Strategy in TECH...
The latest data on residential construction, a government reading known as housing starts, took a surprising jump in November according to the recently released information from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing starts jumped an impressive 14.8% in November as compared to the revised October reading – a huge statistical leap.
The amount of activity coming out of the Nationwide Marketing Group is pretty mind-blowing with a lot of moving pieces as its multiple operating divisions are each executing on its part of the overall organization’s “Drive to 1,000” member growth program. Today, Nationwide announced that its newest venture, the Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group, has added two more “founding vendor partners,” both well-known and highly valued brands within the commercial community.
One of the hottest displays at this year’s CEDIA Expo 2023 was the AVA, Inc. booth where the young company was launching its new Cinema Remote. I was there and the booth was consistently packed with integrators interested in its new remote. In fact, I named AVA as one of my top stories of the Expo as a promising newcomer.
From my conversations with several integrators, I believe AVA wrote a lot of preorders for the Cinema Remotes at the show, as its unique design and clever features were indeed attractive. Now I have learned that the company’s first shipment of remotes has been delayed.
What a year it’s been for Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI), the manufacturer of medical products sold largely to hospitals and other healthcare systems who is also the owner of Sound United, a leading manufacturer of audio products. Simply saying they’ve been through highs and lows would understate the high drama in which the company has been immersed this past year – not the least of which is embodied by its deathmatch with Apple, Inc., the largest company in the world. Apple is also regularly ranked as the most profitable company in the world – a well-resourced adversary to engage thoughtfully…and carefully.
Some impressive early Masimo wins in this battle with Apple, however, seemed to suggest that the tech behemoth was losing its balance and the altercation might be winnable by its much smaller rival. But then…
Savant Systems, Inc., a leading provider of control, home automation, smart home, and smart power solutions, announced on Monday that it has acquired the assets of J Geiger Shading, a leading provider of architecturally conscious shading products. The two companies have had an ongoing association for several years now, and this new transaction brings J Geiger products under the Savant umbrella.
Azione Unlimited, a leading buying group of custom integrators that calls itself the Smart Home Association, has for years been recognized as a leading provider of compelling education and knowledge sharing for its member companies. Now, the organization announces a reinvention of the education process that they call the Dynamic Education Ecosystem.
Nice, a multi-national company based in Italy with a portfolio of Home Management and Building Management brands (including former Nortek Security and Control brands) and its primary shareholder BeNice Holding, has finalized a strategic partnership with FSI, an Italian private equity investment company. This partnership was first announced in August as part of a capital investment by FSI and has now fully closed.
Upscale Distribution, a distributor of high-end, high-fidelity audio components that originated in association with Southern California retailer Upscale Audio, has announced that it is rebranding as Harmonia Distribution. The new brand is not just a new name, but rather a reflection of a changed mission and new, more independent direction for the company.
As part of this new business model, the company has named a new president who will guide the Harmonia Distribution down this new path.
Spotify Technology, S.A. announced that it will lay off approximately 1,500 employees, or about 17% of its entire staff. The company says the cuts are necessary to adjust operations for a very different operating environment than it anticipated when it built staff to drive growth in 2020 during the pandemic.
These are not its first layoffs in 2023…
Nationwide Marketing Group’s Oasys Residential Technology Group division reported this week that its membership has grown “over 100%” in 2023, a remarkable achievement in a relatively short period of time. It also propels the overall organization towards its publicly stated goal of achieving a total of at least 1,000 custom integration members across its three brands as part of its “Drive to 1,000,” first announced in March this year.
