“Go where the customers are,” is an old marketing and sales bromide. And Getgeeked Media followed that advice by holding its New York event at the Brooklyn Expo Center, right near one of the capitals of millennials: Williamsburg.
A variety of CE and tech-related companies showed their wares to the media and, more importantly, many of the locals who live in and near this hipster capital.
Companies showing their wares ranged from start-ups to established makers, all trying to get the attention of young consumers.
For instance, PowerUp Toys unveiled its next generation of paper airplanes, the Powerup FPV. Described as the “only first-person-view paper airplane drone,” the Powerup FPV embeds a camera to transmit a live video stream of the flight experience straight to the user’s smartphone with a range of 300 feet. It is launching on Kickstarter early next month, with availability slated for next Father’s Day.
JVC Professional Video demonstrated its upgraded 4K camcorders, specifically the flagship GY-LS300. Don’t let the word “Professional” fool you; the camera will be sold at retail, including B&H Photo, and will have a street price of $3,495. In a statement Dave Walton, assistant VP of marketing communications explained why JVC was here: “The Getgeeked event attracts influential and passionate tech enthusiasts.”
Podo showed a different type of camera, described as “stick and shoot”: a Bluetooth-controlled still and video unit. The Podo is 1.8 ounces with 4GB of memory. It can shoot 8-megapixel stills and record 720p 30 fps video. It’s available now at its website, Podolabs.com, for $99. Units will be shipped to its Kickstarter backers early next year, and pre-orders will be shipped soon afterward.
Hirsch and Light showed HandL, a grip-less phone case designed to be a national extension of your hand, allowing users to “wear your phone,” the company said. Priced at $49.95, the HandL is available for the iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
JBL was also there with its wide variety of portable audio speakers including the Xtreme, priced at $299. The Bluetooth speaker provides stereo sound and uses a rechargeable 10,000 mAh litihium-ion battery that supports 15 hours of playtime, along with a dual USB charge out.
HomeAdvisor exhibited at the event to explain to homeowners how to find the best service professionals for electronics, appliances, plumbing, construction and many more services. Service providers are pre-screened and pay to be listed on the site. Access to the site for consumers is free. HomeAdvisor also provides design ideas, budgeting tools and advice, as well as more than 5 million reviews and ratings from fellow consumers.
Finally Technicolor, which owns and licenses RCA, used this event to discuss the “reintroduction” of the brand to millennials. We should soon see if RCA and the rest of these brands can attract more attention —and sales — from millennials by the end of the fourth quarter.
Steve Smith is editor at large of TWICE and was its longtime editor in chief.
