CES 2017: Fossil Group prepares to double its wearables count in 2017
This time last year, Fossil said it would launch more than 140 wearables in 2016. That sounded a bit ridiculous to us, but the company held good on its promise. Fossil is now doubling down on its original bid, and has announced it will increase its wearables count in 2017 to more than 300 products! The announcement was made at CES 2017 in Las Vegas.
Fossil stated they will be extending the Fossil Q hybrid smartwatch line with Fossil Q Accomplice, featuring the brand’s slimmest case to date. Earlier in the day, Fossil owned Misfit deputed Vapor, their first touchscreen smartwatch with heart rate and GPS. And Armani Exchange entered the wearables market with the introduction of Armani Exchange Connected, a collection of hybrid smartwatches.
Many other hybrid smartwatches and activity trackers will be released through the year across Fossil’s various brands.
“Customers crave connectivity that doesn’t compromise style. We’re creating more options to seamlessly integrate desired tech features into our customers’ style and lifestyle,” said Greg McKelvey, the company’s chief strategy and digital officer.
“Fossil Group’s design, scale, speed to market and unrivalled portfolio of fashion brands, coupled with our cloud and app platform, and tech and hardware innovation, have pulled us ahead of the wearables pack.”
Fossil devices look and feel like regular analog watches, but under the hood have technology which allows them to count your steps, distance and calories, monitor sleep patterns and push notifications to your wrist. For more detailed data, you need to head over to the accompanying smartphone app. Each brand’s app and watches provide slightly different functionality, but the common thread is simplicity.
“For more than 30 years, our products have set the category’s standard in fashion design. Now as we apply that same design-first focus to wearables, the feedback we’re getting from customers and retail partners is to keep bringing them more of it,” McKelvey added:
“In particular, the success of our hybrid smartwatches has proven that our consumers want a balance of function and fashion. We’ve effectively filled that gap in the market. Hybrids pack the power needed to efficiently accomplish daily tasks in a beautifully-crafted timepiece.”
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