Technology is complicated. No matter how into gadgets you are sometimes it just seems like the tech in your life doesn’t want to do what you think it should do and doesn’t fit in with your lifestyle.
“It’s not very human friendly, it’s too complicated and there’s not a lot of transparency,” Esther Lee one of a small knit team behind Icon Q said of technology in general.
Icon Q prides itself as being technology with heart. The Long Island based company started late last fall and launched their online shop this summer. They’re trying to make tech friendly by producing simple, beautiful, quality made wireless products. Right now those products are Bluetooth speakers, headphones and tablets, although they’re slowly expanding their offering.
The Icon Q team Left to right, Jason Weber (Strategy and E-Commerce), Esther Lee (Marketing), Ray Lee (Product Management and Sales)
Headphones start at $60, tablets at $80. But don’t think because the prices are lower than a lot of their competition the product is missing something. The lowest priced tablet on an android operating system has a 7-inch screen that is 800 x 420 pixels and 8GB of storage. It’s designed for those looking for a tablet to play games, watch videos, check email or shop online The most expensive tablet at $160 has a 7.85 screen, 1024 x 7268 pixels, 8GB with a slot for up to 32G and also runs on the android system.
“Our prices are lower because we’re giving the costumer fair value,” Lee said. “You’re often overpaying at other brands.”
The small team gets the inspiration for their products from their own tech needs.
“We’re not going to create a product unless people will use it,” Lee said. “We want to evolve the style of electronics. We’re striving for a look and feel that’s more natural and modern than what’s out there.”
Icon Q wants it to be a pleasure to choose a new tech product, which is in part way you won’t find Icon Q products in traditional tech retail stores such as Best Buy, right now they’re mainly online but are also working on partnering with other small Long Island business to have their products in their stores, such as clothing store, or a home décor store.
“It’s about a lifestyle,” Lee said.
Pulse Insider is featuring small business owners from a different Long Island neighborhood once a week—and we’d love to know about your favorite small business. Tells us about your town’s best small businesses and we might feature them in an upcoming story.