Costa Mesa-based Stomp Inc., a maker of labeling software for compact discs, is going all out for this week’s Comdex/Fall 2000, the annual Las Vegas extravaganza showcasing the latest in technology. Company founder and President Mike Hummell plans to set up seven circus tents and give away 10,000 noise makers called “yakety-yaks” that Humell himself described as “really obnoxious.” The company also plans to give away $1,000 every 90 minutes to passersby,for a total of $20,000 in cash. The end game: the company hopes to lure 30,000 people into its 30-foot-by-60-foot booth. “We’re trying to do something that is not corporate and that will catch everyone’s attention and they’ll come by to see what we are about,” Hummell said. In all, Stomp plans to spend $300,000 making itself known at Comdex. The company counts 55 employees and is aiming for $40 million in revenue next year, according to Hummell. Stomp is one of dozens of Orange County companies set to tout their wares and executives at Comdex. More than 2,300 companies have bought space totaling more than 1 million square feet of convention space, reversing a downward trend from previous years. The show is expected to attract 200,000 visitors from today through Friday.
Top OC executives such as Henry Nicholas, co-chairman of Irvine-based Broadcom Corp., are expected to be on hand. Among the activities planned by local companies:
—Santa Ana-based Ingram Micro Inc. plans to announce the launch of mobile Internet access to its online marketplace, PartnershipAmerica.com, which connects technology vendors with government and education buyers. Ingram Micro also plans to unveil a new program for the application service provider market.
—Broadcom, which took a hit on Wall Street last week, is aiming to convince analysts, potential clients and financial reporters that it’s a dominant player in networking and holds the record for being first to market with the newest industry-changing technology. The chip maker plans to introduce new home networking products and its representatives will answer questions about what homes will need to connect their computers and appliances to the Internet.
—Irvine-based Toshiba Computer Systems Division is sending out blue toothbrushes to tout its newest technology for the emerging wireless networking system known as Bluetooth.
—Disk drive guru Al Shugart has limousines picking up reporters to show them his flagship Irvine-based Shugart Technologies Inc. and the 14 other companies that he has started since leaving Seagate Technology Inc.
—Costa Mesa-based Emulex Corp. is planning to demonstrate its new 2-gigabit-per-second fibre channel host adapter. The company also is set to demonstrate its brand new SBus card.
—Irvine-based WayTech Development Inc. is set to unveil a new product called Software Promos, which helps companies market online. The 10-employee U.S. subsidiary of Taiwan’s WayTech Development also plans to detail a new partnership with Compaq Computer Corp.
—Newport Beach-based Conexant Systems Inc. is scaling back it’s presense and won’t have a booth. But its personal computing division plans to hold pre-briefings on a home networking announcement set for release in December.
—Canon Computer Systems Inc. of Costa Mesa plans to host a suite to display its newest color printers for the home and small offices.
Not all OC tech companies are going to Comdex, which over the years has grown from a meeting place for buyers and sellers to a promotional free-for-all. Irvine-based public relations firm Lages and Associates said none of its eight tech clients are heading out to Las Vegas. Paula Brici, vice president of client services, said the firm’s clients are using a more focused marketing approach to reach key clients and don’t see Comdex as an ideal forum. “The resources required to rise above the noise and garner attention at a show like Comdex are tremendous,” Brici said. “For many of our clients, particularly those that are newer companies with an Internet and/or e-commerce orientation, there’s not a negative stigma attached to not participating in Comdex.” But Stomp’s Hummell said he expects Comdex to be well worth the money the company is spending to be noticed. He said his goal is to make a good impression on key national and international distributors.
“When they see our effort, they get excited about our product,” he said. n
