Strategy in TECH...
Houston, TX-based WAVE Electronics, one of the nation’s largest independent distributors for the custom integration industry, announced today that it has acquired KOA Electronics Distribution, itself a leading CI distributor based in Panorama City, CA. This merger creates a mega-distribution business spanning multiple locations in multiple states.
Sandy Bloomberg, founder of Tweeter, Etc. and a truly significant consumer electronics industry personality, died this week on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
One of the most prominent executives in modern audio retailing, Samuel Bloomberg, known by most as Sandy, founded a local store called Tweeter, Etc. with his cousin Michael in 1972. Eventually, Tweeter, Etc. would grow to 180 stores strong as one of the first multi-regional specialty A/V chains. According to his obituary on Boston.com, Sandy graduated high school in 1969 and quickly realized that college was not his thing. That realization marked the beginning of a company that would go on to become legendary in the many executives who started there and went on to make their own mark with significant roles all around the industry.
Oasys Residential Technology Group, a division of Nationwide Marketing Group, announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with Sonos, a leading wireless audio brand popular with consumers. The announcement comes on the eve of today’s opening of CEDIA Expo 2024, taking place in Denver, CO from September 5-7, 2024.
Oasys group managers say that this is a significant deal with “a massive brand.”
Portal executives Kirk Chisholm and Josh Willits recently gave me a sneak preview at a dramatic new feature they have developed for Portal users that is a potential game changer for those seeking to increase companywide efficiency by streamlining an essential but time-consuming process all integrators face – building compelling, complete, and accurate proposals. With Portal’s new AI Proposals, your proposals practically build themselves – literally in seconds on simple installations or in a minute or two on more sophisticated projects.
AI Proposals is a new use for artificial intelligence (AI) with real-world consequences that benefit integrators and their clients.
In a torrent of multiple releases from Sonance, it has unleashed a veritable tsunami of innovation covering several product categories and market segments. Scheduled to be shown at this week’s CEDIA Expo 2024 show in Denver will be a wide array of new products from Sonance and its entire family of brands, including James, IPORT, and TRUFIG. The company will also launch new modules for its Sonance Design Gallery – winner of the “Best New Software” award at last year’s CEDIA Expo 2023.
Also to be unveiled is a redesigned Sonance.com website and a fully functional my.Sonance.com platform with added configuration enhancements. Finally, the company will be demonstrating a new immersive music experience for attendees every 15 minutes. Like I said, it’s a Sonance tsunami of innovation.
Hunter Douglas, one of the leading manufacturers of custom window treatments like motorized shades, will show an interesting new Solar Charger Kit at the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2024 in Denver this week. Now, not only does Hunter Douglas keep the sun out of your home, but it now uses it to recharge your battery-powered motorized shades. Clever!
Soundtube Entertainment (formerly MSE Audio) announced this week that it has appointed Jeff Brewer as its new Vice President of Sales for the Residential Division. Brewer is well known throughout the industry and the company hails his “rich background in the audio industry” along with his “proven track record in leadership.”
Premium Audio Company (PAC), a division of Voxx International Corporation (Nasdaq: VOXX), announced today that Voxx has sold off both the Jamo and Energy brands as part of its plan to divest multiple brands in an effort to stave off its financial decline and revitalize its profits. The brands were sold to a Chinese manufacturing company and a Chinese distributor. Oddly, this announcement was retroactive, as the transaction was said to have taken place on August 15, 2024. No reason was given for why this announcement of the transaction was withheld until now.
Crestron Electronics, one of the industry’s leading providers of control solutions and more for the smart home and home automation channels announced this week a significant update of its popular Crestron Home OS4 system. This impressive update includes more than 20 new features, as well as new important integrations that offer integrators a mind-expanding opportunity to better design solutions for clients…not to mention drive greater scalability for both residential and commercial installations.
Earlier this summer, executives from Russound visited me to offer me (and Strata-gee readers) a pre-CEDIA Expo sneak peek at some newly redesigned models that are in many ways smarter. I say smarter because these new designs reflect input from integrators (as well as some industry trends) and have launched new sleeker (such as 1U models) and smaller footprint products (such as its popular mini-AVR models). The company is also previewing a new industrial design that I like a lot.
