UK consumers are buying digital photo frames faster than ever before, according to Futuresource Consulting. 8 million electronic frames were sold in the UK during 2008 and it's estimated that 10% of UK homes now have at least one digital picture frame.
A large number of low cost 7-inch wide screen frames contributed to an increase in sales volume of 60 percent when compared with 2007. Sales are heavily driven by gifting and first time impulse buyers attracted by increasingly low prices. In the period from December 2007 to December 2008 selling prices reduced by roughly 20 percent for the most frequently chosen 7" wide screen model of frame.
The gifting market is very influential and high sales spikes in the period prior to major holidays are common. Many consumers appreciate the ability to personalise these frames by loading them with photos prior to handing over their gift. The possibility of updating the frames also exists, either by wireless download direct from the web or just by simply passing over a memory card with a selection of new photos on it.
The major players - Samsung, Philips, Kodak, Toshiba and Sony - increased their market share to 54% during 2008. However, lesser known brands and generic frames also continued to sell well.
In spite of the current economic climate, sales are forecast to continue to increase by between 10 and 20 percent in 2009. Market watchers are predicting that we will see more and more "convergence products" - items such as TVs, iPods, notebooks etc. which also incorporate picture frame functionality - and that these may gradually lower the sales of dedicated digital frames.
That seems like a reasonable prediction given the number of products which incorporate digital frames today. Keychains with small one and a half inch screen photo frames are probably quite a predictable development - but you can also find products such as travel mugs, desk tidies and even sunglasses which include photo frames on sale today.
As a matter of fact, as frames with increased functionality become increasingly available, it might become difficult to tell whether a particular device is a photo frame which can also be used as a web browser or some other type of device which can also be used to display digital photographs. Frames which can read news feeds from the web and receive photos wirelessly from photo sharing websites already exist. Similarly, there are large screen TVs which, instead of showing a blank screen upon entering into standby mode, can have family photos on show.
In summary, digital photo frames can now be considered to be a mainstream consumer product rather as opposed to a high technology item. Their mass appeal in the gifting market will ensure continued growth in 2009, despite the economic climate, and future technology fusion will fuel further sales growth in the medium to long term.
A large number of low cost 7-inch wide screen frames contributed to an increase in sales volume of 60 percent when compared with 2007. Sales are heavily driven by gifting and first time impulse buyers attracted by increasingly low prices. In the period from December 2007 to December 2008 selling prices reduced by roughly 20 percent for the most frequently chosen 7" wide screen model of frame.
The gifting market is very influential and high sales spikes in the period prior to major holidays are common. Many consumers appreciate the ability to personalise these frames by loading them with photos prior to handing over their gift. The possibility of updating the frames also exists, either by wireless download direct from the web or just by simply passing over a memory card with a selection of new photos on it.
The major players - Samsung, Philips, Kodak, Toshiba and Sony - increased their market share to 54% during 2008. However, lesser known brands and generic frames also continued to sell well.
In spite of the current economic climate, sales are forecast to continue to increase by between 10 and 20 percent in 2009. Market watchers are predicting that we will see more and more "convergence products" - items such as TVs, iPods, notebooks etc. which also incorporate picture frame functionality - and that these may gradually lower the sales of dedicated digital frames.
That seems like a reasonable prediction given the number of products which incorporate digital frames today. Keychains with small one and a half inch screen photo frames are probably quite a predictable development - but you can also find products such as travel mugs, desk tidies and even sunglasses which include photo frames on sale today.
As a matter of fact, as frames with increased functionality become increasingly available, it might become difficult to tell whether a particular device is a photo frame which can also be used as a web browser or some other type of device which can also be used to display digital photographs. Frames which can read news feeds from the web and receive photos wirelessly from photo sharing websites already exist. Similarly, there are large screen TVs which, instead of showing a blank screen upon entering into standby mode, can have family photos on show.
In summary, digital photo frames can now be considered to be a mainstream consumer product rather as opposed to a high technology item. Their mass appeal in the gifting market will ensure continued growth in 2009, despite the economic climate, and future technology fusion will fuel further sales growth in the medium to long term.
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