The iPhone 7: Don’t Put Add-On Sales On Hold

Accessorizing One of the Year’s Hottest Products

When it made its debut in September, Apple’s iPhone 7 dominated the industry’s imagination. It also sold big, capturing a 10.6% share of the smartphone market in the United States.

Now, as 2016 winds to a close, the device’s features are well understood. And so is its profit potential.

As you adopt a sales strategy for iPhone 7 accessories, be sure to keep in mind its specific improvements over previous models.

Headphones and Speakers

The most controversial change was probably the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. But from a retailer’s perspective, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It creates fresh potential to sell wireless headphones that will give iPhone 7 owners the best listening experience available.

Skullcandy manufactures an impressive brand of Bluetooth headphones known as Grind. Retailing at just under $90, these SKUs combine cord-free convenience with killer looks. Features include 12-hour battery life and 40mm audio drivers tuned to make all sounds equally impressive.

But headphones aren’t the only sales opportunity. For the iPhone 7, Apple added a second speaker, enabling true stereo separation for the first time. However, reports indicate that it only really works in landscape mode. What better time to sell portable speakers?

Trusted manufacturers include iHome, iLive, Philips and others.

Consider the Bluetooth Stereo Speaker with Speakerphone and NFC from iHome. It brings Bluetooth audio to smart devices, including those made by Apple. Customers can count on it for great sound at less than $100 retail.

On the lower end of the price spectrum, products like the i.Sound Fire Waves Bluetooth Speakers (which retail at $39.99) also make great choices.

Cases

The iPhone 7’s size specifications are almost—but not quite—the same as the thinner iPhone 6. This means new cases are a must for consumers who want to safeguard their devices. Fortunately there are many to choose from.

Ballistic offers several visually pleasing options for iPhone 7, including the Tough Jacket Case and the Jewel series. These have been rigorously tested to provide protection against drops up to 6 feet.

From Spigen comes the Crystal Shell Case. Its design is more minimalist and transparent than usual, but it doesn’t skimp on the military-grade drop protection, either.

Speck is another company that’s made its name with durable cases for the latest smartphones. Its iPhone 7 offerings are no exception. They include the CandyShell Case, whose sleek design and bold colors complement the Apple aesthetic.

Trident also makes great cases specifically for the iPhone 7.

Memory

Just because the iPhone 7 represents an upgrade in storage capacity—they start at 32GB (as opposed to the iPhone 6’s 16GB)—doesn’t mean there isn’t room for expansion. The Leef iBridge is a mobile storage solution for iOS devices. Customers can use it to back up their files and photos, rather than having to worry about deleting them to make more room. This special drive is available in 32GB, 16GB, 64GB and 128GB editions.

The Takeaway

It’s not too late to capitalize on the popularity of the iPhone 7. Check out endlesssupplies.shop for a full range of iPhone 7 accessories that customers love.

5 Hacks to Turn Winter Boat Storage into Moneymaking Upgrades

Help boat owners during winter doldrums

Boat owners are reluctantly dry-docking for the winter. And they are coming to you, their trusted installer, for electronics upgrades. Take advantage of this less active time to suggest upgrading their boating accessories for better summer fun next year.

Recent advances in marine stereo systems and LED lighting make OEM fixtures obsolete. Upgrades in these areas will up the fun factor and “wow” quotient tremendously. Plus, if you’re already comfortable with marine electrical systems, these are relatively easy add-ons with great margins that also give you a chance to showcase your creative side.

1. Marine Head Units

Marine weather is unforgiving. So is the relentless advance of technology. Today’s watertight, marine head units like those from Clarion are not only extraordinarily rugged, they are designed for digital media and smartphone integration. And since satellite radio signals extend up to 200 miles offshore, many receivers are SiriusXM ready. Others may include a weather band along with the AM/FM tuner. If the boat is large, be sure to pick a head unit that is multi-zoned. That way, whether shipmates are in the cockpit, galley or on deck, they can adjust volume as needed. A remote placed at the helm allows the receiver to be mounted in a more protected spot, such as below deck. If the head unit must be placed in an exposed position, consider adding a marine cover like those offered by Boss, Metra or Pyle.

2. Marine Amplifiers

Even the best receivers may not come with the power needed to boost sound over the wind, waves and engine roar. Amplifiers like the Marine XC Series from Clarion meet or exceed UV and salt fog exposure tests and use conformally coated circuit boards. If a subwoofer or extra speakers are being added, you’ll need one or more amps to spread the audio signals throughout the boat. A subwoofer should have its own dedicated monoblock amp. Or you could install a 5-channel amp to run the entire system.

3. Marine Subwoofers

Even if your client isn’t looking for a whole lot of thump, let’s face it—powerful bass helps give music a special punch, especially on a boat. Even an OEM system will sound better when a subwoofer is paired with it, so encourage the addition of a woofer.

4. Waterproof Speakers

Speakers, like head units, have come a long way. With water-resistant with polypropylene cones, rubber surrounds, plastic grilles and stainless steel mounting hardware, quality marine speakers deliver excellent sound in harsh environments year after year. They are available at different price points and range from component speakers to coaxials to tower speakers designed to deliver the tunes to the end of a ski rope.

5. Marine Accent Lighting

Thanks to LED technology and manufacturers like Marine Sport, the possibilities for dazzling lighting effects are nearly endless. You can add an LED light bar or a spotlight, but accent lights can take the atmosphere to the next level. From surface-mount lights and drain plug lights that can be submerged up to 3 feet to strips of flexible waterproof LED lights that can hug curves to create spectacular glows, accent lighting adds safety on the water after dark, changes the entire mood onboard and presents an amazing sight from dockside or neighboring boats. Deciding how many lights to use and where to place them gives you a chance to sculpt with marine LED lights and create one-of-a-kind vessels that will spark one-upmanship for years to come.

The Takeaway

Now’s the time to capitalize on marine upgrades. Customers will love the quality, customized marine-grade audio and accent lighting upgrades that you can provide. Your marine installations will serve as a great advertisement for your skills and generate word-of-mouth customers for next winter! To find out more, go to endlesssupplies.shop and search our full line of Clarion and marine products. Endless Supplies Corporation is the exclusive distributor of Clarion Marine for the 12-volt aftermarket.