Digital photo frames are being bought by UK consumers faster than ever before, according to business analysts Futuresource Consulting. In 2008, 8 million digital frames were sold in the UK and it's now estimated that there is at least one electronic frame in 10% of all UK homes.
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.
As the gifting market is such a strong influence, strong sales peaks can be seen during the period prior to major holidays. Customers love the potential to personalize the frames in advance of passing over their gift. Many are also realising the potential for providing updates - either by handing over fresh photos on a new memory stick or by wirelessly downloading batches of photos from the internet.
The big brand names such as Philips, Kodak, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba increased their market share (to 54 percent) in 2008, but generic frames and lesser known models also continued to sell well.
2009 sales are forecast to increase by between 10 and 20 percent, despite the gloomy economic climate which has prevailed for much of the year. Industry watchers predict that we will see more "convergence" products - items like iPods and TVs for example which incorporate digital picture frame functionality. Such products may, in time, lead to lower sales for dedicated digital photo frames.
Considering the number of products which now incorporate digital frames, that doesn't seem unreasonable. Small 1.5 inch key fob type frames are perhaps an unsurprising development - but thermal travel mugs, desk tidies and even sunglasses with digital frames are also currently on offer in the marketplace.
In fact, as digital frames with greater and greater functionality are made available, it could become difficult to tell whether a device is a frame which can also be used to browse the net or another type of device which can also be used to display photographs. There are already frames which can read news feeds from the internet and receive wireless transmission of photographs from internet photo sharing websites. Likewise, large flat screen TVs which, instead of just showing a blank screen in standby mode, can be used to display family photos, are now on the market.
In conclusion, digital picture frames are now a mainstream consumer item rather than a high technology gadget. They enjoy mass appeal in the gifting market and that will be more than enough to guarantee continued sales growth in 2009. Future technology fusion will continue to drive sales upwards in the medium to long term. - 30452
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.
As the gifting market is such a strong influence, strong sales peaks can be seen during the period prior to major holidays. Customers love the potential to personalize the frames in advance of passing over their gift. Many are also realising the potential for providing updates - either by handing over fresh photos on a new memory stick or by wirelessly downloading batches of photos from the internet.
The big brand names such as Philips, Kodak, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba increased their market share (to 54 percent) in 2008, but generic frames and lesser known models also continued to sell well.
2009 sales are forecast to increase by between 10 and 20 percent, despite the gloomy economic climate which has prevailed for much of the year. Industry watchers predict that we will see more "convergence" products - items like iPods and TVs for example which incorporate digital picture frame functionality. Such products may, in time, lead to lower sales for dedicated digital photo frames.
Considering the number of products which now incorporate digital frames, that doesn't seem unreasonable. Small 1.5 inch key fob type frames are perhaps an unsurprising development - but thermal travel mugs, desk tidies and even sunglasses with digital frames are also currently on offer in the marketplace.
In fact, as digital frames with greater and greater functionality are made available, it could become difficult to tell whether a device is a frame which can also be used to browse the net or another type of device which can also be used to display photographs. There are already frames which can read news feeds from the internet and receive wireless transmission of photographs from internet photo sharing websites. Likewise, large flat screen TVs which, instead of just showing a blank screen in standby mode, can be used to display family photos, are now on the market.
In conclusion, digital picture frames are now a mainstream consumer item rather than a high technology gadget. They enjoy mass appeal in the gifting market and that will be more than enough to guarantee continued sales growth in 2009. Future technology fusion will continue to drive sales upwards in the medium to long term. - 30452
