Consumer Electronics Industry Perspective

Todd Rytting – Pres & CEO, Panasonic Electric Works Laboratory

Jim Hunter – Founder & CTO, 4Home, Inc.Paul Fulton – GM, Cisco Prosumer Business UnitMike Coop - Founder, HeyCoop

Moderator: Bill Rose – Principle, WJR Consulting, Inc.

Consumer Industry Questions

• Demand – what do consumers want?

• Design – what features, interface do they want?

• Channel – where/from whom will they buy it?

• Support – who will install and maintain it?

• Cost – who is paying for it?

Goals

• Consumers– Save money– Maintain or improve comfort and convenience

• Utilities– Shift / shed load– Make money

• CE Industry– Make money

These goals are not always aligned

How To Meet the Goals

• Energy Efficient Products– Voluntary (Energy Star, good marketing)– Involuntary (regulations)

• Change Consumer Behavior– Slow– Education (who pays for it?)

• Smart Products and Services

• Change the regulatory environment

Channel, Channel, Channel

• Traditional Retail• Online Retail• Utility• Service Provider (Telco/Cable)• Custom Installer• Builder• Something Else?

Demand Product Design

BuyerAisle Placement

Salesforce Installer

Customer Satisfaction

It takes a village to sell a product

LESSONS LEARNED OVER 25 YEARS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

1. Video Game Industry2. Structured Wiring Systems3. Retail Buyers