity and inclusion.

“I am so proud to work with the tech industry,” said Moore. “We may not always get the answers right, but we always show our work.” She noted she is particularly proud of the commitment of tech companies that are focused on diversity and inclusion not only within their own organizations but as part their communities.

Keynote speakers made it clear during the first all-digital CES 2021, that diversity and inclusion were top of mind. “You heard it from almost every one of the CEOs—their commitment to making sure their workforces reflect the talent that the nation offers.”

CTA has been at the forefront for some time. Moore noted that at CES 2019, CTA launched a $10 million fund to invest in venture funds and in women and diverse entrepreneurs. “That is something that we did prior to George Floyd, but now that commitment underscores the places where we can make a difference. That was a moment in time. It was an inflection point to understand what each of us is doing and reinforcing those commitments.”

What’s now and what’s next…

As for where things go from here, it’s clear that many industries may be permanently changed—and for the better. “We have learnings from this pandemic that will stay with us,” Moore said. “We may see a shift in policy that ensures greater access to tele-health and digital health services. The idea that you can work from anywhere will stay with us. More companies are going to embrace that. It will create greater opportunities to access talent that is not necessarily based where a company is located.”

Changes will continue for retailers in the tech world as well. “Every CEO is now looking at their company and asking what is needed from their workforce,” Towns said. “Are they road warriors? Can they work from home? Can it be working from home for a few days a week? And what tools do they need to do their jobs?”

For retailers it means an opportunity to promote and provide the technologies that companies and their workers need. “You will see stuff in the next three to five years that we only dreamed about, but now are a reality,” Towns said.

VIDEO: The New Age Electronics Outlook With Tiffany Moore

5G will give the economy a much-needed boost

NEW AGE ⋅ PUBLISHED: MARCH 23, 2021 ⋅ UPDATED: MARCH 31, 2021

New Age Electronics president Fred Towns and Tiffany Moore, SVP of Political and Industry Affairs for CTA discuss their thoughts on the consumer electronics industry and forecast the road ahead for retailers.

(Source: TWICE.com/blogs)

i3 News Article – New Age Electronics: President Fred Towns

July 24, 2019 by ritzs

Jul 22, 2019

New Age Electronics has a unique position in the consumer tech industry. It sits at the cross section of manufacturers and retailers with a bird’s eye view of the latest trends on both sides of the equation. Leading this top distributor is Fred Towns, the long-time consumer tech executive who has been president of New Age Electronics Inc. and Jack of All Games at SYNNEX Corp. since 2011. Previously he held various executive positions with the company and was responsible for sales, marketing and operations supporting distribution, logistics and product recovery. He also ran the company’s web-based training tools and e-commerce initiatives to better support vendors and retailers within the consumer technology channel.

Towns worked to expand distribution partnerships with Kodak and Panasonic, signing contracts with other vendors such as Sharp and Samsung. He has creatively designed and implemented new channel strategies, including executing dealer agreements polices, converting small direct dealers to distribution partners and creating online programs for internal and external training. New Age Electronics is also known for its Retail Dealer Summit, a two-day event that includes product showcases, educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking opportunities with top retailers and vendors, and presentations by industry experts. Prior to that, he was SVP with Panasonic, joining the tech giant in 1984.

He serves as vice chair, along with IBM’s Bridget Karlin, of CTA’s Executive Board. He also continues to serve on CTA’s Board of Industry Leaders. In addition, he is dinner chair of the Anti-Defamation League. Beyond technology, Towns is also a talented musician. He has played guitar with Don Felder from the Eagles at CES in 2014 and is also a former disc jockey who performed across Maryland and Washington, D.C. He says his love of music led him to the consumer technology industry and that his children keep him exposed to the most current music. i3 recently sat down with Towns as he looked into his proverbial crystal ball to share his optimistic views on 8K and 5G, and what product categories will be hot for this holiday season.

What is your business model?

If you look at the model in distribution, there are two mindsets. One is to have availability and a price for people that are not buying either direct from manufacturers or they need to supplement what they buy from the manufacturer. In our case, we are a little different. We look at distribution as an extension of the manufacturer, so we go in with roadmaps and presentations about which direction the retailer is going and build individual forecasts by customer. We look at what our customers need unless it’s a small customer where we just keep safety inventory for them. Overall, we look at the customer base and plan out their business model based on a true retail calendar and then build it out. Today, it’s about having a good supply when you need it.

How does New Age differentiate itself?

In many ways, but one thing we have is a program called “build a box.” When you think about what a consumer looks for when they make a purchase, we look at it in a different way than a normal distributor would. We look at who the end user is because we are servicing a retail store and their customers. Then we build different offerings to enable a retailer to come up with a solution that is not just the product itself but what enables people to have a good experience when they open up that product. For example, does it have the accessories they need to get a great experience? If you look at the transformation of homes, there are many different controls, so we work with our retailers to build a solution right out of the box. You don’t want a customer frustrated when they get home and a product won’t work. We want them to be able to adjust their lighting, watch a movie on TV and just say “lower or raise the lights or music” to do so. We work with the vendors and the retailer to find the best solution. In many cases we build shippers bundles that are a complete solution placed on the retail floor. When a customer comes in to shop for a product, the other items that might be necessary are on that same shipper. We are building that bundle to bring better value for the retailer and a better retail experience for the shopper.

Where do you see new opportunities?

The convergence of goods coming together. So, if you said, “I am leaving my house today, what is more important – my watch or my phone?” Everybody would say their phone. Because that device is always with you and lets you bring your music, video and other things with you, and people want solutions for that. If I am going to enjoy music, I’m going to want earbuds or headphones to go along with it. It’s an enabler for someone to say with the power of what I have in my hand, whether a phone, tablet or PC, I can control everything that I enjoy for business, entertainment, lifestyle and information. We are trying to take that ecosystem as a bridge where all of the products are starting to interconnect, including smart car features like starting the car, to garage door openers and sensors that make your lights come on as you approach your driveway. It’s all interconnecting. Our goal is to look at what is the best in class product that gives the best experience and offer different price offerings to the retailer, so you have an entry point and a truly high-end step-up point.

It’s early, but what are your thoughts on 8K?

People are just starting to realize the benefits of 4K, and content is the biggest issue. There is always going to be a bleeding edge customer that wants a product that is current or where the industry is growing. 8K is going to bring that solution. But it does require a change in how it is recorded and how it is shared. Sports is where it is really going to be interesting. I was watching the U.S. Open and you can see the ball coming off the club and the blades of grass and the sand flying. The image that you see is almost like you are there. There is a place for 8K, and the solutions will catch up to it. As we have much better content more readily accessible, those technologies will be embraced faster. But it’s the job of the retailer to tell those stories and paint the picture for what you are going to want to get.

How is the tariff situation effecting you?

The biggest effect is on the IT tech side. We started to see some of the changes that were occurring with components and devices that tie to the IT products that we sell like computers. That impact is really starting to show up. In some cases, some of the factories were able to subsidize or offset some of the balance by adjusting their cost model. But as the tariffs increase up to the full 25%, there are some categories that were not necessarily hit in the first wave of tariffs. And they will be vulnerable should it continue to go as the path was announced. It’s totally volatile and 25% is a big increase in cost when you look at a $400 or $500 item. The worry is whether the consumer will be willing to pay for that. The challenge is it could affect the market because embracing new technology is going to have a cost that is going to be much greater and it might slow it down. Some people say that the real leading-edge customer is not necessarily worried about how much they are going to pay, they just want the greatest technology and will always be there. But with the next wave at a 25% tariff – are they going to say, “Do I need it right now or should I wait?” The premise of the tariffs was to try and provide some level of control and protection especially for intellectual property. Unfortunately, a lot of the technology in the states has been captured by other countries and used for their benefit. And it has hurt the people that have put the R&D work into the product. Obviously if we can get these things ironed out, that will be a benefit to not have these tariffs and get more respect for international property.

What will be hot for the 2019 holiday season?

A The home automation area is going to be very exciting because a lot of it is do-it-yourself. You plug it in, you scan an application and most people are fairly comfortable now working on their smart device or their PC. But the next wave is when you can share that with the rest of the family. How do you get your parents or the elderly to embrace technologies like a voice assistant? That’s a game changer, turning on lights so that you don’t have to get up to lower the temperature or order a pizza. What will be the enabler from smart door locks to many other things – automation is going to make it easier and will still be a hot category for the holidays. Before you had to make quite an investment to make a system like that work and it didn’t interface with the other devices in the home. Now you can even connect your washing machine. I don’t think it will make us lazier, it will make us smarter in how we use our time.

The other part that is important is the world of electronic transportation. The car industry is making a big impact and putting batteries in cars and making hybrid models or full Tesla model cars – in that case, it’s not putting out any emissions. There will be e-devices on the road – scooters, carts and bicycles to take you the last few miles. You might park your car at a lot that has a charging station but then jump on your scooter to your office. That is going to be a big game changer and you will see a lot of that during the holiday. We are working with Segway, a huge name in technology.

How is the role of women changing in the industry?

I started to notice that my customers were more female-centric, my vendor community was more female-centric, and we were opening up new channels to stores like Kohls where the female shopper was making the decisions. I said we have to get more females on the board. I have to give 100% credit to CTA. It is more advanced than other companies in being sensitive to this issue. CTA has done a fabulous job of representing what the standard should be and a forward look at what the direction should be. It makes me proud to help contribute to change that model and suggest people that would bring value to help us to continue to relect our changing customer base. The female shopper is super powerful now.

What is Jack of All Games?

A Jack of All Games is a company that we acquired some years back that was also a distributor in gaming. The traditional gaming business is very sophisticated. Sony was the first to embrace VR out of the gate. Now other companies on the console side that Jack of All Games has been focused on – we work with them providing software and hardware to the retail community. The computer companies have all jumped into the gaming side so just about every brand of computers that we sell have gaming options and often professional teams. It is a huge and highly competitive business in regard to the players. They can win purses up to $1 million in esports. And it’s not just kids that are packing stadiums. Jack of All Games brought us into the gaming world, and we continue to fortify that environment by working with all of the PC companies and the peripheral companies. Gaming is a very busy area for us.

How are you helping retailers prepare for 5G?

The SYNNEX side of the company is deeper into 5G on the telephony side. The beneit for us is that we don’t have to broker new relationships, we can tie into those areas. On the consumer side we are looking at brands that will interact with 5G and starting to say, this is where we need training and education to bring our staff up to speed. The biggest problem will be getting the antennas installed. It’s a massive amount of work but the beneits will be huge as people get video, audio and streaming and all of the things that will be available. The manufacturers are excited about it.

Where do you see the industry in 10 years?

Someone gave the greatest analogy about envisioning the future. They said, “Go watch a Star Trek movie.” You saw gesturing, heard voice commands – “Beam me up, Scotty” – and navigation commands. Obviously, we are not beaming people up yet, but automation and robotics came out of that. I think you are going to see a very strong community of businesses that will be automated. Battery life and being able to charge over the air is going to enable devices to be self-charged. Devices potentially will be chipped or implanted in people. But if somebody has a problem – especially for medical reasons – they could have an embedded chip to monitor them and improve their quality of life. That is going to be huge. Even the way that medicine will be delivered will be radically changed and our industry will be part of it. It is going to change so radically that expectations are going to be greater. The speed is going to be much better. When you look at the intelligence of the computer systems today, IBM has this incredible computer called Watson that uses AI to crunch massive amounts of data to help businesses make more efficient decisions. Our technology is building our future.

By Cindy Loffler Stevens

(Originally published on Consumer Technology Association’s i3 website)

New Age Electronics To Distribute C by GE Connected Products

July 9, 2019 by ritzs

First distributor to offer GE Lighting’s smart lighting to retail partners

July 9, 2019

New Age Electronics (NAE) recently announced it signed an agreement with GE Lighting to be the first distributor for C by GE connected products. C by GE smart lighting products are all controllable with an app or popular voice assistants like Alexa, Apple Homekit and Google Assistant.

“We are pleased to expand our smart home offering with one of the most established names in the industry,” said Fred Towns, President of New Age Electronics, in an online statement. “Our goal is to help retailers easily navigate the smart home category with offerings that deliver a simplified, on-demand experience. By working with GE Lighting, we’re also able to bring new possibilities to consumers with products that address the continued evolution of the smart home.”

C by GE smart lighting products include smart light bulbs, smart switches and smart accessories, and the distribution agreement allows NAE full access to the entire lineup.

Founded in 1988, NAE is a sales and supply chain division of SYNNEX Corporation providing CT manufacturers with logistics, distribution and remanufactured services

– BY TWICE STAFF

(Originally published on TWICE.com)

Put A Bow On It

July 1, 2019 by ritzs

Although the calendar says summer, it’s not too early to think about the holiday selling season and the huge opportunity the all-important fourth quarter presents for technology-driven products and services.

A look back at the last six months shows that connectivity is increasingly important for consumers—with smart homes at the center of it all. This holiday season will be a busy one helping consumers create their ideal version of the smart home—a place where they have the ability to make everyday household devices more efficient.

The average homeowner is embracing the connected home with 12.5 percent of all U.S. households now considered “smart,” according to S & P Market Intelligence. Led by the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, voice-assistant technology is powering the ubiquitous smart speaker that now serves as the gateway to multiple smart home devices such as appliances, thermostats, light bulbs, smoke alarms and more.

Smart home devices overall are expected to grow almost 27 percent this year, according to the IDC’s Smart Home Device Tracker. Last year, noted IDC, it was about getting products into consumers’ homes. This year, it’s about linking devices together for a cohesive experience that’s layered with services.

The beauty of the smart home’s next-generation products and continued ease-of-use is that it’s mainstream and relatable for a broader range of consumers – whether it means a basic router, a smart speaker, or an entire mesh network. The newest routers are using QR codes that allow people to quickly and easily scan their code and connect up allowing them to create the best positioning within the home based on where devices are used. Everyone from first-time homeowners to the elderly can now benefit and enjoy a connected home.

By simply communicating the benefits to consumers, the smart home story sells itself. Turning on the lights in the bedroom instead of getting up and hitting the light switch. Opening a garage door with a smartphone instead of fumbling for a remote. Simplifying cooling and heating with smart thermostats that automate those functions while optimizing energy efficiency. Smart locks that allow opening a front door without a physical key. Down the road, there will even be smart upholstered furniture that will automatically adjust for comfort when each person takes a seat.

Beyond that, other tech devices are shaping up to be promising sellers for the holiday season. Continual advancements make personal computers a compelling item any time of year, but especially during the fourth quarter. Consumers want thin, light and fast devices with long lasting battery life. SSD drives that speed up devices and provide instant boot up times can be great add-ons. It’s also the perfect opportunity to target Millennials and Gen Z, who are eliminating cable TV and choosing to stream content, turning PCs into their new TVs. And as 5G becomes more widespread in 2020, products will exceed expectations with lightning-fast streaming and download times.

New Age Electronics has an array of brands and products that can be mixed, matched and merchandised. From simple shippers to complex displays, their experts can properly pack, label, and ship units to help you gain the competitive edge for holiday 2019. Find out more HERE and make your – and your customers’ – holiday season merrier than ever.

BY TWICE STAFF

(Originally published on TWICE.com)

New Age Electronics Receives 2018 Best Growth Award from Curacao

June 6, 2019 by ritzs

New Age Electronics, a leading distributor of consumer electronics and gaming products and services and a division of SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX), announced today that it has been recognized by Curacao, a leading US electronics and appliances retailer, with its 2018 Best Growth Award at the annual Curacao Vendor Event held in Las Vegas.

This marks the second year retailer has been honored at Curacao’s annual event since 2016. In addition to achieving exceptional year-over-year revenue growth in 2018, New Age Electronics is recognized for growth in the PC, console gaming and smart home categories.

“As we celebrate twenty-five years of partnership with Curacao, we are honored to receive their 2018 Best Growth Award,” said Fred Towns, President, New Age Electronics. “This award is a testament to our team’s continued dedication to helping our customers succeed. It also speaks to our manufacturer partners’ continued innovation, which ensures New Age, and all of our partners, stay competitive.”

“New Age Electronics has positioned themselves as one of our leading partners supplying our high demand of top-of-the-line products,” said Joaquin Stiker, Curacao’s SVP of Product Management and Service. “We applaud the success of our partners, and we look forward to welcoming further initiatives and growth.”

-Originally published on Dealerscope.com

By Dealerscope Staff

NAE’s Fred Towns Shares Market Insights with CTA

February 22, 2019 by ritzs

Top Distributor Shares Market Insights

February 22, 2019

As CES 2019 opens, the new year will feature many challenges and opportunities. That is the view of Fred Towns, president of New Age Electronics, a division of leading consumer technology distributor, SYNNEX.

Distributors are at the crossroads of the consumer technology business, dealing with retail customers and the suppliers they represent. Towns, who has spent 14 years with New Age, and has held leadership roles with Panasonic and Kodak, has a unique perspective on how consumers will approach challenges such as tariffs or new technologies like 8K resolution and artificial intelligence (AI).

Consumers have luckily avoided paying higher prices for high-tech products but due to tariffs expected to be implemented this year, retailers, manufacturers and consumers will now have to adjust. “Many of the everyday products that consumers use for their daily jobs, tasks and schoolwork will be impacted,” Towns said. Families may buy more products meant to be shared, like a desktop PC or notebook.

“The consumer will have to justify paying an extra 25 percent, and that’s a big change,” Towns noted. “If you want the ‘newest and greatest,’ some consumers will think how badly they need that product at a higher price. They will ask if it is time to pay a premium.”

On the manufacturing side, “They will see what new technologies they are willing to take a risk on [and introduce],” he said. “A 25 percent price increase is a lot and will challenge manufacturers.”

But Towns added that some, like “the shopper looking for business travel tech,” will be willing to pay more for higher-end products. “The typical road warrior will pay more for something that is smaller and lighter,” he said. However, more typical consumers may hold off on a new technology based on budget, waiting until it’s perfected.

Towns said that during CES, 5G will be a highlight, as well as AI, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). “Brands that have these technologies will show and talk about it [during CES],” he said. “And true gurus of technology will buy those technologies because, like the automotive industry, those who can afford premium luxury cars have no budget restraints and will pay a premium.”

Towns said that when it comes to AI, AR and VR consumer interest will “depend upon applications.” Since many of the devices with those technologies are peripherals, price may be a factor, but if you are using it with a smartphone or gaming PC, the cost may be justified.

“Since some applications are more business-centric, with smaller and midsized businesses shopping at top-tier retail stores or Microsoft locations for business sales,” retailers will benefit from the interest in these categories, Towns said.

CES Highlights Innovation

“What we are learning is that a few years ago, many thought of the ‘whizbang’ state-of-the-industry products only come from a supersized manufacturer,” he said. “We are seeing more and more that technologies coming from smaller companies and much younger entrepreneurial-spirited people have great ideas and solutions.”

“You have to open your eyes and be broad-minded going to CES,” he continued. “It is about the interconnection of devices. LG, for example, has a message, that ‘We work with all the digital assisted brands. We are compatible.’ They have created an environment that they are welcoming, their products will connect. It is a brilliant marketing message.”

As for emerging companies, Towns says they are “coming up with brilliant solutions” such as a maker bot area. And what is his advice to his staff attending CES?

“To see what is new and what are the next ideas that will interact with our customer base,” he said. That’s good advice for anyone at CES this year.

– Steve Smith

Source: Consumer Technology Association

New Age Electronics Named in TWICE’s 10 Companies to Watch in 2019

January 4, 2019 by tammys

Part of TWICE’s editorial mission includes sharing success stories within the consumer tech industry so that our audience can use them for inspiration. We asked readers to share some of their triumphs from this year, and we’re delighted to post them here.

Read on to learn more about some of the companies that are well-positioned for an exciting new year.

Voice Assistant Ecosystem to Drive Strong Holiday Shopping Season

October 10, 2018 by T Flythe

We’re on the cusp of major changes impacting the Consumer Technology industry and permeating into consumers’ everyday lives. 5G is looming on the horizon with multigigabit download speeds that will foster new solutions and services. AR and VR will soon see an explosion due to lower price points and improved content. And, continued advancements in artificial intelligence are beginning to power more sophisticated technology.

But until this next wave of innovation comes to full fruition, we’re looking to the voice assistant ecosystem to drive sales, especially around the holiday shopping season. In addition, gaming and electronic transportation will be hot categories. We don’t expect just one or two products to be hot in these areas – there’s a lot of room for opportunity when you break down the various use-cases and demographic groups buying them. With consumer confidence high and the economy strong, it’s time zero in on these categories and get ready to make the most out of the upcoming holiday season.

The Voice Assistant Ecosystem
The digital assistant category continues to perform well due to improved technology and lower price points. And as the connected home becomes a reality for many, consumers are learning more about ways to extend voice control to a range of accessories and devices. From millennials to baby boomers, people are rapidly embracing the newest advances and adopting them in their own homes. Home control is leading to domestic bliss from the kitchen at one end of the house to the master bathroom at the other, along with the living room, bathroom, garage and yard outside.

Consumers are turning toward sensors and IoT appliances that make it possible to monitor the chlorine level in the pool, track which items in the refrigerator are out-of-date or need to be added to a shopping list, check the status of the laundry in the washing machine, and measure the temperature of the roast cooking in the oven. TV’s are offering an array of capabilities using voice control not just to power on, but to adjust the volume and easily search and select what to watch. In the bathroom, home control is connecting weight scales, water thermostats, heated flooring, and new kinds of bathroom fixtures. What makes this trend particularly appealing is the ease in which voice-controlled items like power supplies, wall switches, and LED lighting can be added during home remodels.

Small home robotics continue to play well in this space too. Watch for the continued evolution of this category as it expands beyond housework to include entertainment, companionship, and even yard mowing. It’s still early for these trends, but it will get interesting soon with price points coming down and technology becoming more intuitive. Moving forward, it’s critical that consumers understand what’s possible and keep free of frustration by being guided to compatible products for efficiency, convenience and comfort.

Gaming
Since there aren’t any new gaming consoles expected to hit the market, the focus will be on content with major new titles as well as accessories such as the latest headsets driven by the craze around Epic Games’ Fortnite title. Beyond accessories, Fortnite is driving a lot of opportunity as it’s available on a range of devices including the Nintendo Switch. It’s allowing multiple users to play at one time and has created an environment that allows gamers to play how and when they want to play. There’s big opportunity for retailers who focus on reaching Fortnite’s powerful, cult-like following.

Electronic Transportation
While some of these devices are still considered toys, there’s building momentum for rent-and-drop scooters and other electronic transportation devices that get 15 to 20 miles on a single charge. These forms of transportation are increasingly being found in urban areas and on school campuses as consumers look to cut down on gas consumption and save on car maintenance. Are they bikes or are they vehicles? Should they be confined to the street or a bike lane? That’s going to be decided as laws are crafted to regulate and, in some cases, possibly ban them as some municipalities did with hoverboards. Nonetheless, more certainty around regulations and increasingly reasonable price points mean environmentally friendly electronic transportation will become more popular.

Worth A Mention
Drones have been around for a while, but don’t take your eye off these devices. They are getting smaller, lighter, and more robust as prices continue to fall. They are also becoming easier to fly and control, which enhances the consumer experience. And, new video capabilities are resulting in more use cases beyond entertainment. In the PC space, there is nothing new driving huge demand. The major manufacturers continue with strong 2-in-1 offerings as well as all-in-one desktops that offer interesting designs and unique concepts. Most of the attention in this space will be focused on the look and feel of the product as major brands roll out sleek products in a continued drive for products to be more aesthetically pleasing. That said, the PC category remains stable, as everyone needs them and many are looking for an upgrade.

The In-store Experience for Holiday Shoppers
Once you’ve got shoppers in the store – maybe to pick up an item ordered online – the name of the game is keeping them there. And this retention all comes down to the customer experience. A knowledgeable staff and the right selection of products have become table stakes. To really set your stores apart, think concierge service, on-floor demos, and ready access that lets shoppers see, touch and try the products. Branded areas of the store grab attention and draw shoppers in with loyal affinity or curiosity about a particular brand.

For those buying online, the experience must be highly intuitive and free of friction. While that’s generally been the case when accessing websites from a desktop or laptop, it’s not always the case on mobile devices – which consumers are increasingly using to make their purchases. And don’t forget the final step – delivery. Whether it’s in-store pickup or delivery to the home, office or car, shoppers want flexibility, security and speed. More consumers are also becoming comfortable with using their devices to confirm choices and finalize orders. Think of voice command as the new remote control. Consumer are embracing it, and it’s time for retailers to as well.

We’re in the home stretch now with the holidays quickly approaching. And while the “next big thing” may not be ready for prime time, there’s plenty of opportunity to win big this holiday season.

New Age Electronics Summit Doing Deep Dive On Smart Home

June 6, 2018 by T Flythe

Home control taking center stage at next month’s Hollywood event

New Age Electronics, the CE, IT and gaming distributor and Synnex subsidiary, is returning to Hollywood, Calif., next month for its eighth annual Retail Dealer Summit.

Read the full article on TWICE.com