GPS Perfect fit for RVs

RV sales in the U.S. have been especially strong in recent years, as more and more people in the 35-54 age group aspire to own their own motor homes.  According to Dr. Richard Curtin1, a University of Michigan researcher who monitors RV sales statistics, ” A stronger economy, higher incomes, continued low interest rates and concerns about the safety of international travel will continue to bolster the appeal of RVs.” Today, affordable Global Positioning Systems (GPS) makes traveling in unfamiliar territories a lot easier, strengthening the demand for RVs even further.

Manufacturers of new RVs, as well as SUVs, pickup trucks and cars have often reported  that GPS mapping systems are the most commonly  requested option. Considering the price of a new vehicle, a GPS add-on  for the dash-board is only a tiny additional investment. But once installed, new software modules, upgrades and maps account for even further ongoing sales for the GPS market.

GPS Wireless Attendees Get Lost

So, we left Grand Rapids at 2:00pm EST got here at 10:45pm EST.  We pull out our handy, dandy Appius GPS and we get to the hotel just fine. I check my email and I have a message from the folks from GPS Wireless saying “Don’t go to the wrong hotel!” How funny is that. Attendees of the GPS wireless conference get lost!

“I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque!”

GPS Wireless Conference

This is the 2nd biggest event of the year. Of course all other events pale compared to the CES show and we show some cool things at that event, and some interesting GPS products. The CES is a lot of fun but this conference is strictly business. The GPS Wireless Conference is Thursday and Friday March 13th and 14th. Of course we will be there tomorrow for some early meet and greets. This is the real trade show. There will be manufactures, suppliers, purchasers, consultants and techs. I plan on spending time with the folks from Navteq, the make the maps in our GPS products. I also want to spend some time with the bloggers from GPS World, I need to talk to them about a press release for Appius Trading Company’s new private labeled GPS products.Hopefully, We will be speaking there next year. But you’ll just have to look for us this year and we can chat.See you at the show!

Brand Loyalty

Much of this growth comes from the continuing boom that the people tracking and handset market segment has been witnessing of late – it is the fasting growing area in the GPS market, expected to grow by 9 % in 2008 alone. A significant factor has been the increase in demand for personal media players and network devices that are fitted with GPS devices. The Nokia N95 Smart2go system2 is a good example, with an inbuilt ‘pay as you go’ GPS facility loaded on the smart phone application. Newer GPS media players3 are expected to continue arriving on the scene, with access to digital media broadcast (DMB) television. The marriage of GPS with portable networking devices signals a new era of satellite navigation. As we speak, the long awaited GPS module for iPhone4 is being launched by Apple.

A recent survey6 by the research firm J. D. Powers and associates indicated that a whopping 95 % of GPS users were happy with their devices, indicating strong customer loyalty and repeat sales, as the manufacturers continuously bring newer devices, services and upgrades in this fast-growing area of technology. For individual retailers, this means a stable source of revenues, as consumers are willing to pay anything between $400-500 for an average

Instead of the Big 3 GPS systems gaining customer loyalty, why not let Appius Trading Company show you how to build loyalty to your company and brand through our truly unique products in the GPS market. Appius Trading Company offers you an exclusive, the ability to have a privately labeled GPS line of products. With margins has high as 35%, you will see your profits go off the map!

The onward march of the U.S GPS Market

As the global and U.S. consumer demand for portable GPS devices keeps heading north, sales figures published by the marketing research group telecomsmarketresearch.com reveals that by the end of 2008 the global GPS market will touch US $30 billion.

GPS in-car system, while the price of top-of-the range devices may go up to $ 2500. In addition, apart from boosting smartphone, PDA and personal media player sales through added GPS functionality, navigation software and maps sell in addition for $ 100-200 on an average, with yearly upgrades charged extra. Top brands of professional GPS kits and handheld systems can go up to $ 5000 and even more.

A typical retail store, with its massive advantage of having real products on display compared to online sellers, can boost its sales significantly by adding GPS products to its stock items, as shown by the example of BestBuy. The retail  chain’s Q3 earnings rose by 71 % in 2007, with GPS devices leading the way in its 41% revenues from consumer electronics alone.

Appius Trading Company can help youtake advantage of this exploding market.

Introducing Appius Trading Company

Appius Claudius Caecus was a man ahead of his time with great vision who did not stand by and wait for others when the work needed to be done. Appius, of his own accord, began a bold public work project to address the supply chain problem. The results of his works were the Appian Way the most important road in ancient Rome. The Appian Way connected Rome to Brindisi, Apulia in southeast Italy.

Like Appius Claudius, Appius Trading Company is a company with great vision dedicated to solving problems in the supply chain trading great products.