Let’s be realistic, only a small percentage of your customers are “zero-day” release gamers. In other words, they don’t always pre-order or snatch up the bleeding-edge consoles and gaming accessories at 12 a.m. the day they are released.
Buying a just-released console and its accessories isn’t always smart. In reality, if your customers are looking for a gaming system (and are new to gaming in general) they should really be looking at the current generation consoles.
Why? It’s simple. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems have never been cheaper, and their prices will only drop further in the coming months, particularly in the midst of fourth quarter and before the 2013 holidays – that’s when all the focus will be on the newer systems.
Market analysis has shown that console sales decrease in the months leading up to a “next-generation console” release. However, games and accessories for those older consoles continue to sell very well. That’s because the number of people who already have current generation consoles is at an all-time high. The third-party support for those consoles is also at an all-time high.
The introduction of new platforms means there is a tremendous opportunity for you to move the accessories for current generation consoles. Stocking up for the holiday rush has never become more important than it has this year—a holiday season that will launch new consoles for the top two heavy-hitters in the gaming arena.
Here’s how you capitalize. New console releases mean closeout prices on the older systems. First-time and casual gamers will take advantage of these hot deals. And they will need the right accessories to round out their gaming experience.
The bottom line is if you’re looking for new people to cater to, or old customers to re-engage with special sales and offers, chances are you’ll find them on a current-generation console. Stay flexible and aggressive by catering to the established gaming masses that are already playing on current game consoles.