MILESEEY XTAPE1 Launches in the U.S., Redefining Everyday Measuring Tools

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 18, 2024--

Imagine a tool that does it all: measures short distances, calculates long ones, aligns surfaces, and even gives you accurate angles, all while fitting in your hand. That’s the MILESEEY XTAPE1, a sleek, professional-grade digital laser tape measure making its U.S. debut at the end of December. On Kickstarter, the project has already attracted more than 800 supporters and raised nearly USD$200,000 with pre-sales surpassing USD$40,000, creating strong momentum for the launch.

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Known worldwide for accuracy measurement tools, MILESEEY is launching the XTAPE1 on Amazon and its website. The XTAPE1 combines a tape measure with a laser module. It is a versatile, easy-to-use tool for everyone, from woodworkers to DIYers.

“The XTAPE1 was designed with accuracy at its core to make your job easier, whether you’re a professional or tackling a weekend project. It’s a dependable, user-friendly tool designed to streamline projects. We’re excited to bring XTAPE1 to the U.S. and to see how our customers use it to make their projects easier and more creative,” said Jore Chou, the founder and CEO of MILESEEY Technology.

A tool for every task

The XTAPE1 is a game-changer for those tired of juggling multiple tools. Its modular design pairs a 12-foot retractable tape measure with a laser rangefinder that measures up to 330 feet, making it ideal for everything from furniture to vaulted ceilings.

Accuracy is where the XTAPE1 truly shines, with the digital tape providing ±1/32" precision and the laser module ±1/16". MILESEEY’s Super OptiTracking™ technology ensures reliable measurements. A woodworking DIYer from the AU. shared, "The XTAPE1 is impressive; it combines many functions in a compact device. Its versatility is a real bonus, offering features I haven’t seen in similar products."

Making measuring easier for everyone

MILESEEY didn’t just design the XTAPE1 to be functional; it’s also incredibly user-friendly. Its 2-inch IPS display is easy to read in bright or dim lighting, and the rotating screen adjusts to any angle. Large fonts and seamless unit switching make it accessible for all users.

For tasks that require alignment, like hanging shelves or setting tiles, the XTAPE1 features an upgraded green laser with a 16.4-foot range and enhanced brightness for accurate markings on uneven surfaces. A woodworker from the U.S. noted, "The green laser makes it easy to get perfect right angles, even with slight deviations. It’s great for accuracy and efficiency in woodworking."

Stellar accuracy for exceptional results

The XTAPE1 redefines accuracy with MILESEEY's advanced Super OptiTracking™ technology. Whether using digital tape or laser measure, you can rely on the XTAPE1 for precise measurements every time, regardless of the task or distance.

Super OptiTracking™ ensures smooth, stable tracking in challenging scenarios. With features like an adjustable laser reference and continuous measurement mode, it guarantees precision while minimizing errors. Whether for quick tasks or complex projects, the XTAPE1 provides the accuracy and consistency needed for flawless results.

Built for real-world challenges

MILESEEY recognizes that every job is unique, which is why the XTAPE1 includes features for hard-to-reach spaces and complex angles. Its live angle display simplifies measuring slopes or vertical lines, while smart tech calculates distances even with obstacles.

For renovations, XTAPE1 auto-calculates area and volume, making material estimation easy. The 1/N line split function helps center objects and create evenly spaced designs.

"Measuring a staircase was so much faster—just point the laser and go. It saved hours compared to a tape measure,” said an architect from the U.S.

Sustainability meets durability

MILESEEY’s XTAPE1 features a modular design with a removable, replaceable tape blade that minimizes waste and extends its lifespan. Durable and corrosion-resistant, it’s built to last. Its compact, lightweight design ensures easy handling and storage, while the app allows for seamless storage and sharing of over 3,000 measurements.

Who will love the XTAPE1?

The XTAPE1 is ideal for anyone who values accuracy and efficiency, essential for woodworkers, interior designers, DIYers, and architects. It streamlines home renovations and large construction projects. MILESEEY is recognized globally for its innovative measurement tools, with products in over 100 countries and more than 10 million users. The XTAPE1 continues this legacy, making high-tech tools accessible to all.

Availability and pre-sales

The XTAPE1 will be available at the end of December on MILESEEY’s official website and Amazon, priced at $399. The MILESEEY XTAPE1 is currently available for pre-sale. To learn more or reserve your XTAPE1, visit MILESEEY Tools and MILESEEY XTAPE1.

About MILESEEY:

Founded in 2009, MILESEEY has rapidly become a global leader in accuracy measurement tools, known for its innovation and commitment to quality. With products sold in over 100 countries, MILESEEY continues to push the limits of what’s possible in measurement technology.

XTAPE1 (Photo: Business Wire)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The world’s largest rodent is having a big moment.

The capybara – a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig -- is the latest in a long line of “it” animals to get star treatment during the holiday shopping season.

Shoppers can find capybara slippers, purses, robes and bath bombs. There are cuddly plush capybaras and stretchy or squishy ones. Tiny capybaras wander across bedding, T-shirts, phone cases, mugs, key chains and almost any other type of traditional gift item.

Last year, it was the axolotl that took pride of place on many products, and the endangered amphibian remains popular. Owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight.

Trendy animals and animal-like creatures aren’t a new retail phenomenon; think the talking Teddy Ruxpin toys of the 1980s or Furby and Beanie Babies a decade later. But industry experts say social media is amplifying which animals are hot — or not.

“It’s really the launch on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms that allow these characters or animals to blow up like crazy,” said Richard Derr, who has owned a Learning Express Toys franchise in Lake Zurich, Ill., for nearly 30 years and is also a regional manager for the specialty toy store chain.

Social media is also speeding up the cycle. Must-have animals may only last a season before something new captures customers’ imaginations.

“It’s really important to keep feeding that beast,” Juli Lennett, a vice president and toy industry advisor at market research firm Circana, said. “If you are an influencer, you’re not going to talk about last year’s stuff.”

Skyrocketing plush toy sales – fueled by a need for comfort during the pandemic – are also increasing the demand for new and interesting varieties, Lennett said. In the first nine months of this year, sales of plush animals were up 115% from the same period in 2019, she said. Overall toy sales rose 38% in that time.

Consumers are seeking out increasingly exotic species that they see in online videos, games and movies. Highland cows, red pandas and axolotls, a type of salamander native to Mexico, have all popped up in popular culture. According to Google Trends, searches for axolotls shot up in June 2021 after Minecraft added them to its game.

“Nobody knew what an axolotl was in 2020,” Derr said. “Now, everybody knows axolotls.”

Cassandra Clayton, a Vermont Teddy Bear Company product designer, said rising sales to adults are also fueling the demand for unique – and collectible – plush toys.

“Stuffed animals are really becoming an ageless item,” she said. “Especially with the boom of self-care in adults and turning towards comfort objects to help de-stress and relax in your life.”

Clayton expects demand for unusual stuffed animals to continue to grow. Among the oddest she has seen: a stuffed version of a water bear, a type of microorganism also known as a moss piglet or a tardigrade.

“It doesn’t necessarily inspire you to cuddle with them, but you’re really seeing the industry start turning towards those characters,” she said. “I think that’s the next trend.”

Figuring out the next “it” animal – or microorganism -- is a challenge for toy makers.

“You never know exactly when they’re going to hit and how big they’re going to be,” said Sharon Price John, the president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, a chain of nearly 500 stores that offers an expanding menagerie of animals and characters for customers to customize, including capybaras and axolotls.

The St. Louis-based company watches social media and gets ideas from talking to store employees and patrons, John said. It usually takes Build-A-Bear up to a year to introduce a new stuffed toy, she said, but the company can move faster if it spots a trend. It sometimes tests a small batch online to make sure a trend is sticking, John said.

Annual trade shows in Asia, Germany and elsewhere are another place to spot new trends. Punirunes – digital, interactive pets that also come in plush varieties – are big in Japan right now and will likely take off in the U.S., toy store owner Derr said.

“Here, I can’t give them away. They’re too new. But give it a year or two,” he said.

Companies can kick off their own trends too. Build-A-Bear’s Spring Green Frog, introduced in 2020, was an immediate hit thanks to videos posted by customers. It remains popular, with nearly 2 million sold, John said.

John suspects people are drawn to friendly, slow-moving capybaras because watching videos of them are so relaxing. But shoppers who want one need to act fast. A Build-A-Bear holiday capybara with red and green sprinkles on its fur – dubbed a “cookiebara” – has already sold out, she said.

Durbin reported from Detroit. Crawford reported from Lake Zurich, Ill.

Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, poses for a photo Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, poses for a photo Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)