Retail
Is used digital signage worth it?
With many retailers going under due to COVID-19, they have had to sell their digital signage equipment. With all this used signage on the market, it raises an important question: is buying used digital signage worth it? Bill Woodard, director of merchandizing at Almo Professional A/V, shares his insights into this topic.
March 9, 2021 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Prior to COVID-19 brick and mortar retailers had to be lean to compete with online only retailers. However, many retailers simply couldn't keep up and went out of business due to the increased competition. COVID-19 has made it even more difficult for retailers to function.
As a result, some retailers that have gone under have begun selling their equipment, which includes digital signage. However, not all retailers suffered the same fate. Some have managed to hold on or even thrive during this time, and may be looking for a new way to boost their business.
All this used digital signage on the market could be just the ticket for stores looking to improve their marketing. But, the question is: is it worth it to purchase used? Are there enough downsides that could outweigh the pros of saving money?
Digital Signage Today spoke with Bill Woodard, director of merchandizing at Almo Professional A/V to learn more about used digital signage, whether it is worth it and how COVID-19 has impacted digital signage distribution in general.
Q. What are some of the benefits of purchasing used AV/digital signage equipment?
A.One of the greatest advantages is pricing, as the products come at very healthy discounts and for integrators that have cost-conscious end users -- such as K-12 -- it can make an installation very affordable.
Almo offers a "Rebox" program for goods that have been vetted and are brand new, just not in the original box. This is most frequently due to distressed external packaging. As part of this program, Almo inspects the packaging to ensure compliance, reboxes the equipment with non-branded plain external packaging, and provides the manufacturer's original warranty.
Q.What are some of the downsides?
A. The biggest downside is that if an integrator is working on a project with a large deployment, it might not be possible to standardize on the brand of AV equipment across the board as reboxed inventory is typically not pre-stocked.
Q. How has COVID-19 impacted the used market?
A. Given the current work from home environment, there has been a significant surge in home AV upgrades both for business and entertainment purposes. Combined with some of the COVID-related manufacturing delays for new products, we've seen a definite demand for refurbished/reboxed AV products. End users, resellers and consumers alike are all benefitting from the purchase of used/reboxed equipment.
Q. How has COVID-19 impacted the distribution market?
A. From Almo's perspective, we've brought on new lines of AV products that provide protection, awareness and trust in public environments. Systems like temperature-taking bundles, digital signage/hand sanitizer kiosks and even holographic telepresence technology enable us to provide resellers and integrators with equipment that is relevant and necessary for the way we work, learn and socialize during the pandemic.
Q. What are some ways AV end users can save money while still purchasing/renting quality equipment?
A. The most effective way is to work with resellers or integrators that have access to programs like Almo's "rebox" offering. As mentioned, these products are typically in either perfect or near perfect condition but because their packaging was damaged during shipping, they are available through the program at discounted pricing and with the manufacturer's original warranty.
About Bradley Cooper
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Almo Pro AV
Almo Pro AV is the largest value-added North American Professional AV distributor, offering its reseller partners the most expansive range of products, managed services, technical support, and training to drive business growth and generate profits.
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