Image copyright Getty Images The history of GoPro started when Nick Woodman invented a camera, tied it to his hand with a rubber band and went for a surf.
That was in 2002. In the following ten years, the idea became billionaire, and until recently, only a couple of years ago, the executive highest paid in the united States.
In an event held this week in the impressive resort of Squaw Valley, California, usa, Woodman came to the stage to load, literally, with the weight of expectations on his shoulders.
In his backpack he carried the Karma, the first drone GoPro, a device expected with great enthusiasm.
ill results of the company in the last few months have made Woodman between the sword and the wall.
Atmosphere with screams
When he released the drone to his audience-a mix of employees of GoPro, athletes and journalists – the cries of the crowd made the atmosphere in the presentation of the last release, Apple seems discreet and silent.
In the event Woodman also unveiled the first significant update of the GoPro in two years.
The star products, the camera Hero5 Black and her sister more easily, the Hero 5 Session, they come both with voice activation, which means that a cry of “GoPro, it starts to burn” has the expected effect.
The introduction of a system of electronic image stabilization helps reduce image shaking recorded during bicycle rides. The sound is also better now.
expensive Product
The device flying Karma costs$ 799 without a camera. If you decide to include the camera Hero5 Black, will cost$ 1.099. Or you can get it with the Hero5 Session for $ 999. In other words, it costs a lot of money.
But the key selling point -and one that received more applause than the same drone – it was the “gimbal” removable from the drone.
The “gimbal”, in case you’re not an expert “nerd” of photography, it is a device that is used to stabilize a camera, adding a counterweight. That means that even if you go running off with the camera -or the focus to a drone – it’s not going to shake.
there Was an excitement in the atmosphere. Many were nervous. Since, unlike the first 13 years of the company, in which the money continued coming in with full hands, for GoPro 2016has been a bad year.
you have Not registered benefits and revenues fell by close to 50% in some quarters in comparison to 2015.
Under pressure
what Is Woodman feeling the pressure?
“Yes,” he told the BBC.
“But not for the price of the shares.
We are transparent. Honest with our customers and our investors about what is our vision”.
the share price of GoPro has been reduced by 80% compared to its peak in 2014. Rose briefly to advertise the new product, but it fell again when he got to know the prices.
Woodman has promised investors a return to profitability before the end of 2016.
We asked if this was still possible. “Yes,” was the brief reply.
“These products are the best that we’ve done,” he added.
His logic is that the cameras Hero4, launched two years ago, are still selling quite well.
The Navidad
The executive believes that a campaign is ambitious in the media with the launch of a new product will make the sales of the GoPro is to shoot in the christmas season.
We are transparent. Honest with our customers and our investors about what is our vision
Nick Woodman
AFP
The enthusiasm of Woodman is contagious. Now demonstrates both GoPro as well as in on that beach in 2002.
But you know that GoPro has a Christmas hard ahead, to the time that to struggle in a market that they created but since then has a lot more competition.
The purists and the elite athletes of the world love a GoPro, but sometimes it is more expensive.
GoPro has sold a life style for the kind of people who will throw themselves willingly into dangerous situations.
the problem is that The group by itself is not sufficient to assure GoPro to the success that you need.
The real task is to convince the parents of the world that do not use their phone and instead, pay for a camera.
And that is a challenge increasingly more difficult.
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