Just received a news release on PC Show 2011. Interesting to see the results of a poll conducted. Will you spend more this year on gadgets and IT products? Details after the break.
27 May 2011
Let the Show begin!
Consumers willing to spend more at The PC Show 2011
Bargain hunters, IT geeks and gadget lovers are ready to whip out their wallets and spend at least $500 to satisfy their craving for the latest, fastest and brightest IT and consumer electronic products.
A quick straw poll on consumer spending also showed that portable devices such as tablet PCs, netbooks and laptops continue to top the list, followed by other hot favourites like desktop computers, smartphones, mobile phones and cameras. The poll was conducted by Lines Exposition & Management Services, the organizer of The PC Show.
In a reflection of how buying savvy visitors to The PC Show are, almost 90 percent of those polled said that they would first check the Internet and call up friends and retailers to get more information and compare prices before zeroing in on their objects of desire at The PC Show. When asked what IT and consumer electronic gadgets they cannot live without, most cited smartphones, mobile phones, laptops and netbooks, followed by cameras and televisions, indicating the importance of portability and communication to consumers in today’s fast-paced world.
Feedback from exhibitors participating at The PC Show 2011 indicate that most are confident of chalking up higher sales especially as the Show, which runs from 9-12 June, also coincides with the mid-year school term break.
“We do expect sales to be better this year. There is a general sense of optimism brought about by the improved economy. Given the positivity, we are hopeful that customers will spend more and choose the mid-year mark to upgrade or replace their current laptops and desktops,” said Lee Chown How, Country General Manager, Lenovo Singapore.
Another exhibitor, AC Ryan saw a whopping 300% growth when it launched at last year’s The PC Show. The company is expecting to top last year’s figures with its AC Ryan Playon!HD 2.
Oscar Tan, Marketing Communications & Public Relations Manager (South East Asia & Hong Kong), OKI Data (Singapore) Pte Ltd, expects some Singaporeans who have received their Growth and Share dividends from the government to use the money to buy electronic or IT gadgets. “We are confident sales will be good. In fact, sales over the last two years were good even though there was an economic recession. Now that the difficult period is over, we expect sales to be better. Anyway, at The PC Show, everyone is always buying something.”
Added Tan May Lin, General Manager, Epson Singapore: “Yes, we expect greater spending. The interest in digital photography has been strong in the past few years and has not subsided. This will continue to drive high sales for cameras and related accessories like photo printers and camera bags in events like the PC Show.
“This is also the first PC Show to have a much larger number of recently launched tablet computers, in addition to Apple’s new iPad 2. We expect these to play a significant role in increasing sales.”
Knowing the public’s love for bargains, many exhibitors are going all out to offer special promotions, discounts and lucky draws to sweeten the deal. There are also several exhibitors who did not want to share promotional details in advance, preferring instead to reward those who make it to their booth during the four show days.
For example, those who purchase the gaming friendly Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 desktop will be entitled to a complimentary Lenovo headset worth $79, while some of its products will be offered at discounts of up to $600 off the usual price, available only at The PC Show.
Customers will also have the chance to win the top prize of $10,000 in a lucky draw organized by Lines Exposition. For every $50 spent, customers will be get one chance to win the cash prize and a host of other attractive prizes.
Exhibitors also identified IT and consumer electronic trends that could affect customer interest and purchase, such as:
AC Ryan
Increasing interest and demand for Smart TV as more consumers become aware of what the technology can offer. This will literally bring the Internet into the living room. There are already products which allow this, including AC Ryan media players which are capable of allowing access to Facebook, e-Buddy Instant Messaging, Twitter and more.
Canon
With technology products becoming lifestyle accessories, there is increasing consumer preference for products with better and more aesthetically pleasing designs. The brand is seeing more consumers buying products that offer a wider variety of advanced features such as the Canon EOS 600 DSLR, as more people take up photography as a serious hobby.
Epson
Sustainability or “green” products will be a key trend moving forward as consumers become more aware of environmental issues. Companies like Epson are already offering green products, for example, the Epson ME™ Office 960FWD home-office printer is designed to operate on its INKdividual™ cartridges which allow users to change only empty colour cartridges instead of having to change the entire range, making them more cost effective in the long term.
Lenovo
On the consumer side, key technologies such as 3G, WiFi and Intel Ultra Low Voltage which provides excellent battery conservation, are becoming integral to consumer PC standards. This is largely due to increasing consumer demand for greater portability, a rich and faster Internet experience, in addition to adequate battery life and trendy designs. Companies like Lenovo are focusing on the mobile convergence market through new mobile Internet devices that are multinetwork capable and supported by Internet applications that offer optimal end-to-end Internet. It is leveraging these trends through its product portfolio in areas such as the AIO PC and multitouch capabilities for both consumer and enterprise segments.
OKI
The use of LED technology in IT consumer electronic products has expanded greatly, and will continue to grow, from TVs to projectors, lights, monitors and even printers. OKI, for example, has been producing LED printers for more than two decades. It recently launched a new range of products using the latest technology in LED printing.
The PC Show is one of Singapore’s anchor IT events. This year, The PC Show will be spread over four floors –1, 3, 4 and 6– of Suntec Singapore.
Over 600 exhibitors will be showcasing IT and consumer electronic products by leading brands such as Acer, Apple, ASUS, Canon, Creative, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba. There will also be several first time exhibitors such as Fujifilm, Fuji Xerox, Lexmark, Sonic Gear and ViewSonic.
The PC Show 2011 encompasses four sections – The PC Show 2011, Digital Imaging 2011, Game 2011, and Consumer Electronics 2011. It opens daily from 12pm to 9pm. Admission is free.
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