BEDFORD, Mass., April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corp.
(NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots, today announced
it is diversifying its product offerings with the introduction of
the iRobot H1 handheld
vacuum for cleaning hard-to-reach areas like
couches, curtains and stairs. The company also reported
continued progress in its efforts to offer new services that
provide customers with greater purchase protection and flexibility,
such as its Protect and Protect+ extended warranties, and
positive early test results from iRobot Select, its
robot-as-a-service membership program.
As previously reported, iRobot's direct-to-consumer sales more
than doubled in the fourth quarter and generated 11% of total 2020
revenue while the company continued to enjoy strong demand from
major retailers worldwide. During 2020, iRobot's connected customer
base grew over 80% to 9.7 million customers. The introduction of a
new premium handheld vacuum and broad commercial availability of
extended warranty packages are the latest milestones in the
company's efforts to build stronger, more enduring direct
relationships with its customers and nurture the lifetime value of
these relationships.
"We have always believed that the future of vacuuming is a
Roomba robot and a cordless vacuum for hard-to-reach places. The H1
handheld vacuum complements our existing product lineup by offering
customers a premium iRobot solution for cleaning beyond the floor.
It also represents the first product introduction that leverages
our enhanced direct-to-consumer capabilities, allowing for another
efficient way to bring new products to market," said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. "We've
also been delighted with the frequency at which customers are
adding extended warranty coverage when they purchase robots
directly from us. In addition, we have been pleased thus far by the
overwhelmingly positive response from our small-scale pilots of new
premium membership and care services."
iRobot H1 Handheld Vacuum
The iRobot H1 handheld vacuum rounds out a Roomba® or
Braava® robot user's cleaning routine by tackling spaces
like couches and stairs. It includes three specialized
accessories: a motorized upholstery tool, a crevice tool and a
2-in-1 combination tool for quick dusting anywhere. The handheld
vacuum's adjustable power setting provides strong suction for
heavier messes and a lower suction option for daily touchups and
longer run time. Dust and pollen stay trapped by a dual filtration
system that includes a high-efficiency exhaust filter.
The iRobot H1 handheld vacuum is available for purchase in the
U.S. ($249.99) on www.irobot.com.
Availability in other markets is not being announced at this
time.
iRobot Protect and Protect+ Extended Warranties
iRobot Roomba and Braava robots are sold with a limited,
one-year warranty. U.S. customers can now extend their warranties
with iRobot Protect for an additional one-year or three-year term
that covers the robot and its battery, along with free shipping and
on-demand access to experts who help customers get the most from
their robots. Additional information about iRobot Protect is
available on www.irobot.com/protection-plan/protect. Alternatively,
U.S. customers can purchase iRobot Protect+, which not only extends
the length of warranty by either one or three years including free
shipping and on-demand access to experts, but also includes
accidental damage coverage. Accidental damage coverage begins from
the date of purchase and is active through the length of the
extended warranty. Additional information about iRobot Protect+ is
available on www.irobot.com/protection-plan/protect-plus.
About iRobot Corporation
iRobot, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and
builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and
outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning
category with the introduction of its Roomba® Robot
Vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold
more than 30 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line,
including the Roomba® and the Braava® family
of mopping robots, feature proprietary technologies and advanced
concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. iRobot engineers are
building an ecosystem of robots and technologies to enable the
smart home. For more information about iRobot, please
visit www.irobot.com.
For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based
on historical information are forward-looking statements which are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release
contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to
iRobot Corporation's expectations concerning product launches,
service offerings, as well as management's plans, objectives and
strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees,
but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of
which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking
statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot undertakes no obligation
to update or revise the information contained in this press
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding
these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained
in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
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SOURCE iRobot Corporation