CE dealers: Consumers prefer not to wall-mount televisions
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 3, 2005
Indianapolis — Those fancy plasma and LCD TVs may look good mounted on the wall in advertisements, but electronics dealers increasingly are meeting resistance from consumers who don't want to drill large holes in their walls.
Several exhibitors at the CEDIA show here said dealers have told them consumers are looking for ways to avoid wall mounting because installation can be expensive and time-consuming. Plus, the TV can't be moved when redecorating without drilling new holes and repairing old ones.
"A lot of people don't want to go to all that trouble," said Terry Shea, general manager of corporate communications for electronics major JVC. "And once you get it on the wall, then you've got to figure out what to do with all those wires."
To address the issue, JVC promoted several new rear-projection TVs, which don't require wall mounting.
Furniture makers addressed the issue by offering some models with motorized lifts for flat-screen TVs, and others with back panels attached to a credenza-like stand that supports the weight of a flat-screen TV.
"This makes (home theater) a more attractive option for the wife," said Bob Gingras, director of marketing for case goods producer JSP Inds. "The husband wants the toys, but the wife wants to pick out the furniture."
