Selling technology products, like tablet and cellphone accessories, isn’t hard—but since there are so many different products to choose from, it can start to get confusing. We spoke to three suppliers to find out what tablet and cellphone accessories end-users really will use.
Selfie Sticks
Selfies, photographs that people take of themselves, usually with a smartphone, are so popular nowadays that they actually have their own song dedicated to them—“#SELFIE” by The Chainsmokers. But human arms only extend so far and that’s where the selfie stick comes into play. Hirsch Gift Inc.’s Selfie Stick with Wireless Shutter Button extends to 3.5′, fits almost any smartphone and connects wirelessly, so selfie-lovers can take the photo with a shutter button on the stick. Paul Hirsch, vice president for Hirsch Gift Inc., Houston, explained that this promotional product can work in many different situations. “Anyone who has a corporate party or event can use selfie sticks,” Hirsch said. “Selfie sticks are cool and fun, and right now every corporation wants to be a part of the movement. The end-buyers of this fun product have spanned from distilleries to oil and gas companies.” Hirsch also feels the trendy product won’t be going away anytime soon. “As long as people are taking selfies, selfie sticks are here to stay,” he said. “Due to the high current demand, we are projecting popularity for the next few years.”
Power Banks
According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Media Data Traffic Forecast Update, average smartphone usage grew 45 percent in 2014. Also, the number of mobile-connected tablets increased 1.6-fold to 74 million in 2014. That’s a lot of tablets and smartphones being used, which means a lot of batteries are being drained. Kim Collins, director of marketing for Crown Products, Mobile, Ala., explained why power banks are so popular right now. “We are living in a world of staying connected,” Collins said. “Portable power banks are ideal for people on the go and [who] need a quick charge for their mobile device.” Collins added that power banks are perfect for the travel, mobile and entertainment industries.
Lauren Kim, project manager for OrigAudio, Costa Mesa, Calif., predicts the higher the capacity, the more popular the power bank will be in the future. “[OrigAudio] believes that high-capacity power banks, like our TenFour, will be on the rise this coming year and have already been receiving an outstanding response,” Kim said. “The 10,400 mAh power capacity is one of the highest available in the industry and has the capacity to charge tablets, not just cellphones. There are three USB output slots to charge multiple electronics at the same time and the large imprint area is great for brand awareness.”
Hirsch added that power banks make for a great promotional product because they relate to a wide audience. “You would be hard-pressed to find a person that had no use for a product like a power bank, as most people have suffered from a low cellphone battery in an inconvenient situation.”
Tablet Cases
Recently, people have been moving from laptops to tablets because of their portability and versatility. Hirsch explained what role tablet cases have been playing in the promotional products industry. “Tablet cases have been in the promotional market for almost five years, and there will continue to be a high demand for new cases as new tablet models are released every year,” Hirsch said. “In the past, companies have given away tablets to their clients or employees, and provided branded cases with them as a way to protect their investment and deliver their logo. This is a huge success because whoever receives the tablet does not have to buy their own case and are likely to use the tablet often.”
Media Pockets
Losing a license or debit card creates an added hassle in people’s already busy schedules. Media pockets have been becoming more popular because they stick to the back of smartphones and allow end-users to keep their essential plastic cards in secure spot. Collins believes the convenience of media pockets is what makes them such popular products. “Today people simply want convenience,” Collins said. “[How much] more convenient can you get than having your stuff easily accessible and attached to your phone that you never leave home without?” Collins added that media pockets could be used for hotel industries, education giveaways and more.
Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers allow end-users to play music without having to connect their phones with a cord. “According to Forbes, over 50 percent of Americans own smartphones and this number is growing daily,” Hirsch said. “As Americans become more dependent on their smartphones, they are relying on their devices as their music source. Smartphone accessories—including Bluetooth speakers and headphones—are here to stay.”
OrigAudio sells the Evrybox, which is not only a Bluetooth speaker, but also a power bank. “It has the ability to play music wirelessly for 60-plus hours and charge mobile devices more than 2.5 times off a single charge with the 4,400 mAh built-in power bank,” Kim said.
