Thanks Steve. The info I've been finding out has been really positive. Talked to two sales reps at 2 different digital camera mailorder/online retailers, and they are continuing to see high demand for digital cameras.
Also here is another thing I found:
NPD INTELECT REPORTS DIGITAL CAMERAS ON PACE TO REACH
TRIPLE-DIGIT GROWTH BY YEAR-END 2000
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, September 21, 2000 – Sales of digital cameras will more than double this year compared to last year, predicts leading marketing information provider NPD INTELECT Market Tracking. The firm projects U.S. unit sales will reach 4.2 million units, translating to a 127% increase over 1999 sales of 1.8 million units.
Falling prices for the digital camera category should keep dollar sales growth at a lower pace. Nevertheless, NPD INTELECT analysts forecast a robust 79% growth rate in dollar terms. Sales of digital cameras should reach $1.8 billion dollars by year-end 2000 compared to $1 billion dollars in 1999.
The photo specialty store has become a winner of the growth trend by selling top-of-the-line digital cameras with the latest features. Booming sales of digital cameras have created a windfall for the channel in first half 2000; the $700 and above price point constitutes 70% of the channel’s sales in dollars. The electronic specialty store represents 50% of the same price point. However, unique to the electronic specialty stores is the $400 to $600 price point which successfully grew 34% in dollar share for the first half of 2000.
According to NPD INTELECT, the average price of a digital still camera slipped from $544 in 1999 to $513 year-to-date 2000. This decrease in price of digital cameras comes even before the expected holiday season discounts.
In further examination of all channels, Sony leads the race for market share. The company captured the lion’s share in both dollar (40.8%) and unit terms (32.7%) across all channels tracked by NPD INTELECT. Olympus was next across the finish line with 20.2% dollar shares and 19.4% unit shares.
- more -
NPD INTELECT Reports Digital Cameras on Pace to Reach Triple-Digit Growth by Year-end 2000/ 2
Brand Share: All Channels*
January - July 2000
BRAND UNIT SHARE DOLLAR SHARE
1. Sony 32.7% 40.8%
2. Olympus 19.4% 20.2%
3. Kodak 15.7% 13.2%
4. Polaroid 6.9% 1.9%
5. Nikon 5.8% 11.0%
*Channels include mass retailers/discount stores, computer/office superstores, electronics specialty stores, camera specialty stores, and computer mail order.
“With the strong demand of digital cameras and the holiday season upon us, the main issue the camera industry faces is not demand, but supply. Camera manufacturers are concerned about shortages in key components of digital still cameras. The only question for the remainder of the year is will manufacturers be prepared to meet the insatiable appetite that consumers have for digital cameras? We’ll just have to wait and see,” commented NPD INTELECT Senior Manager Neil Portnoy.
About NPD INTELECT Market Tracking
NPD INTELECT Market Tracking is a leading provider of sales tracking services for consumer electronics, home appliances, information technology and imaging industries. Data are collected from comprehensive panels representing each industry's key retail and business-to-business distribution channels. The company's clients include all of the major manufacturers, retailers and business-to-business sellers in each industry NPD INTELECT tracks. NPD INTELECT, a joint venture of two leading marketing information providers, The NPD Group, Inc. and GfK AG. For more information about NPD INTELECT, visit intelectmt.com.
# # # |
