Good tips on planning, sales and marketing strategy at seasonal period. I'm sure this will be beneficial for the electronics manufacturing industry or even any business for that matter.
Seasons determine the sale and the consumer response. Consumers always look forward to the special time to purchase products at a reduced price so if the companies start preparing for christmas in July, it is not bad. It is just the principle of 5Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance (for the companies)
DennisQ - Why do you think this year will be particularly difficult. It is always a matter of forecasting within a range. I think this year is no different unless there was some sort of spectacular events. Economy has stinged for the past few years to say the least. Companies will keep doing their forecast just like every year else
Carla, it’s like companies which are making umbrella and winter jackets throughout the year. But sales are happening only in seasons, seasonal sales. Christmas is the peak time for sales and companies had started preparing for that.
I do agree that backup plan, backup of backup plan and logistic partners are right things to do but all this cost money. Do companies have that surplus budget for these arrangement? Is it good to play safe or act agressively? Also year long trend and economic conditions should provide enough indication about the expected sales for a company during the holiday season so does the extra precaution make sense?
I just thought of an irony it so happens that I save some money to buy products during the season same with them they have to plan for inventory well in advance.
Since they are familiar with sales trend during christmas i think it will help them to plan accordingly.
Great advice, Carla. I wish I had the foresight to think about the holiday season right now. But it's good advice for businesses that have to move a lot of product. One consumer (me!) won't make a lot of difference at Christmas-time, but the kind of freight businesses have to move is astonishing. It is dfinitely time to plan ahead.
New products are coming out usually while new markets and competitiors are all over the World. Customers know what they want and what they are ready to pay for, and if manufacturer can't meet their needs, that means they are missing out.
It seems like every year companies are preparing for the holiday season earlier than the previous one. It is hard to predict some of the big sellers and ensure that retailers have them in stock. Your few step plan seems like if manufacturers and buyers have all their ducks in a row, they can have an uneventful and profitable holiday season. This also allows for better logistics, since the planning is done months in advance instead of at the last minute.
Thanks for the good advice, and good timing since in this time of the year is when most of the electronic manufacturers are driving cost reductions and they try as hard as they can to secure inventory for the holiday season, sales and marketing representives are using their best channels distributions to get a place on the retail store.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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