Sam's Club CEO: LCD Will Surpass Plasma
The retailer chief also says flat-panel sets will be hot for the holidays.
By Swanni
That's according to an article by CNNMoney.com.
Comment on the upcoming holiday shopping season, McMillon said consumers will come to the store looking for a second high-def set.
"(And) as TV prices continue to fall, we think the demand for LCD televisions will surpass Plasma screens," he told the web site. "Many people already have one flat-panel TV. This year they will pick up the second one, which is 50-inch or bigger, because the price points are so attractive."
Sam's Club, the nation's second leading warehouse club retailer behind Costco, is likely to drive a significant number of high-def sales this holiday season.
LCD sales have enjoyed an advantage over Plasma in recent months, but DisplaySearch just reported that Plasma sales rebounded in the third quarter. And despite McMillon's comment, Plasma sets have outsold LCD in the larger-screen category.
In related news, McMillon said he expects that Americans will buy more products this year than during the 2006 holiday season despite some forecasts to the contrary.
He said flat-panel sets, toys and diamond jewelry will be among the season's top sellers. But he said that electronics sales may slow until later in the season.
"Between now and Thanksgiving we might not see electronic sales grow fast. People know that they'll get the best deals much later in the season. So they'll wait," he told the web site.
The retailer will kick off its Black Friday shopping discounts the week of November 19, he said.
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