Two different economic reports on the residential housing market show conflicting results. One report is on the latest data in housing starts…the other contains the latest results on new home sales. But these reports paint two very different pictures. Is housing growing? Or rather, is it fading?
Archives for April 2019
Luxman Announces Rep Awards at AXPONA 2019
Luxman America took advantage of the recent high-end AXPONA 2019 show to announce awards to two top manufacturer sales representatives for outstanding sales achievements. Luxman Corp. president Terry Kawakami, presented both John Pravel and Rick Tydings with special gifts from Japan to honor their over-and-above efforts.
See more on these Luxman rep awards…
[Read more…] about Luxman Announces Rep Awards at AXPONA 2019James Loudspeaker Launches New Mavericks Division
Innovative architectural loudspeaker designer/manufacturer James Loudspeaker announced this week that it will split off its Mavericks theater products into their own division, the Mavericks Architectural Cinema (MAC) division. This new division will offer the company’s dramatic Mavericks theater speakers for both the high-end residential and commercial cinema installation markets.
See more on James’ new Mavericks division…
[Read more…] about James Loudspeaker Launches New Mavericks DivisionFormation – A Formidable Foray into Digital for B&W
Ever since EVA Automation acquired Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) back in 2016, I have nervously watched to see the impact of this clash of cultures – new wave with old school. Strata-gee had already exhaustively reported on the painful slow-motion train wreck of Thiel Audio – another high-end audio brand purchased by private equity. In that case, its ultimate demise was in part due to the launch of affordably-priced, but common Bluetooth technology speakers relying on the power of the Thiel brand to justify the non-common selling price.
Would audiophile darling B&W suffer the same fate?
See more on B&W’s new Formation wireless line…
[Read more…] about Formation – A Formidable Foray into Digital for B&WB&W: Flying in ‘Formation’
BREAKING NEWS
The day has finally arrived. A day long rumored…but never announced. A project shrouded in mystery…willfully maintained, with leaks locked as tight as a special counsel investigation. But now, at long last, all is revealed…for on this day Bowers and Wilkins (B&W) launches their all-new concept – the Formation line of products. And the mystery is finally unveiled. Best of all…Strata-gee recently got a sneak peek that we can reveal now.
See what B&W shared with me just days ago…
[Read more…] about B&W: Flying in ‘Formation’The Ticket is $3,000 to See a Cinema at This Most Exclusive Theater
Are you a one percenter who loves movies, but doesn’t love sharing a theater experience of dirty seats and sticky floors with the unwashed masses? Then Red Carpet Home Cinema is for you! You can see first-run, genuine (non-bootleg) blockbuster Hollywood movies in the comfort of your very own plush home theater for the positively pedestrian sum of a mere $3,000! And you can absolutely see them on the same date & time they are in commercial theaters! Hurrah!
See more on Red Carpet Home Cinema…
[Read more…] about The Ticket is $3,000 to See a Cinema at This Most Exclusive TheaterPanasonic/Sony OLED Joint Venture JOLED Raises Money
There’s been a lot of action this week on the OLED beat – in this case, news that holds promise for a new robust competitor in the OLED market. The company, known as JOLED (for Japan OLED), is a joint venture between two TV powerhouse brands and a major display manufacturer that has successfully raised money to complete a new OLED factory.
See more on just what Panasonic and Sony are up to…
[Read more…] about Panasonic/Sony OLED Joint Venture JOLED Raises MoneyRetail Store Closings in Q1/2019 Almost Equals Total for All of 2018
According to the most recent data from retail industry market researcher Coresight Research, retail store closings just a little over one quarter into 2019 are nearing the total number of store closings for all of 2018. This data includes both those retail companies falling into bankruptcy…and those trimming locations out of their overall footprint while remaining in business.
See more on this stunning report…
[Read more…] about Retail Store Closings in Q1/2019 Almost Equals Total for All of 2018Sonos Intros New CFO and Stock Drops Again
Last week Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) announced a new CFO to replace current CFO Mike Giannetto, whose retirement was unexpectedly announced almost as an afterthought in a February report of Q1 fiscal results. Late in the text associated with those results, CEO Patrick Spence, in an almost casual fashion, thanked Ginnetto for his service and told investors the CFO was retiring…a total surprise to the market. Sonos stock dropped double digits…and dropped even though the company had reported a record first quarter. (Read my report to see troubling signs within the ‘record’ Sonos quarterly report…)
New CFO intro & Sonos stock drops again…
[Read more…] about Sonos Intros New CFO and Stock Drops AgainCEDIA Celebrates, Hoping You Don’t Notice That Little Spark Catching in the Corner
On March 28th CEDIA held a grand opening gala to celebrate their brand new $14 million glass and stone castle in Fishers, IN with about 250 of their closest friends. Depending on your viewpoint, this new facility is either a shining shrine to the strength of the custom integration tech association – or it is a monument to the monumental arrogance and ego of an association that is drifting further away from the very community it purports to serve.
But what many of these guests to the opening celebrations didn’t know was that, as they sipped champagne and oohed an ahhhd over the new gorgeous digs, there was yet another small member flare-up taking place in the background…with significant members expressing strong dissent on yet another Association initiative.