P&S sales continue to tank while DSLR sales thrive

Rich wrote:
amateurphotographer.co.uk

Compact camera sales drop 14.5%

Thursday 2nd July 2009
Chris Cheesman
GfK

UK consumers snapped up 14.5% fewer compact cameras in May than in the
same month the year before, according to official figures seen by
Amateur Photographer. However, DSLR sales continue to ride out the
effects of the economic downturn.

Statistics show that 433,900 compact cameras were sold in May 2009 -
that's 73,400 fewer than in May 2008.

This led to a 11% drop in compact camera sales revenue, according to
the figures compiled by GfK Retail & Technology.

GfK attributed the fall in demand for compact cameras to higher
prices, compared to a year ago, and the effects of the recession.

GfK's Photo/Imaging account manager Cedric Mertes blamed higher
unemployment and cuts in household budgets, adding that the compact
market has now 'reached maturity'.

He said that 75% of UK households own a compact camera and people are
reluctant to upgrade to newer models during a downturn.

However, sales of digital SLRs held up, sliding around 2% in volume in
May, to 42,800 units. In value terms DSLR sales dipped just 1.5%,
compared to 12 months earlier.

Statistics are ONE thing.....
Interpretation of those Statistics is quite ANOTHER.
The raw data tells us essentially nothing.
Bob Williams

Bob Williams wrote:

Statistics are ONE thing.....
Interpretation of those Statistics is quite ANOTHER.

The raw data tells us essentially nothing.

LOL, it depends on what you want to know! If you want to know what those
changes meant in terms of profit or loss, and revenue, then you're out
of luck, and the manufacturers aren't going to release that data.

If you want to know which products are increasing or decreasing in terms
of unit sales, the data tells you a lot

SMS wrote:
Bob Williams wrote:

Statistics are ONE thing.....
Interpretation of those Statistics is quite ANOTHER.

The raw data tells us essentially nothing.

LOL, it depends on what you want to know! If you want to know what those
changes meant in terms of profit or loss, and revenue, then you're out
of luck, and the manufacturers aren't going to release that data.

If you want to know which products are increasing or decreasing in terms
of unit sales, the data tells you a lot

Not Really.
Just knowing that XYZ company's P/S sales were down 25% from the
previous year tells you nothing about WHY they were down or indicates
what XYZ can do to improve the situation if they so desire.
If XYZ cut their advertising budget in half and introduced only one new
camera that year, a 25% drop in sales may have generated more profit
than that compared to a much higher advertising budget and the high
costs associated with introducing 5 new models the previous year.
Bob Williams

Bob Williams wrote:
SMS wrote:
Bob Williams wrote:

Statistics are ONE thing.....
Interpretation of those Statistics is quite ANOTHER.

The raw data tells us essentially nothing.

LOL, it depends on what you want to know! If you want to know what
those changes meant in terms of profit or loss, and revenue, then
you're out of luck, and the manufacturers aren't going to release that
data.

If you want to know which products are increasing or decreasing in
terms of unit sales, the data tells you a lot

Not Really.

Again, it depends on what you want to know. If all you want to know is
the sales trends, without knowing why the trends are changing are how
its effecting the manufacturer's financials, the data tells you a lot.
And there are situations where the raw data is useful. If you're an
after-market accessory manufacturer, it's helpful to know that D-SLR
sales are strong while P&S sales are weak because you can plan your
product mix based on this data.

You have to look at the big picture, no pun intended.