skignz @ CES 2018, Las Vegas, US

This year's Consumer Electronics Show CES2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was the first visit in 10 years for our CEO Simon Brown, and a first for most of the skignz team.

Was it any different to the last visit (pre skignz)? OMG yes! 

If nothing else just the sheer scale of the event is literally on another planet compared to a decade ago! 

One aspect, was the multiple locations across Las Vegas for various parts of the show. 

The hosted Brand VIP parties, have got way way way bigger, one we attended was in the biggest club in Las Vegas and had a free bar till 11pm - 2,500 thousand people packed into the X Club and danced and partied away to loud music by top Dj’s, food was provided and again, a free bar.

If your asking yourself, why was skignz there? 

It's quite simple ... Many of the people we do business with, clients, partners, prospective clients etc … were there, if not exhibiting or presenting, they were looking to catch up with us and others in one location. This actually proves very cost effective if you have a global client base and real time, in person interaction is scarce.

Furthermore many companies announce new products/technology etc. at CES, so it's a great opportunity to see it first hand. For skignz, it's a way to understand more about who, what and why the people attending/exhibiting are interested in AR. 

In gaps between meetings, many miles were walked to interact and understand what competitors (indirect and direct) are doing, speaking with brands who are not currently utilising AR and what are the reasons behind that?

Many conversations happen at CES, most of them were in the bars, restaurants and clubs after the official show was finished. Much of the skignz time was spent speaking to various audiences in these places. 

Jokingly, it was said, that we felt we had been sat in the lobby bar at The Aria, for 2 days without moving… looking back at our expenses that is borne out.

Suffice to say although it was a great experience to be back at CES, however the sheer size of the show is now one of its major issues!

Too much going on, difficult standing out in the crowd unless what you have is very novel, or you have such a large budget, attendees can't fail to see what you are doing, i.e. BMW with their 'M versions' of all models being drifted and spun around a hotel car park all day, every day! 

A great advertisement for tyre durability, surely there is a tentative link to tech or consumer electronics in there somewhere.

If you want to find out more about skignz, then please visit our new recently launched website (www.skignz.com) as well as the usual social media channels.

 

The Teams Work: Nick Vilardell

I’m an entrepreneur and a business developer at heart. In 2006 I co-founded 360Brandvision in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. A leading holographic display firm specialising in designing new ways to hold and capture an audiences attention for major brands.

As the VP of Business Development I was responsible for marketing the concept to companies such as Google, BMW and Siemens as well as marketing to the casinos. Working with MGM Resorts, Venetian and Planet Hollywood. 

360 Brand Vision 

I attended Cal State Long Beach (California, USA) focussed on strategic marketing and business. I’ve overseen teams of employees as well as interns helping set career development paths with strong goals and objectives. 

So how do I fit with skignz? Having been in the tech field for the last 15 years it's very rare you come across a technology like Skignz ... I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of bringing this unique technology to the US. 

Also I was very keen on their focus on working with graduates and interns to harness the power of the young energetic and creative minds, to deliver skignz in a way that relates to its audiences in a more dynamic way. Their work with universities, student interns and graduates is very much akin to my way of thinking and further enforced my inital impression of them.

Las Vegas is seen at the 'global capital of gambling' and my experience of working with the casino groups on increasing their customer experiences; skignz provides a solution to the casino's biggest challenge! Which is getting people from the Las Vegas strip to come into their casinos ... skignz will change the way casinos enage with their customers allowing them to promote their loyalty programs, free play and other promotions.

Conventions centres can now offer skingz as part of the exhibition show attendees package: the skingz app to download and view upcoming events, major sponsor parties and things that are going on within the conference, this opens up a whole new world of data and engagement outside of the event that until now the convention companies or even the exhibiting companies have not been able to measure!

My interests focus on brand building and market strategy as well as emerging new technologies. Although my professional and personal lives intersect, I’m also passionate about traveling, film, staying active, golf and meeting new exciting people.