Mobile Makeovers

Everywhere they go—from riding the train to ordering lattes at Starbucks—tech-savvy consumers carry decorated phone cases and iPad sleeves. At the office, docking stations have full-time jobs powering electronics from 9 to 5, not to mention products like portable batteries and touch-screen styli, which are useful for cube-dwellers and road-warriors both. Given their popularity, it's no wonder that the promotional product industry has been getting creative with computer and phone accessories. From waterproof speakers to screen cleaning cloths, there's a product to meet every need.

Technology evolves so rapidly that the release of the iPhone 12 this month would hardly come as a shock. But what should you expect from tech accessories? Read on to find out.

ELEC-TREND-ICS
When marketing electronics accessories, David Fiderer, director of marketing for Prime Line, Bridgeport, Conn., emphasized the benefit of staying up-to-date on technology news. "As a supplier of tech accessories, we must keep up with the changing trends in order to capitalize on what is a very hot market right now," he said. New devices are released frequently, often at different sizes and specifications. "The challenge for us is to respond quickly with accessories for the new models while continuing to market universal accessories that work with both new and older devices," Fiderer said.

To overcome the challenge of rapid change, Prime Line is offering desktop tech accessories with broad utility and longevity, like its multifunctional phone holders. "These holders provide great desk exposure for end-buyers while giving users a home for their phone, along with other benefits," Fiderer explained. Products such as their Smiley Guy holder double as a stress ball; they also offer a model that comes with a screen cleaner. Other versions of Prime Line's tech accessories battle basic, universal problems such as tangled cords. "Our new Gumbite line of cable organizers addresses this need by helping to maintain a clean and organized workspace," he said.