Resellers learn to play the keyboard

Business resellers are enjoying a mini-boom in keyboard sales.

Mice and keyboards are, if you’ll forgive the expression, peripheral to many resellers’ concerns. But they are extremely important. Unreliable, flimsy or awkward keyboards and mice can have a negative effect on how end-users perceive the systems they have been sold.

Research house GfK tracks additional purchase sales of keyboards and mice. Although the market is dominated by mass merchandise resellers, GfK account manager Holly Baker said business resellers are enjoying a mini-boom in keyboard sales.

“The three-year replacement cycle for business keyboards seems to be stronger this year,” she said. “There’s massive turnaround. It’s mostly standalone replacements rather than complete desk sets.”

Baker said sales of keyboards through IT resellers previously hovered around 15 or 20 per cent, but that resellers now make up 34 per cent of the market. About 300,000 mice are sold a month, a number boosted by customers buying mice for notebook computers.

Baker predicted: “The business buying cycle will continue, with small businesses buying multi- and business packs through resellers.”

The key route to market for keyboards and mice, especially in desk sets, are the retail and mail order channels. Baker noted that desk sets have to be visually appealing for consumers, but businesses are not so picky, hence their reliance on multipacks.

According to GfK, only five per cent of the market for keyboards is wireless. Although Bluetooth and infrared attract some attention, the vast majority of devices are still corded. Sales of wireless products do not match the hype, and the reason is simple. Keyboards only cost as little as £10 to £15, making cordless versions look very expensive.