The holiday shopping season is off to a strong start for the consumer electronics industry thanks to a variety of new tablet and television offerings. Individuals are shelling out in a big way when it comes to the hottest, portable electronics, according to Abt Electronics (www.abt.com), one of the nation’s largest independent retailers.

The retailer experienced an increased amount of foot-traffic in store and online during Black Friday with consumers looking for the latest tablets, high-definition televisions and the always practical digital cameras.

"Consumers have a strong desire to get their hands on the newest technology and their spending habits will likely reflect this trend all season," says ABT Co-President Jon Abt. "In a multitasking world, consumers are looking for the fastest and latest way to connect to the internet while on-the-go. It’s not surprising to see consumers’ holiday spending leaning towards technology, like tablets, that makes their lives simpler."

Abt Electronics experienced a 5% increase in visitors to its store this year, which yielded a 22% increase in sales from Black Friday 2011. Among the best-selling in-store products were the Samsung 32-inch HDTVs and Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras.

Abt Electronics also reported a 50% increase in the retailer’s e-commerce sales on Black Friday. Their website traffic was up 40% and Abt.com customers spent 39% more than they did in 2011.