People who think students in their households “mostly or entirely” will attend classes remotely is 28%, and 27% think students will do so in-person this fall, reported the National Retail Federation Monday. The association canvassed 7,600 consumers Aug. 3-11, finding about a third expect an “equal mix” of in-person and e-learning, it said. The survey found 63% of consumers expect at least some school and college classes will take place online this year, up from 55% from early July. The proportion planning to buy laptops for remote learning was virtually unchanged at 37%; intentions to buy computing accessories increased to 26% from 21%. Twenty-three percent plan to buy desks or chairs to furnish home classrooms, up from 17% in July.
Smart appliance shipments will grow at a 48% compound annual growth rate through 2024 to 148.5 million units, Futuresource emailed Sunday, but supply chains and consumer demand across appliances will be “significantly impacted” in coming years due to COVID-19. Though more manufacturers are adding Wi-Fi connectivity, consumers are more likely to buy an older, more familiar model than a new, smart and expensive model when shopping online. More purchases will happen online because of self-isolation and quarantining measures as consumers typically prefer to "touch and feel" an appliance before making a purchase. “As a global recession moves from being a possibility to a probability, reduced disposable incomes as a result of massive unemployment, wage cuts and business failures, will likely lead to an increase in sales of low-to-medium priced products in developed markets, and a reduction in premium products, including smart devices,” it said.
Industry should continue providing “meaningful information” to consumers about video game loot boxes and microtransactions, FTC staff reported. The agency issued the paper Friday in response to an August 2019 workshop (see 1908070065). COVID-19 has increased video gameplay, which potentially amplifies loot box concerns, staff said, namely whether the practice prompts compulsive behavior: “The FTC will continue to monitor developments surrounding loot boxes and take appropriate steps to prevent unfair or deceptive practices.” The agency noted recent self-regulation efforts “through odds and point-of-purchase disclosures.”
The “digital world” of telework and remote learning is more important during the pandemic, but 98% of websites have “critical accessibility barriers,” said AudioEye Executive Chairman Carr Bettis on a quarterly call Thursday. The company markets website accessibility tools for the vision-impaired. Though demand “remains very strong,” COVID-19 is impacting customers and prospects “across all our channels,” said Bettis. New business deals are being “delayed a little,” and AudioEye imposed “more flexible pricing and other options," he said. The “marginal” decrease in renewals is from factors “out of our control, such as bankruptcy proceedings or outright business closures,” he said. The pandemic is impacting businesses worldwide, “even more so” in Q2, Bettis said. “It's going to be reasonable to expect some impact on AudioEye's financial and operating performance.” The company also reshuffled management (see personals section, this issue).
Staples unveiled a “Working Well” campaign, positioning itself as the pandemic’s “move-forward resource for everything from social distancing in the workplace to productive Zoom calls at home.” It’s marketing common items like gloves, masks and hand sanitizer for a safe return to the physical office, plus clear partitions, air filtration products, and signs and social-distancing markers.
In Webex, Cisco has “the most trusted secure platform for remote collaboration for the enterprise,” said CEO Chuck Robbins on a fiscal Q4 investor call Wednesday. Webex had double-digit growth in the quarter, “as businesses, governments, educators and front-line workers everywhere have embraced remote work,” he said. “We expect this momentum to continue, as we have begun to see the conversion of free trials into paid subscriptions.” Many Cisco customers are delaying their purchasing decisions in certain areas, “while increasing spend in others until they have greater visibility and clarity on the timing and shape of the global economic recovery,” said Robbins. The COVID-19 pandemic has “triggered a massive and rapid shift to remote operations and automation to maximize personal safety.” The stock closed 11.2% lower Thursday at $42.72.
The Conference Board’s CEO confidence index had a 1-point uptick in Q3 to 45 points from the second quarter, it reported Thursday. A reading below 50 reflects more negative than positive responses. The board compiled the index in collaboration with The Business Council. About 38% of the CEOs canvassed expect to trim their workforces in the next 12 months, the survey found. With “uncertain economic conditions likely to persist,” more than a third also don't foresee raising pay in the next year, but 37% expressed little worry in attracting qualified talent, said the board: “Without substantial containment of COVID-19, widespread uncertainty will continue being the dominant cloud hanging over America’s CEO community.” CEOs remained pessimistic about current economic conditions, “though to a lesser extent than in the second quarter,” said the board. Nearly 90% said conditions were worse compared with six months earlier, down from 100% who said so in Q2. Only 8% said economic conditions were better. About three-quarters said conditions in their own industries were worse compared with six months earlier, down from 82% last quarter. About 17% said conditions were better in their own industries, up from 10% in Q2.
CTA’s Tech Tracker survey found 17% of U.S. homes canvassed Aug. 7-9 bought laptops that week, “as many families prepare to go back to school remotely,” said the association Thursday. That’s the highest percentage of laptop purchases recorded since CTA launched the biweekly tech-use survey at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, it said. “For many, going back to school in person isn’t an option,” said CTA Director-Research Lesley Rohrbaugh. The “collaboration” that technology enables “will be crucial for remote learning and social connection,” she said. High demand for telework and remote-learning connectivity tools sent Q2 laptop and tablet imports soaring by triple digits from Q1 (see 2008090002).
AMC Theatres planned reopenings Thursday in more than 100 U.S. locations under its “Safe & Clean” COVID-19 protocols, floating an admission price of 15 cents for the day to lure customers back to the movies. The promotion, “Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices,” is a nod to the chain’s centennial. AMC is running a phased plan to reopen in the U.S., said the company. It plans to open about two-thirds of its 600-plus theater locations in time for the Sept. 3 release of Warner Bros.’ Tenet, following Disney's Aug. 28 release of The New Mutants. Some 300 additional locations are expected to reopen during the following two weeks. The remaining U.S. AMC theaters will open “only after authorized to do so by state and local officials,” said the chain. AMC plans additional promotions after the 15-cent opening day offer for re-releases: Black Panther, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Grease and StarWars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back will be priced at $5 ahead of The New Mutants release. New movie releases -- also including Unhinged, Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, Cut Throat City and Words on Bathroom Walls -- will have regular ticket prices, it said.
Research shows with at least 60% “confidence” that social distancing works in curbing the spread of COVID-19, Elder Research CEO Gerhard Pilcher told a Northern Virginia Technology Council webinar Wednesday. Elder studied U.S. seasonal flu statistics for the past decade as a “control,” finding that cases in the last four weeks of the 2020 flu season declined much more rapidly than in the comparable periods of previous years. The reduction in the flu coincided with COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates that began mid-March in much of the U.S., said Pilcher. “It’s a strong indication that the social distancing and lockdowns were having an impact, just looking at flu data,” he said. There also was a “pretty precipitous drop” in 2020 flu hospitalizations “as we implemented some of the travel restrictions and social distancing,” he said. Pilcher estimates the COVID-19 lockdowns shortened the 2020 flu season by four weeks. Data analytics suggest actual COVID-19 cases are being undercounted by a factor of 15 to 20, said Pilcher. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital had 215 childbirths between March 22 and April 14 and decided to test all 215 mothers for the coronavirus, he said. Of the 33 who tested positive -- a 15.3% infection rate -- 29 were “completely asymptomatic,” he said. “That was 7.25 asymptomatic cases for every symptomatic case. This was a pretty big number in a pretty controlled environment.”