Just Do It Yourself with Hand Tools January 31, 2008
Posted by wenbi in : Tools , add a commentIn recent months, the sluggishness in house prices, and consumer confidence, hammered by ongoing mortgage market crisis especially in the US and the UK, has taken a toll on home improvement expenditures. Although the US government manages to restore consumer confidence and revive the overall housing market by announcing a plan to freeze rates on certain adjustable-rate sub-prime mortgages, the homeowner spending for home improvement and remodeling activities will be thereby influenced with a certain ripple effect.
A Mild Upturn in Home Improvement
By a survey, in the US, homeowner remodeling spending for 2007 dragged and is projected to be 2.3% lower than 2006 while homeowners become increasingly jittered about falling house prices and a slowing economy. They spent nearly $233 billion on home remodeling in 2007, marking a modest 1.9% increase from the record $228 billion spent in 2006. The growth is bolstered by a lag time of three to six months when remodeling activity follows home building. Homeowners can¡¦t delay a major repair like a leaky roof or a broken faucet after the houses are purchased. In 1997, the home improvement marketplace was estimated to be a $135 billion industry. However, that number has increased to $185 billion in 2007. Some economists predict that remodeling activity in 2008 is expected to grow by 2.8% and may reach another record-breaking year by 2009.
DIY Tools Smile with Growing Female Users
As mounting new houses are built, here come in a renewed passion for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. As we¡¦ve mentioned before, it is women that drive 75% of the home improvement purchasing decisions in a household. The trend of single women purchasing homes is one of the most notable in real estate market. They regard their houses as valuable long-term investments, which require upkeep and renovations. Instead of hiring a worker to replace a faucet or put up drywall, most female homeowners prefer to do it themselves and save money. We are seeing increasing female shoppers to join the queues in front of home centers. More and more women are getting stuck into DIY than ever before. According to a survey, as purchasing holiday gifts, 48% of U.S. women choose home improvement items, such as hand tools, compared to 39% prefer apparels or jewelry. Now more end-consumers, either male or female, are tackling the work themselves and enjoying doing their own home repairs and renovations. Meanwhile, tool suppliers are adding more features and functions to their products, brainstorming new ideas to make DIY tools more comfortable, easier to use, efficient and safer and aiming for greater productivity, higher quality work and less stress on the users. Experts expect that a real estate slump would reduce the purchase power of professional tool users, but the DIY market would remain higher growth as ever.
Go Home and Do It Yourself
“Homing” trend is still on the move. People is poised to make their home a warm and cozy place furnished with recreational equipments and ambience-oriented materials such as decorations, a flat-screen TV integrated in a piece of furniture, printed screens or elegant lighting fixtures that are inevitable to the taste and quality of modern lifestyle. In the other hand, Always, things in home will break and need repair. And quick, inexpensive and user-friendly DIY tools not only fix the problem, but also add the beauty of a home. Beside the price, DIY tool quality is increasingly promoted to value-added professional tool grades and comes with growing focus on ergonomic, intelligent and long durability designs.
Hand Tools- Practice Makes Perfect
DIY projects by hand tools are often time-consuming. But many of the tasks are traditionally done exclusively with hand tools as much more efficiently and quickly than with power tools. DIYers believe doing your own home improvement projects gives them all the control, and can ensure the project turns out exactly as you want it only for pennies on the dollar. They also have fun and enjoy a sense of achievement when their projects are finished by continuous practices and improving skills. Nowadays, there are so many reference resources available for the do-it-yourselfers, including popular print and web-based resources and classes at home improvement stores. Apart from an increasing use on home improvement projects, vehicle average lifespan is longer also promote the sales of hand tools in automobile after-sales market. Electronic products forging tools are in great demand, especially adjustable wrenches. The common problem of annoying “external rust” on tools has spurred the application of special stainless steel on tools, which is underlined by innovations such as a novel combination spanner series without galvanized surface treatment and welded fully from stainless steel screwdrivers and bits.
Power Tools- Smarter Ideas for Housing Renovation
Powered by electricity, batteries or air for use in building, construction and home improvement, power tools are can accomplish almost any task a hand tool can do and improves the speed and efficiency of the craft. The differences between DIY power tools and professional power tools are on function and design. Basically, the professional models have increased power and the ability to perform under more stress than consumer tools and can withstand heavier workloads. Power tools are big business. In the US market, the sales are predicted to surpass $11 billion by 2010 by driven by strong demands on electric saws and pneumatic nailers and cordless power tools. The technological improvement and innovation spotlight on dust collection, laser-enabled products, ergonomic enhancements, high-tech anti-theft technologies, the inclusion of lithium-ion batteries, and redesigns allowing multiple tools to share the same battery source. Advances in Lithium-Ion technology have revolutionized cordless power tools making them lighter, more powerful and more reliable.
Internationale Frankfurter Messe October 31, 2007
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The 37th Osaka International Gift Show
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The 63nd Tokyo Int’l Gift Show
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Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts Houseware & Toys
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The 3rd Fukuoka Int’l Gift Show
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TRADE PAGES - Consumer Products October 29, 2007
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| LANGUAGE OF TEXT: English PUBLICATION DATE: Before 1st of every month —————————————————————————- A tabloid-size, colorfully illustrated monthly publication, packed with many new business opportunities and ideas. It is intended to provide you with the source leads and basic information, on what’s new and readily on the market, for your preliminary screening. PRODUCTS PROFILE: |
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What’s Up in Gifts and Premiums October 18, 2007
Posted by wenbi in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2007/04/11]
We got many clues of the up-and-coming gift trends from the renowned shows of Ambiente and Tendence Lifestyle held in Germany. Here, there are three major themes in the current trends: ‘metallic’ mixed with cool metal with warm wood, ‘folklore’, a comeback of the mystery of East Europe in natural shades and opulent colors and ‘white’ enabling a white-white field of tension between romantic decorations and chic modern styles. A brand-new mix-and-match look with Asian, oriental and Mediterranean styles sets the trend in gift-giving items. For example, we see the figure of Buddha alongside Moroccan screens and colorful Alpine farmer furniture stands below mussel shell lampshades. ‘Water’ is a crucial theme in many of the spring and summer collections while the new aqua trends include such items as baskets and carpets of sea grass or fish motifs on towels, tableware and floor mats. Natural theme is evergreen. Hot as summer sun are topical shapes and materials such as branch-shaped candlesticks, dishes in tree-trunk look, laminated coconut shells and jellyfish shaped bags and lamps, also dancing with organic forms in vogue for china and glass.
Consumers are looking for romanticism, security and warmth, something like rich décors grace porcelain, glass, textiles and furniture. Even though the shapes last to be plain, the décor and details often impress us a Baroque feeling, frequently seen on glass and mirror components. The mounting nightmare of inflation brings nostalgic elements back. Rich shapes with floral patterns and pictures of angels on vases, plates, cushions or screens are still fashionable. Light tones such as white and green are welcome. Green in all variations plays a leading role on the palette. Black is a must as it comes to luxurious ambience in combination with decorative patterns or sequins and tulle. We see a return of old-styled gifts from Biedermeier era and accessories from our grandmother¡¦s era, including well-decorated biscuit dishes and elaborately printed tablecloths. The original ideas for premiums lies on their charm of giving things away for free, helping spark some kind of ongoing relationship with recipients- one in which the name of the company or product sticks in the mind. Here we see a soaring demand from premiums and giveaways sector as the expenditure of corporate advertisement partly shed to cheaper promotional giveaways and incentives. These gimmicks are in possession of all-pervasive influence penetrating to the full spectrum of our daily life, contriving some commercial missions, and usually coming to fruition. There is a widespread increase in smaller ad hoc pieces. The slogan of premiums is quite simple- it’s free for all. However, they are no more than the servants for brand names. Industry players are requested to diversify product lines so that they can accommodate their customers’ needs by personalizing with given logos and/or messages.
Electronic gadgets are always fun, and new technology, adding the bonus of more variety in designs, features and sizes. Flash dish drives, mp3 players, LED flashlights, clock radios and calculators are available in nearly any shape, size or combination. Mousepads in particular have become popular in the premiums sector. Not only are they lightweight and affordable, but they offer an ideal platform for corporate messages and logos. Thanks to updating technology, makers regularly launch new products to help them retain their premiums market share and offset thinning profit margins on older models, whose prices are declining by 5 to 10 percent. Ergonomic mouse are popular as they reduce fatigue and discomfort associated with repetitive motion, great for gaming and surfing. Cordless mouse, optical mouse or hybrid mouse are stealing the hearts of receivers. The premiums market accounts for 30 to 50 percent of production for most manufactures of electronic goods. Some companies supply to this market exclusively with hundreds of low-price electronic novelties.
In use of miniature components, a key chain is added with multifunctional features such as key lock light, laser pointer, quartz clock, calculator, message recorder or vibrating or sound-emitting plush-animal toy. Besides, multifunction key chains are in fancy designs with more gender-neutral and practical usages. The newest products include musical items in molded resin, and window units that are palm-size calendars or photo frames.
PC Accessories Landscape
Posted by wenbi in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/08/02]
The latest survey shows that the prime buyers for computer accessories fall on young side, popular on both men and women in their 20s and 30s. For most buyers, price is major decision-making concern. Others like ergonomic design, quality and reliability are also crucial.
Generally speaking, PC peripherals as gifts include mouse, mouse pads, monitor glare screens, wrist rests, foot rests, arm rests, document holders, keyboard trays, desks and chairs. Among all non-electronic peripherals, optic disk storage boxes are the best sellers. Others like document holders, cordless mouse, game joysticks and armrests are also the focus. Thanks to more and more affordable LCDs for PC users, PC peripherals are subject to the trend. For example, monitor shelves, copy holders/mouse holders attached to monitors, screen filters are disappearing as the conventional CRT monitors retract from the computer desks.
PC specialty stores are not the only choice for peripherals buyers. Now even supermarkets, mass merchandisers and office supplies stores are targeting this big pie. Office franchising has taken the place of conventional PC specialty stores as the biggest outlet for non-electronic peripherals. The fever of on-line shopping also travels to this territory as lower price and more options are offered. Price-first policy and excellent PC familiarity and adequacy are two key points in explaining the consuming behavior. Before going to specialty stores, some smart buyers tend to browse the website, referring to real-time newest production information.
Ergonomic Designs Are Kings
Normally, PC-users have to stay in front of computers for a certain period of time either to complete their jobs or play games. In this case, the science of ergonomics that is used to design an appropriate computer working environment becomes crucial to PC-users. Accordingly, PC peripherals are designed to avoid a number of computer-related health problems owing to repeated and long-term uses of PC. These discomforts include eye and vision problems, stress, aching backs, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even more. Recently, the clinic studies report growing cases of carpal tunnel syndrome among PC-users. This decease occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated, normally be attributed to repetitive use of the hand and/or wrist on operating mouse or keyboards. Nowadays, the ergonomics has widely applied in the designs of PC accessories for the user-friendly benefits on effort-saving and more comfortable operation.
MOUSE
Owing to the necessity of repeated use, mouse have become the No.1 killer for wrists of users. By clinic survey, improper use or poor designs of mouse may often cause discomfort or injury or even above-mentioned carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic mouse reduce fatigue and discomfort associated with repetitive motion, great for gaming and surfing, which are quite welcome among young generation. The latest sales reports show that cordless mouse, optical mouse or hybrid mouse are stealing the hearts of users. Also welcome are the mouse in any natural and neutral wrist position, even in mid-air, up to forty feet away. The benefits of smoother tracking, more precise cursor movement and ultra fast response cannot be emphasized too much.
MOUSE PADS
“Less stressful” is basic concept in designing mouse pads. Ergonomic mousepads with a built in gel-filled wrist-rest can reduce the strain on the user’s wrist and reduce the chance of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The high quality tracking surface won¡¦t wrinkle or fray. The bonded rubber underlay will always remain flat and the edges are recessed below the tracking
surface to prevent the mouse from fouling. The best-seller feature a cloth surface with a shiny, heavy duty, non-slip rubber or EVA bases for user-friendly benefit. Others with polyester surface that traps mouse for improved tracking are also echo-friendly. Mousepads for promotional purpose are still prevalent in incentive market. Corporate logos and slogans are unshakable on the free stuffs.
WRIST REST
The purpose of the wrist rest is to elevate the surface in front of the keyboard, reducing the degree of possible wrist extension, repetitive strain injury, user fatigue and aching joints and improves productivity, and providing a soft resting place when not keying, causing the greatest increase of pressure in the carpal tunnel. The stylish modes are made from soft comfortable hypo-allergenic material, featuring sloping edges to allow user to comfortably adjust working position. Impact dispersion recesses deflects as leant on and rebounds under normal typing to ensure ideal support.
DOCUMENT HOLDER
Use of document holders can help to prevent neck strain and reduce eye fatigue from looking up and down or turning your neck between the documents and computer monitor. The new document holder is an ergonomic addition to your computing work area. It can be used for typing or studying, or it can be used to rest the keyboard.
ARM SUPPORT
This device supports forearm, providing comfortable arm, shoulder and neck support with unrestricted motion, relieving from muscle strain and tension in the neck and shoulders due to long-time use of PCs. Studies have shown that muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be significantly reduced by using an armrest. Arm support with pad is height adjustable and swivels 360 degrees. Highly nimble and adjustable are significant to appeal user’s attention.
A Technology for Fun
Posted by wenbi in : Consumer Electronics , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
Market Snapshot
In US, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), consumer electronics goods will hit a record-high of $125.7 billon in 2005, marking an 11% growth over the $113.5 billion sold in 2004. The year-end total for 2004 would exceed previous prediction and enjoy an increase of 11% over 2003 annual sales. Boosted by strong demands from flat-panel, ultra-thin displays (LCD and plasma), digital television (DTV) were the biggest winner of 2004 with total sales of DTV products reaching $10.7 billion on 7.3 million units (+ 78% in dollar sales and +63% in unit sales.) MP3 players kept popular in end-users, doubling in sales in 2004 to over 6.9 million units and dollar sales nearly tripled in revenue to $1.2 billion and are expected to reach 10 million units and $1.7 billion sales in 2005. Wireless phone kept strong sales as the ones with built-in digital cameras were hot-selling in 2004 with 15% growth to reach 79.6 million units. Benefited from robust demands of digital storage, especially from digital cameras and MP3 players, flash cards enjoyed the largest growth at over 200% with more than $3 billion in product sold.
In Japan, the demand for digital video equipment like as LCD and plasma display panel television sets and DVD recorders, was particularly strong, pushing up the sales by 11.9% from 2003 to 99.2 billion yen. Shipments of LCD TVs nearly doubled to 256,000 units, and PDP TV shipments jumped 14.7% to 20,000 units. The shipments of DVD players and DVD recorders climbed 24.% to 445,000 units, with DVD recorders with built-in hard disk drives marking an 83.1% increase to 198,000 units. In February, the domestic shipments of consumer electronics in Japan grew 7.7% compared to 2004 to 168.9 billion yen (showing sustained growth for the 15th straight month), spurred by accelerating demands for digital video devices.
Trends Watch
DCR HDTV on the Rise
According to a recent survey conducted by CEA in US, 27% of adults show purchasing interest in buying HDTV (high-definition television) set within the next year- the highest percentage of purchase interest among the seven electronic devices tested. Nearly 50% of all consumers plan to buy a high-definition (HDTV) television set to replace their old television set. CEA predicts that three million digital cable-ready (DCR) HDTVs will be sold in 2005, more than one million sold in the second half of 2004, while DCR sets were debuted. The new DCR high-definition sets offer access to digital HDTV programming and other premium channels without a set-top box and supporting “plug-and-play” feature.
Digital Cameras, the Most Welcomed Electronic Gifts
According to the CEA, digital cameras are forecasted to soar 29% to US$31 billion in 2009. In 2005, digital camera players focus on 7 megapixel and 8 megapixel models, which will be mainstream models of point-and-shoot cameras by 2009. Currently, the household penetration will reach to 52% in 2005, growing 13% on sales. However, according a survey by IDC, many consumers have already their second digital cameras, which means the market is somewhat maturing earlier than expected. IDC predicts that digital cameras tend to keep as the biggest generator of digital images although the increasing population of camera phones. Prints from digital images are expected to exceed film prints in 2006, accounting for 71% of total worldwide prints by 2008.
MP3 Infected with iPod Fever
Debuted in late 1998, MP3 players have been ever loved by consumers as more and more features coming in. Being slim, lightweight and small is not enough. Now MP3 players should be embed with large capacity of HDDs for volume music and data storage and even better with viewable displays. Memory storage capacity and LCD-embedded feature determine the ranges of HDD MP3. The most successful example must be iPod, since Apple Computer Inc. first released the portable digital audio player in October 2001. Apple has successfully transformed itself into a $10 billion company again with its hot-selling iPod, which functions to play both music and video and some versions can store over 15,000 songs. The company recently announced to adjust their fiscal 2005 revenue model to incorporate iPod sales of 13.3 million units, up from 9.5 million in previously. And the sales of iPod will soar to 23.5 million units in 2006 since the gear has become quite the fashion accessory- widely popular in campuses.
