Smart Customers Want Smart Products

DIY Projects for a Growing Consumer Base

DIY is more than a passing fad; it’s a growing trend that is only expected to increase. This is especially true when it comes to our SmartestHome category of products, like DIY home automation. According to MarketsandMarkets.com, the DIY home automation market is projected to reach $21.3 billion by 2020. Learn how to tap into this market and benefit from these consumers.

Diverse Buyers

DIY consumers do not fall into any one category. They range in age, income, and goals. For starters, according to Venveo.com, 50% of DIYers are female and 50% are male. Not only that, but income is only a factor for some groups of DIY customers. These customers may be trying to be economical and are looking for more frugal options. However, less budget-conscious customers may just want the experience, value, and satisfaction of completing a project themselves.

This is a huge plus for retailers when thinking about products like surveillance. DIY surveillance is more economical than expensive subscription services and will appeal to the DIY consumer. The Amcrest 720p HD Wireless Camera with Wireless 7” Touchscreen Monitor is a simple and easily installed DIY surveillance system accessible to almost anyone. The lack of subscription service fees more than makes up for the initial cost, and the satisfaction of self-monitoring the home will attract these DIY buyers. Plus, there are even products for the most frugal buyers. For instance the iSmartAlarm Home Security System, Preferred Package is a complete home security system with door/window sensors and mobile monitoring for a fraction of the cost of multi-camera surveillance systems.

Lifestyle Is Key for the DIY Home

Increasing the relevancy of products by emphasizing not what the products do, but how they affect the consumers’ lives has proven to be an effective means to produce sales. This strategy has proven to be very efficient in sales for millennials in particular. Take the “Post-It Strategy” from the company 3M as an example, they focus not on how sticky the paper is, but on how the Post-it adds small touches to users’ lives. Read more about their strategy here, Mashable.com.

This strategy is easy for DIY products, since DIY is a lifestyle in itself. Personalization is key for DIYers. Products like the Bayit Home Automation LED Lighting Starter Kit with 2 LED Color-Changing Light Bulbs & Wi-Fi Gateway is perfect for consumers who are looking for lifestyle and personalization. It is easily installed, easily controlled with a smartphone app, and completely customizable with colors, groups of lights, and brightness and tone controls. Smart plugs like the Home Control SmartPlug are also perfect for customization-loving consumers. It fits into any outlet in the home. Users can plug any device into it they want and control it remotely with their smartphones. Our customers want to feel like they have unique, personal products, and with DIY, they can.

Inspire DIY Ideas

Whizard Strategy advises focusing on selling the project instead of the product. When customers are inspired by a particular project, they will purchase the products they need to complete it. Plus, it will be something they are excited about and eager to start.

DIY consumers are also looking for guidance. They are mostly not professional installers and really want to avoid hiring extra help during the course of their projects. They will definitely appreciate readily available how-to guides or advice and be given an extra confidence boost. When customers see how easy it is to install and use IP cameras like the Foscam Plug & Play 1.3 Megapixel Pan/Tilt Wireless IP Camera, they will be excited to try a surveillance project in their homes.

DIY Home Automation 

Venveo.com reports that DIY consumers from 18 to 54 years old are especially attracted to smart home products. The DIY home automation market has seen incredible growth in the past few years due to accessibility to the average consumer. When it comes to slightly new or unfamiliar products, like the Security Man IWATCHALARM Deluxe Kit, new buyers need more guidance and explanation. Emphasize the ease of setup, mobile-accessible experience, and lack of ongoing costs. The self-controlled and self-monitored aspect of this product and products like it will attract even the most skeptical buyer.

According to SecurityInfoWatch.com, the current Electronic Security Association (ESA) president, Marshall Marinace, said, “The DIY market is here to stay.” Stay on top of the latest trends and check out even more DIY ideas and products on our site.

Profitable Connections!

Know Your Options When It Comes to Streaming Solutions!

It’s no secret that we live in a fast-paced world. Sometimes it’s so fast that our daily to-do lists interfere with the entertainment we enjoy, like TV programming. Your customers feel the same frustration. Luckily we live in a day and age when technology is rapidly advancing and has already produced a number of products that allow us to control when and how we access everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure.

Research has shown that 76% of homes in the U.S. have a DVR, and 55% of those have DVRs on more than one TV. Researchers have also revealed that 26% of homes have added streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, allowing consumers to view content on their smartphones, tablets or devices. These trends indicate that consumers are looking for more viable solutions to enjoy their favorite TV programming anywhere. Set yourself up for success by providing a wide selection of products today’s media consumers need to build media setups that fit their personalized routines.

Relieve the stress!

Our customers are as busy as you are. Everything from picking the kids up at soccer practice to a long commute home can interfere with catching their favorite programming while it’s being aired. The days of that particular disappointment are over with the TiVo BOLT. The TiVo BOLT is able to record 4 shows at once, all while being able to access streaming providers like Netflix and Vudu. TiVo has made it even easier to enjoy programming with the TiVo app, which enables streaming to a smartphone or tablet.

Give convenience!

Slow connections are a huge frustration in any home. So is reconfiguring a setup over and over because there’s only one coaxial cable output. The 2-Way 2,600MHz All Port Passing Splitter from Eagle Aspen is a great solution for having a solid connection for multiple devices. This splitter allows users to plug in one coaxial cable and provide a fast connection up to 2 devices, including TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles.

Adjust to your customers needs!

Paying for multiple streaming services plus cable can hit your customers’ wallets hard. Offer them a subscription-free product like the DVR+ with Built-in 1TB Hard Drive from Channel Master. This DVR is designed for users that want to be free from cable providers while being able to record their favorite over-the-air programming. It can even record 2 shows at once store up to 160 hours of television.

Offer travel connection solutions!

Watching TV shows and movies while on vacation is almost always more difficult than it should be. The Mini Wireless Travel Router from Gigastone is designed to create a wireless network anywhere with an Ethernet connection. Now users can share Internet access across multiple devices and watch whatever they want, whenever they want. Its lightweight and compact design makes it great to take on any vacation or business trip.

Visit us to learn even more about great cord-cutting and media-consolidation options. Get all the answers you will want to know.