Retro Strikes a Chord

Leading-edge tech is exciting, but for more consumers, tech overload has set in. They long for a simpler time and have fond memories of “the good old days.” With younger consumers looking to discover a part of the past they never got to experience, retro products are satisfying that need and offering a cool way to connect to an authentic experience…the “real thing”. In the music world, audiocassettes are making a comeback. Vinyl records are hot, and getting hotter. The trends bear it out: retro is in, the radical rewind is upon us, and the ideal products are here…

Retail Trends

What’s old is new again.

Vinyl and audiocassette sales are increasing by double digits

Sixty-six percent of today’s vinyl sales are of albums that are 3+ years old featuring classic bands like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and Pink Floyd
Cassettes saw popularity in newer releases – 47% of sales were for albums less than 3 years old
Last year, cassette pressings for high-profile releases like Taylor Swift’s Reputation, Jay-Z’s 4:44, Lana Del Rey’s Lust For Life, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks sold well at retailers like Urban Outfitters, which also offers cassette players and recorders with USB adaptability

Boombox sales are…booming.

What better way to re-create the “real” music sound of the past than with an authentic retro-style Boombox?

“Analog sound has warmth, presence and sounds real” – Steve Stepp, National Audio Company

Indie music stores are trending

“Record Store Day” April 13th is a cultural experience
Limited-release records and audiocassettes
“Records Experience Events” at record stores are a global phenomenon.

Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently-owned record stores in the U.S. and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.

Consumer Trends

Nostalgic for older generations, a novelty for younger generations, the Boombox is booming back in popularity in 2019!

Showing off rare or unique items defines luxury for Millennials, hence the popularity of retro clothes, Polaroid photos, and decades-old music, vinyl records and audiocassette listening formats
Older generations want to “hear the sounds of cassettes once again”
Younger generations want to “experience radio-cassette recorders for the first time”
Consumer demand for recorded music and videos is largely influenced by trends in personal disposable income. Per-capita disposable income is expected to increase in 2019, representing a potential opportunity for the industry
Rises in income levels fuels the ability to purchase a wider range of recorded music items
Income growth also increases consumers’ propensity to gift recorded music to family and friends

Product Highlights

Crosley CT200 Cassette Player

Throw in a mix tape and party hardy or chill out with your favorite public radio station. Have a hottie that you’re trying to impress? Make a cheesy mix tape of your own with a personal message at the beginning thanks to the built-in microphone. Score! Don’t have a cow, the CT200’s VU meter is no poser–it’s actually functional. Take the volume to the max, add some bodacious bass or totally fine-tune the treble with the adjustment knobs at the top. Plug in the AC adapter for home listening or pop in some of those huge batteries, make your hair extra big and take it on the go, dude!

Origaudio® Boxanne™ Bluetooth Speaker

With incredible sound ,thanks to its built-in subwoofer, the pocket-sized Boxanne™ carries an enormous punch. Use the included looping strap to attach the Boxanne™ to any bike, backpack, or bag and play the soundtrack to your next adventure. Dual-sided decor makes for double the fun and its built-in microphone makes sure your calls are just a button away.

ION Max LP

Listen, connect, and convert. Max LP™ is a simple all-in-one turntable that makes it easy to enjoy your records and convert them to digital music files on your computer. Max LP comes with built-in stereo speakers so you can just kick back and listen to your records. You can connect Max LP directly to your home stereo system using its standard RCA outputs, and its natural wood finish complements any room. A headphone output is also built-in for private listening.