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

Something Hilarious Happens When Potential Customers See That a Product Has AI Features

In another study highlighted by the WSJ, researchers at the firm Parks Associates surveyed around 4,000 US consumers' feelings towards AI marketing, with a slightly more blunt approach: "We straight u...

Top 10 Outdoor Security Cameras for Unmatched Peace of Mind

The Parks Associates 2024 Connected Home Research emphasizes the growing importance of smart detection features, such as distinguishing people, vehicles, or animals, to reduce false alerts and improve...

Can too much AI backfire? Study reveals why ‘AI-powered’ products are turning buyers away

A related survey by Parks Associates, also cited by The Wall Street Journal, found that 58% of the 4,000 American respondents said the presence of the term “AI” made no difference in their buying deci...

Why Smart Home Compatibility Still Sucks in 2025 — And How GearBrain Can Fix It

Parks Associates estimates over 60% of U.S. broadband households now own at least one smart home device. From the article, "Why Smart Home Compatibility Still Sucks in 2025 — And How GearBrain Can...