GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- With Black Friday and the holiday shopping season approaching, take a look at the family's holiday wish list. Chances are you'll find "electronics" towards the top, and you wouldn't be alone.
Are electronics the big things this Christmas? "They have to be, I don't see any obvious category that could carry the weight," Dr. George John, Chair of the U of M's Carlson School of Marketing, said Monday.
John says this year will look a little better than last from a spending point of view, but the big sellers will be virtually the same, starting with plasma television sets. "That category, that's been the bread and butter that's carried most retailers over the last 3 years," John explained.
"As far as plasmas and LCDs go, they're definitely at a great price this year," Best Buy Customer Specialist Mandi Kurth said. Don't believe her? Spend fifteen minutes at the front door of the Eden Prairie Best Buy. More than half of those entering took an immediate right and walked toward the massive wall full of plasma TV options.
Best Buy is offering a door buster price this Friday morning on plasmas. Wal-Mart has also slashed prices on the TVs for Black Friday. Target, too, will offer a basement bargain price to eager shoppers.
George John expects smart phones to sell well over the next 6 weeks but he's a little skeptical on Blue Ray players. John wonders if the picture quality difference between the Blue Ray and DVD players will be great enough to get you to part with your precious holiday dollars in tough economic times.
One thing that's drawn a lot of interest (and the first thing you see when you walk through the doors at Best Buy) is the E-reader from Sony. "It allows you access to tons of different books right in that little device. You can take it anywhere with you. It is just like an iPod; you download books off of different websites," Kurth explained.
If you're looking for a GPS system, you'll also find that the prices have never been lower. Brands like Garmin and TomTom are having a tough time competing against smart phones; devices where you can access directions in a matter of moments, John said.
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