German company TobyRich hopes to sign travel retail deals at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in a bid to expand the distribution of its smart phone-controlled micro gadgets.
The company’s Head of Sales and Marketing Worldwide Olaf Krogmann said TobyRich will be presenting its micro technology to prospective travel retailers from the booth of its distribution partner, Hanse Distribution (Stand Number: Yellow Village E42).
“TobyRich is a new company and we’re not yet well known in travel retail,” said Krogmann, who was the former head of Carrera International and Menrad prior to joining TobyRich. “I was responsible for brands such as Davidoff, so I know the market quite well.”
However, Krogmann was quick to add that the company is looking for selective distribution and doesn’t want to expand too quickly. “We want to go more or less region by region to make it as professional as possible,” said Krogmann, adding that he is hoping to target mainly young businessmen who would like to use this type of gadget after long, boring meetings to have some fun.
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Through TobyRich’s partnership with Hanse Distribution, the MicroSUV is already listed onboard Lufthansa and Swiss and, from September, KLM and Air Berlin |
In June, TobyRich broke into the European airline market through its partnership with Hanse Distribution. It is currently selling its MicroSUV (€94) through medium and long-haul flights of Lufthansa and Swiss and, from September, KLM and Air Berlin.
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Ready for take-off: TobyRich has high hopes for its SmartPlane in the travel retail channel |
Similar to the MicroCar and MicroSUV, the latest addition to the TobyRich SmartCollection, the SmartPlane, can also be controlled by the user’s iPhone. The SmartPlane will make its debut in Cannes along with the SmartBoat and Cruise Ship, which will be available from 1 January 2014. Krogmann said TobyRich will also be looking for distribution through cruise ship companies.
The micro gadgets are controlled through an app that the user downloads to their iPhone via the App Store. The app allows them to steer the airplane by tilting the phone to the left or right.
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The SmartBoat will be launched into travel retail at the Cannes show |
The gadgets use Bluetooth 4.0 to transmit the user’s commands from their smart phone to the gadget so that they move and increase speed under the user’s control. For example, the SmartPlane app features an image of an airplane cockpit and if the user wants to accelerate, they swipe the throttle upwards to mimic how a pilot would on a real plane.
Both the MicroCar and MicroSUV are also supported for Android devices with the app available for purchase on Google Play. The company is waiting for the next Android software update before the SmartPlane app will be available on that platform.
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The SmartPlane is controlled through an app resembling an airplane cockpit that the user downloads to their iPhone via the App Store |
