Strategy in TECH...
We have learned from multiple sources, and now confirmed with the company, that leading control systems provider Crestron will in fact have a presence at the upcoming CEDIA Expo this September in Dallas, TX. This news will come as a surprise, perhaps even a shock, to many considering that just a few months ago, the company announced its departure from the residential custom integration industry’s biggest annual event.
ProSource announced this week the addition of 21 new members, a fairly large freshman class, even for the organization that bills itself as the “largest audio, video and integration buying group in the country.” According to the organization, this freshman class is worth about $43 million in total retail sales.
The Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) announced today that its Size and Scope Survey is now open for participation by residential systems installation pros. This survey, one of the largest the trade association conducts every year, collects data from participants to provide market level information that is then made available to members to assist them in planning their business.
Azione Unlimited announced on Wednesday that it will hold its 2016 Fall Conference at the Monte Carlo Resort in Las Vegas, NV, from October 18-20. The event, called “Veridic Vistas,” will include a full agenda guiding the three-day conference.
AudioControl, a Seattle, WA-based manufacturer of home and mobile electronics solutions, announced this week that it has joined the Azione Unlimited group. The company says it is focused on “innovative, industry leading theater and audio products that provide custom integrators with performance-audio solutions across the residential and commercial markets.”
ProSource, a national retail buying organization, announced this week the final details of their 2016 Spring Meeting taking place May 9-13 in Dana Point, CA. Taking place at the Marriott Laguna Cliffs Resort and Spa, the group says it plans to break the event into two segments.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported overall industry sales data for 2015 this week, revealing that for the first time in history streaming music was the single largest component of industry sales. Revenues from streaming sources accounted for 34.3% of total revenues, beating out music downloads from services like iTunes and others which accounted for 34% of total revenues.
Overall sales increased 0.9% to $7 billion, the first overall industry growth since 2011.
ProSource, a national retail buying group, announced today that they have launched an all-new member services portal for their participating dealers. A web portal – or simply portal – is a customized website that typically offers access to an array of non-public data, often pulled from separate sources. In the case of the new ProSource portal, the group says that it serves up “information, services and tools designed to strengthen and grow member business.”
Just before the Consumer Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) held its annual Expo in Dallas in October 2015, we learned it had appointed a new Chief Executive Officer – Vincent Bruno, who joined the organization after leaving his role as a marketing director for Crestron Electronics. Bruno, who went through an extensive executive search process, hit the ground running, including trying to meet as many members as possible at the show.
But now, months later, the organization is trying to regain momentum after some concerning issues came to light, the most recent being the exit of Crestron, which we announced last week. Bruno described his go-forward plan…and it is ambitious.
After receiving several urgent communications from multiple sources, Strata-gee.com has confirmed that Crestron Electronics – for years the single largest exhibitor at CEDIA’s Expo – has informed the trade association that it will not participate in the upcoming 2016 event. Crestron, a long supporter of both CEDIA and the Expo, has always maintained a huge presence, with an upfront positioning right at the entry, thanks to the many priority points it has earned over the years. Now, CEDIA is fast at work finding a replacement.
