* feedback
Ups and Downs: First Quarter Sales Surprises?
Down: “There were fewer sales of head units than expected. With new radios hitting the market, some vendors didn’t have products shipping yet.” Derek Jacobs, Custom Auto Creations, Cartersville. Ga. Up: “Sales of amplifiers and sub- woofers are up. We are selling more sub/amp packages than normal while not really running any big specials.” Mike Phillips, Audiowave, Gautier, Miss. Down and Up: “Bass packages
fell flat in the first quarter, but head unit sales were up almost double.” Scott Scheffler. Platinum Mobile Electronics, Auburn, Wash. Up: “High-end head units with
navigation and apps like smartphones, and other connected fea- tures, were up in the first quarter. This year there seems to be a big increase in what you get for your money.” Tony Gestri, Doc’s Auto Sound, Chico, Calif. Up: “Remote start
and security systems that operate using a smartphone were big sellers. Sales and consumer interest are way up.” Down: “Remote starters were down for us. We were shocked, but we had an extremely mild winter. We even increased our visibility by hanging vendor-supplied banners and running a ‘Buy 1, Get 1’ promo- tion that didn’t work out.” JP Jones, Final Touch Crew, Frankfort, Ky. Up: “Started simple: started sell- ing higher priced component speak- er sets. I tell customers straight up that I will not install any speakers that cost less than $150. It has raised the baseline level of quality for my installations.” - Thirteen Fortenberry, Superior Mobile by 13, Temple Terrace, Fla. Down: “Remote start sales were down. We did not do nearly what I was planning on. Part was due to a mild winter and part to our unwillingness to do it for $100
installed. We’re not racing to zero here.” Brandon Green, The Car Audio Shop, High Ridge, Mo. Up: “Window tint, surprising-
ly, was up. We were really busy throughout the first quarter even with the weather being cold.” Sean Davis, Tip Top Automotive, Morris, Ill. Up: “Alarms and keyless entry sys- tems were an easy upsell. Normally we get shopped against by the cus- tomer looking for a deal. Lately it has been add-ons and repeat customers.” Jacob Brown, High Desert Mobile Electronics, Albuquerque, N.M. Up: “Our marine audio category has seen the biggest early increase this year. It appears it may have caught some suppli- ers off guard as availability on some marine SKUs have been low so far this year. Joe Cassity, Tunes N Tint / Alarms Etc., Lake- land, Fla. Up and Down: “Sound dampening material has been a good seller, but hard to get. It feels like we have to pull teeth to get stock from our supplier. It has been hit or miss
at best. Not sure what is going on there but it is very frustrating.” Josh Mojica, GNC Customs, Goshen, Ill. Up: “Large amplifiers were up early on. We put a big push on selling higher end, more expensive amplifiers and it worked.” Sam Lusco, Sam’s Audio, Houma, La. Up: “Expeditor-related products, such as push-to-start conversions and nav systems, are doing well. As competitive as the expeditor mar- ket is, and with how much sales have dropped versus years past, this market is on recent incline with certain makes like Hyundai and Nissan. Get out there, market yourself, and take advantage while you can. Ask for help if you need it. There are plenty of guys with experience in this market who can help you gain the business.” Jeremy Doran, Dow Electronics, Tampa, Fla.
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6 Mobile Electronics May—June 2013 ®
Publisher, Tony Corpin 310.792.2226
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