As consumers and retailers alike gear up for the holiday season, many are wondering what will be on this year's list of hottest items.
According to PCWorld's Brennon Slattery, we should "Prepare for the year of the e-reader."
This fall, even students at Princeton are putting the Amazon KindleDX to the test with a semester-long pilot. Google reveals e-readers are building momentum as a trending topic.
So, what's all this noise about e-readers? More importantly, why should you care?
Earlier this week, the New York Times cited a report that projects e-reader sales will continue to skyrocket:
"By all accounts, e-readers are set to have a breakout year. Slightly more than one million of them were sold globally in 2008, according to the market research firm iSuppli. The firm predicts that 5.2 million will be sold this year, more than half of them in North America, driven by the popularity and promotion of the Kindle, which is available only through Amazon’s Web site."
E-readers perched to become mainstream - many opportunities in this burgeoning market.
Just yesterday, IRex Technologies Inc. announced plans to step into the rapidly growing e-reader market - teaming up with Verizon, Qualcomm, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble in hopes of securing strong footing in the US market.
The iRex will be stepping into a field which already includes some sizable competition - including rivals such as the Kindle from Amazon.com, Sony's e-readers and a slew of tablets from PC vendors.
Soon, Best Buy will be stocking up on the growing lineup of e-readers stepping into the fray.
And retailers like Barnes & Noble also see many clear opportunities as the playing field opens up:
According to Barnes & Noble press release: The free B&N eReader app is on of the most popular apps in the iTunes Books category, and held the No. 1 spot throughout the summer.
How can you capitalize on the e-reader frenzy?
As a merchant, perhaps you're ahead of the game - already expanding your product lineup. Or, maybe you're including e-reader accessories due to customer demand.
It's also possible that you just want to get your own hands on one of these hot items. (By the way, if you're an eBay seller, you're in luck! Check out our limited time offer.)
On the other hand, maybe you don't believe people actually read anymore. Afterall, even cops are getting caught on the job playing Wii. So why not focus on a proven holiday sellers like game consoles?
Whatever your thoughts, we'd like to know. What will be this year's hottest items? How are you preparing for this holiday season? Sound off below.
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