Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/620703
C o n s u m e r E l e c t r o n i c s D a i l y N e w s T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 7 , 2 0 1 6 3 4 Z. REISS: YOUR GLOBAL ELECTRONICS AND HOUSEWARES MULTI-BRAND PROVIDER For more than a quarter century, Z. Reiss and Associates has been a leading nation- al distributor of consumer electronics and housewares. The global premier brands provider continues to focus on multi- channel sales, merchandising, supply chain management, reverse logistics and end-to-end customer support. In addition to servicing all sizes and types of tradi- tional retailers, Z. Reiss also continues to excel as a best in class drop ship fulfill- ment partner across premium and special markets, as well as all e-commerce chan- nels. While it remains focused as a nation- al provider of premier multiple brand offerings, the expert Z. Reiss sales staff are dedicated to managing, merchandis- ing and servicing accounts across the full industry spectrum and continues to iden- tify and establish emerging growth cate- gories. Core product category competen- cies include the traditional types of con- sumer electronics and housewares, in addition to a wide vari- ety of other categories, such as digital cameras, batteries, mobile elec- tronics, telephones, com- puters, tablets, digital media, cell phones and accessory products. The company balances its volume between in-line con- tinuity programming, excess and end-of- life-cycle product opportunities, as well as drop ship fulfillment with national and regional retailers of all sizes. This will be Z. Reiss' 26th year dis- playing products on the International CES ® show floor. The hottest new con- sumer demand products and categories from brands such as Panasonic, Logitech, SanDisk, Belkin, Sansui, Samsung, Philips, Magnavox, RCA, Canon, Magellan, AT&T, ProScan, Impecca, V- Tech, Transcend and Uniden will be highlight- ed at the Z. Reiss booth, #30826 in the South Hall. Meet and speak directly to one of the company's educated industry professionals about Z. Reiss' "one-stop shop" national distribu- tion strategy. As a leading electronics and housewares wholesaler, Z. Reiss remains committed to providing fast, easy and reliable service in this era of rapidly changing and ever-evolving technolo- gies. Visit Z. Reiss at booth #30826. For more information, call 718.499.6900 or e-mail meetus@zreiss.com. SAVE TIME WITH THE LITTER-ROBOT III OPEN AIR When we imagine the future, we dream of products that will make our lives easi- er, free our time and reduce the amount of work it takes to simply live. We think of products that are more precise, intu- itive, smarter — products that consume fewer resources, that harmonize with nature, that are greener. And when we imagine those futuris- tic products, we think big — flying cars — and small — a three-course meal in a pill. Extraordinary products to accom- plish ordinary things. Because that's what the future is about: taking the work out of daily chores, so we have more time and energy for the things we want to do. The Litter-Robot is the future: an automatic, self-cleaning litter box for cats that frees you from the chore of scooping litter. The Litter-Robot III Open Air knows when your cat is inside and when it's time to clean up. Once your cat exits, a variable timer counts down, allowing lit- ter to clump, before a cleaning cycle begins. As the globe rotates, the patented sifting system collects waste and deposits it into a carbon-filtered drawer below. The globe returns to the home position, leaving a clean, level bed of litter for the next use. Empty the waste drawer when indicated and add litter as needed, about once per week. It's that simple. The Open Air accommo- dates cats of all sizes and is great for multiple cat homes. Its design contains odors, virtually elimi- nating that telltale litter box smell. No need to purchase special products, just clumping litter and garbage bags to line the waste drawer — or use its biodegrad- able ones. The company designs, engineers and manufactures the Litter-Robot in the United States. It stands behind every Litter-Robot with a 90- day money-back guarantee and an 18-month full warranty to give you the confidence to try one in your home. The Litter-Robot III Open Air frees your time, makes it easier to care for your cat and reduces your carbon footprint. It consumes less litter, lets you know when to empty it and integrates with your life seamlessly — just like the products of the future you dream about. For more information, call 877.250.7729, visit www.litter-robot.com or stop by booth #74272 in the Sands Convention Center. NEW 'U' THERMOSTAT FROM ICM CONTROLS MAKES WI-FI AFFORDABLE Starting at just $65, the new "U" thermo- stat from Syracuse, New York manufac- turer ICM Controls is set to make a big splash in the Wi-Fi marketplace. Leveraging an innovative use of capaci- tive sensing technology, the "U" paves the way for everyone to be able enjoy the convenience of controlling their heating and cooling systems remotely from their smartphone. Designed with the typical end-user in mind, the "U" is sleek and stylish, with a footprint that is no bigger than today's smartphones. Scheduled to launch this spring (pre-orders are being accepted at www.uthermostat.com), the "U" features a dynamic, cap-touch user interface and even allows end-users the ability to custom configure one or more of the buttons to match their personal preferences or needs. The "U" connects quickly and easily to an existing Wi-Fi network, with typi- cal installation and set up times taking only a few minutes. Multiple users can also control the same thermostat with the smartphone app (available for both iOS and Android platforms), allowing every- one in the household to be able to adjust set points remotely. Additionally, multiple thermostats can be con- trolled remotely from one smart- phone. "We designed the 'U' thermo- stat with the average homeowner and family in mind," said Kevin Jobsky, Director of Sales and Marketing for ICM Controls. "We stripped out many of the advanced fea- tures that most people really don't need or care about, but otherwise drive the cost up. Instead, we went for simplicity and affordability." "With that said, the 'U' is still a full- featured programmable Wi-Fi thermostat that offers homeowners reliable conven- ience of remote access with a personal touch – all for a price point that is below the cost of many standard digital models on the market today," added Jobsky. Consumers wishing to learn more about the "U" or to pre-order can do so by visiting the "U" Series website at www.uthermostat.com. CES attendees can stop by the ICM Controls booth at the Sands, Smart Home Pavilion, booth #71155 to learn more. Based in North Syracuse, New York, ICM Controls has been manufacturing thermostats for more than 15 years. Last year, the company launched its higher end i3™ Series of affordable touch ther- mostats based on the same innovative platform, and including a more robust feature set and a patent-pending, dynam- ic and intuitive interface. For more information, visit www.uthermo stat.com or stop by booth #71155. CAPITALIZING ON INNOVATION Fear of stagnation in the consumer elec- tronics (CE) market has been a concern within the CE industry for some time. While television sales are poised to increase due to the introduction of UHD/4K technology, the mobile market and other categories are forecast to grow only in single-digit percentages in 2016, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). While the CE market as a whole brought in total revenue of $211.3 million in 2015, that's only a two percent increase from last year. However, an exciting new area of opportunity lies within the emerging technologies catego- ry. Along with 3D printing and wearable fitness technology, Internet-connected devices are forecast to grow exponential- ly. A new category was added to the sales forecast in 2014: the "smart ther- mostat." This innovative device marks the introduction of the Internet of Things, a term referring to common everyday items that gain new functionality when networked. While online-enabled devices are nothing new, their intercommunica- tion certainly is. Smart crock-pots, Wi-Fi enabled coffee makers and app-con- trolled light bulbs are now being con- nected to each other. The day is fast approaching when consumers will not only be able to secure their home via a networked secu- rity system, but also change the color of their LED bulbs, adjust the heat on their ther- mostat and turn on their sprinkler system, all from the convenience of their smartphones. Just two years ago, the Internet of Things business was too small to track, but in 2014, it became an $86 million market, which is expected to grow to $1.4 billion by 2020, according to Navigant Research. As the world's largest consumer electronics distributor, Ingram Micro is positioned to enable success for companies inter- ested in the Internet of Things. Ingram Micro recognizes the solution to stagnation is inno- vation, and the Internet of Things is one of the most promising opportunities for innovation within the CE mar- ketplace. In line with Ingram Micro's vision, it is another essential component in how Ingram Micro helps the world realize the promise of technol- ogy™. For more information, go to www.ingrammicro.com.