Specialty audio and automotive electronics supplier AudioControl announced this week that it has selected Rich Jackson in Northern California as its Rep of the Year for their home products category. For AudioControl, Rep of the Year means that “independent sales organization that has delivered outstanding overall performance, dedication to the AudioControl brand and exceptional service” in their region.
Brands
CEDIA Picks Middle Atlantic Products for Theater Project
Middle Atlantic Products announced today that CEDIA selected it as part of a group of industry products for a unique theater project at the Portland International Airport. A joint effort by Hollywood Theater, a nonprofit group in Portland, CEDIA, the integration industry’s leading trade association, and Portland’s PDX Art program (Portland International Airports designation is PDX), this unique art project opened in late February.
See more on Middle Atlantic’s collaboration to further art at the Portland Airport… [Read more…] about CEDIA Picks Middle Atlantic Products for Theater Project
Radio Shack’s 2nd Bankruptcy in 2 Years; The Era of The Gadget is Over
In yet another clear sign that the era of the gadget is over, once prodigious gadget-seller Radio Shack files for bankruptcy on Wednesday…again. This is the second bankruptcy filing for the company in just two years. A strategy of partnering with Sprint didn’t produce the revenue the new owner’s anticipated and this second filing was unavoidable. So what happens now?
See what is in store for wounded giant Radio Shack… [Read more…] about Radio Shack’s 2nd Bankruptcy in 2 Years; The Era of The Gadget is Over
At Long Last, New Nest Products are Coming
Four New Models Would Double the Nest Line
Bloomberg News is reporting that, after a long wait, Google Alphabet’s Nest division is finally preparing to launch multiple new models. Nest, which is seeking to become a dominant player in the connected home space, has laid relatively dormant in the wake of the tumultuous exit of founder Tony Fadell. Now, Bloomberg tells us, things will begin to heat up with new models to expand the product segments in which the company participates.
Find out what new items are coming from Nest by reading on… [Read more…] about At Long Last, New Nest Products are Coming
Nortek Parent Melrose Reports Higher Margins & Sales
Melrose Industries PLC, an engineering turnaround company that recently acquired Nortek, Inc. (parent company of Core Brands) announced last week that it sees margins improving at Nortek already, even though it only acquired the company just last year. Not only that, but thanks to adding Nortek to its stable of investments, Melrose has seen its revenues triple – driving its stock to a record high.
See more on what Melrose had to say about Nortek… [Read more…] about Nortek Parent Melrose Reports Higher Margins & Sales
Gibson Brands Successfully Refinances Significant Debt
B. Riley & Co., a full service investment bank, announced the closing of a series of refinancing transactions that have completely restructured the outstanding significant debt of Gibson Brands, Inc. Gibson, as we have reported on regularly, entered the consumer electronics space back in 2012, investing in brands such as Onkyo/Integra, Teac, and buying Philips accessory business. Recently, the company appeared to be running into debt difficulties, perhaps from taking on debt to purchase these companies.
See more on this debt restructuring by Gibson… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Successfully Refinances Significant Debt
D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another
We learned Wednesday that private equity powerhouse Bain Capital has apparently found a buyer for D+M Group, selling it off to another private equity company – Boston-based Charlesbank Capital Partners. CCP is the owner of DEI Holdings, a division of which is Sound United LLC, parent company of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM. It is Sound United that will now also take over D+M Group and its brands Denon, Marantz, HEOS by Denon and Boston Acoustics.
See more on what we know about this deal for D+M… [Read more…] about D+M Group Sold From One PE Company to Another
Control4 & Triad CEOs Explain to Strata-gee Why Their Deal Makes Sense
Control4 Corp. announced Tuesday that it has decided to get into the speaker business – doing so by acquiring Triad Speakers, Inc. – whom it describes as “a leader in advanced audio technology with best-in-class, customizable speaker-solutions.” The lofty language in the announcement in praise of Triad caught us by surprise and, unlike some of their other acquisitions, we did not find this one immediately obvious.
So when given the opportunity to interview both CEOs about this unexpected development, we jumped at the chance to learn more about the “hows” and the “whys” of this unusual partnership.
See what the two CEOs told us about Control4’s acquisition of Triad… [Read more…] about Control4 & Triad CEOs Explain to Strata-gee Why Their Deal Makes Sense
Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
Reuters is reporting that Emerald Expositions LLC, the major trade show exposition company that bought the CEDIA show last week, is considering putting itself up for sale. This report became public on Wednesday, January 25th…the day before CEDIA announced it has sold its trademark show to Emerald. All of which leads to the distinct possibility of the show changing hands again, in just a matter of weeks.
See more on this report and how CEDIA members are reacting to the sale… [Read more…] about Is CEDIA’s Show For Sale…Again?
Just Add Power Launches New HDIP Models
Just Add Power announced yesterday that they are launching new 2GΩ Transmitters and Receivers at the upcoming 2017 ISE Show in Amsterdam next week. Celebrating 25 years of design and manufacturing, the company says these new models are consistent with their theory of evolutionary design.
