Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

A new vacuum can alert you to incoming text messages. Why?

"The appliance category becoming connected does add a lot of opportunities to provide new information to a consumer," says Elizabeth Parks, the president and chief marketing officer at Parks Associates, which does market research on consumer tech and works with some manufacturers.

"How much energy is being used? Does that tie to any bills? Are there any alerts about the performance of the appliance? You know, especially that energy efficiency part can translate to dollars saved," she says.

"It creates a service model, right? You sell the large appliance, the refrigerator or the washer dryer, and then maybe you sell the maintenance that goes with it," Parks says.

Cost is one factor holding many people back from buying the premium AI appliances, as well as a perception that there isn't an added value in the smart features and security and privacy concerns, according to Parks Associates survey data.

From the article, "A new vacuum can alert you to incoming text messages. Why?" by James Doubek

Previously In The News

Why Roku Is the Internet Video Box Leader, While Google Is Slipping

Only 14% of consumers who owned an Internet video streaming device used one from Google in the first quarter, down from 18% a year earlier and 21% two years ago, according to surveys by research firm...

People Sharing Netflix, Hulu, Cable Passwords with, You Guessed It, Millennials in the Lead

The overall numbers have increased over time, based on research reports issued on a regular basis. In 2015, Parks Associates said that 10% of U.S. households with broadband used a streaming-service ac...

The Internet of Medical Things Gold Rush (And My Grandfather's Wooden Leg)

Equally important is the demand side of the equation, symbolized by an aging population with high rates of chronic disease. According to Parks Associates, nearly half of U.S. households with broadband...

Can We Outsmart Technology In The Race To Smarter Homes?

Right now, consumer use is all over the map. Homeowners lose interest in some technologies in a matter of months, and with others, like speakers and Google Home, usage doesn’t pick up until after the...