The 2012 CEA Line Show wrapped up today and as usual, it was a combination of mind-numbing “me-too” posers, mixed in with a handful of some real, creative, innovators. The problem is, it took a lot of patience to wade through all of the literally hundreds of booths, and thousands of people to dig through muck…and find the gems.
Associations
Builders’ Construction Forecast Event for Media Has Powerful Data & Surprises
On Tuesday, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) held a webinar for the media called the 2012 Mid-Year Construction Forecast with presentations from some of the most powerful industry-related economists with fresh data and forecasts…and some surprises.
See new construction data and the latest trends it suggests will occur… [Read more…] about Builders’ Construction Forecast Event for Media Has Powerful Data & Surprises
CEDIA? Oh Yeah, There’s an App for That!
<April 18, 2012> The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) announced on Tuesday that it has launched an App for the iOS, Android, and Blackberry platforms available now. The group says the App brings a variety of key information together – all conveniently available on your favorite mobile device. [Read more…] about CEDIA? Oh Yeah, There’s an App for That!
New Group Azione Unlimited Continues Ramp-up with New Dealers & Vendors
<March 28, 2012> Azione Unlimited, the new buying group targeted at the integration and custom retail channels announced Tuesday that it has added two “founding” dealer members who will both join the organization and serve on its advisory board. The organization followed this announcement up today with another hailing the addition of two new vendors bringing the total number of vendors supporting the group to just under thirty. [Read more…] about New Group Azione Unlimited Continues Ramp-up with New Dealers & Vendors
HTSA Announces New Member – Their 64th for the Group
<March 28, 2012> Home Technology Specialists of America, a national dealer buying group of integrators and custom retailers, announced today that Digitech Custom AV of Carmel, Indiana has joined the group as their 64th member dealer. According to HTSA, Digitech merged with another dealer in 2011 – Integrated Home Technologies – and has been in business for 23-years offering a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial solutions. [Read more…] about HTSA Announces New Member – Their 64th for the Group
HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
<March 1, 2012> The Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) announced today that it has created a new Director of Marketing position that it believes will dramatically increase support for HTSA members with dynamic new programs. The new Director of Marketing is Kathleen Marini. [Read more…] about HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
<February 29, 2012> New court documents filed late last week as part of the ongoing lawsuit 
between Soul by Ludacris and SOL Republic appear to more deeply entangle one of our industry’s most prominent national retail buying organizations, the Pro Group. Court filings from both sides have ignited a controversy in which certain Pro Group members appear to make a claim that is contradictory to one by the Pro Group Executive Director David Workman. [Read more…] about Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
Home Building Pro’s Reveal Changing Design Trends, With Disturbing Tech News
<February 15, 2012> CBS MarketWatch reported today on the changing trends in home design based on
research by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Based on a survey of industry professionals, the NAHB shared with CBS how the taste and desire of the typical home buyer has changed radically over the last few years…including, and perhaps especially, relative to the inclusion of technologies in the home.
Awash in a Sea of Incrementalism, Pre-Show Press Day was a Desperate Search for Innovation
<January 18, 2012> The day before the International Consumer Electronics Show opens, the show promoter holds something they call “Press Day.” Press Day is a mind-numbing endurance test of the media’s stamina with back-to-back-to-back-to-etc. press conferences. Each press conference is supposed to be 45-minutes long to give the press 15-minutes to move to the next one. [Read more…] about Awash in a Sea of Incrementalism, Pre-Show Press Day was a Desperate Search for Innovation
CES Wrap-Up #1 – The Big News at CES Was That There was No Big News
<January 18, 2012> When my kids were younger, they used to really love those Magic Eye puzzles. You know, the puzzles that look busy with lots of bright designs and graphics, but a hidden image is buried within them if you put your nose on the page, defocus your eyes, and really concentrate? This could be a pretty good analog of this year’s recently completed CES. How so, you ask? [Read more…] about CES Wrap-Up #1 – The Big News at CES Was That There was No Big News
