Home Business Information

As specialization surpasses general utility as a deciding factor in many housewares purchases, retailers are betting that consumers want small electric products made with fewer features, but generally of better quality. While housewares segments often cycle between highly specialized items and ones that provide a wide range of uses, this specialization in small electrics has helped some items stand out and others fade.

In the lead up to the holiday season, items gaining were led by refrigerator and freezer appliances, up 39.6% in unit terms, according to ACNielsen, a category at mass that now includes a range of mini heater/coolers designed for dormitories and offices, as well as smaller refrigerators. A Wal-Mart store in Uniondale, N.Y., for example, offered a General Electric 4.3-cubic-foot refrigerator for $137.62, a Haier 1.8-cubic-foot refrigerator for $78.83 and a Sunbeam six-pack-sized heater/cooler for $33, with signage purporting the price had been slashed from $39.62.

The second-biggest gainer for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 02, 2002, was the electric fryer, skillet, wok appliance segment, up 26.3%, followed by popcorn poppers, up 25.2%, pasta makers, up 17.8%, burner and range appliances, up 12.6%, and griddle, grill, waffle appliances, up 11.6%. Trend down were beer and wine making kits, off 41.9%, electric knife and peeler appliances, off 20.6%, bread makers, off 19.6%, ice cream and frozen yogurt makers, off 13.9%, and juicer appliances, off 6.9%.

In terms of sheer dollar sales in the category as tracked by ACNielsen, coffee maker and tea appliances is the most valuable segment, turning in at $182.4 million, although it's second in units. Water purifiers and filters lead unit volume, but come in second in sales at $167.6 million. Sales for the griddle, grill, waffle maker segment come in next at $160.4 million, although it is fourth in units, with microwave ovens next at $141.8 million, ninth in units and toaster and toaster ovens at $117.4 million, third in units. Placing fifth through eighth in unit volume are blender appliances, cooker, steamer and dehydrator appliances, can openers and mixer appliances.

# posted by Medical Information : 4:46 AM