Is our house big enough for this TV?

Observation:   Like anyone who was out-and-about before the Super Bowl last week, I saw more than a few people walking out of discount or big-box stores with a grand new television to watch the game.  And I noticed that people are not just buying typical TVs.  They’re choosing between large, extra-large, and ridiculous!

A recent story from the New York Times provided an interesting look at the trend toward owning a massive television.  Click here to see it.

Implications:   Tremendous televisions purchased during a still fragile economic time might seem counter-intuitive, but for many consumers, it makes all the sense in the world.  First, not everyone is feeling financially pinched… in fact, more and more people are feeling confident about their job security and the economy. 

But even for those who are still in a frugal state of mind, a big television is easy to rationalize.  It can be cheap entertainment for households who are going out less.  And it’s not just a place to watch games or shows… it’s a gaming screen, a Skype monitor, and even a computer display.  Like almost any marketing message… it is simply a matter of how the consumer puts it into context.

Mike Anderson, for the Elm Street Economics consumer trends blog. A service of The Center for Sales Strategy, Inc.