Six major Japanese electronics manufacturers are prepared to agree to raise employee pay when they meet with union representatives at the upcoming spring labor-management wage talks, according to a report in the Japan Times. Yet to be worked out is the exact amount of the increase – the first such increase for workers since 2008.
Brands
Audio Control Launches Two New A/V Receivers Targeted for the CI Channel
Audio Control – the U.S. manufacturer of a unique line of solutions for mobile, home, and industrial markets – announced at the end of February that it has launched two new audio/video receiver (AVR) models called the Concert AVR-6 and AVR-8. These two new models replace the existing AVR-4 with upgraded construction and new capabilities, including support for 4K Ultra HDTV and 3D.
See more on this new AVR line-up from a long-time provider of unique solutions… [Read more…] about Audio Control Launches Two New A/V Receivers Targeted for the CI Channel
Kommotion at Kaleidescape
BREAKING NEWS
Starting first thing this morning, our office was inundated with multiple sources contacting us by phone and email to tell us that something big was happening over at Sunnyvale, CA-based, media-server company Kaleidescape. While there were minor variations on the stories we received, they all came down to the same thing – an exit of several employees, including some top executives, from the company.
See what’s changed at Kaleidescape… [Read more…] about Kommotion at Kaleidescape
Bain Capital Seeks to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing – It Could be Tough
Reuters reported this week that Bain Capital, the private equity company that virtually became a household name when CEO Mitt Romney ran for president against Barack Obama, is seeking to refinance the buyout financing it used to acquire D&M Holdings, Inc., also known as the D+M Group. It’s not going to be easy.
See what Bain Capital is up against in their goal of restructuring their D&M buyout debt… [Read more…] about Bain Capital Seeks to Restructure D&M Holdings Buyout Financing – It Could be Tough
Environmental Group Raises Stakes to Stop LG’s New US Headquarters
A group of concerned citizens and several environmental groups have banded together to form an organization known as the Protect the Palisades group in an effort to stop LG Electronics USA from building a new headquarters tower in an area of New Jersey called the Palisades. The Palisades is a large wooded area that spans parts of Northern New Jersey and Southern New York, and it borders on the picturesque Hudson River. It is famed for its wild and natural beauty – and it is a U.S. National Natural Landmark.
Now, the Palisades group has raised the stakes in its fight to stop LG, which has already broken ground on the disputed project… [Read more…] about Environmental Group Raises Stakes to Stop LG’s New US Headquarters
Huge Growth in Q4 Branded Video Views for Electronics; Are You Using This Tool?
In a new report from research firm Visible Measures and reported on by eMarketer, views of branded videos in the fourth quarter last year jumped an impressive 50% in the year-over-year (YoY) period and an even more impressive 60% as compared with third quarter results. In looking over the report, we couldn’t help but notice that the industry that earned the greatest share of this dramatic growth was electronics.
This made us wonder – are you using this tool? See more on the research below… [Read more…] about Huge Growth in Q4 Branded Video Views for Electronics; Are You Using This Tool?
Toshiba Leaps Into the Aging-in-Place Market via Partnership with GrandCare Systems
Toshiba Digital Products Division announced today that it has formed a strategic alliance with GrandCare Systems – a well-known company specializing in digital aging-in-place products, sensors, and solutions. According to Toshiba, GrandCare’s telehealth and communications capabilities will now be delivered via “secure, high-performance Toshiba devices.”
See more on this interesting diversification by Toshiba… [Read more…] about Toshiba Leaps Into the Aging-in-Place Market via Partnership with GrandCare Systems
Best Buy Licenses Sharp Brand Name for Smaller, Cheaper TVs Sourced from OEM Suppliers
In a report out of Japan last week, the Nikkei says that Sharp Corp. has reached a deal with Best Buy that will allow the retailer to license the Sharp brand name to be used on TVs made by OEM manufacturers for smaller and less expensive TVs. Sharp will continue to retain the brand for larger-sized sets (i.e. >50-inches), while Best Buy will have their OEM suppliers make Sharp-branded sets in smaller sizes.
Then move could be risky, potentially causing a conflict between the lower quality smaller sets and the higher quality larger sets…each bearing the Sharp brand.
See more on this move designed to bring in a royalty stream with no cost of inventory… [Read more…] about Best Buy Licenses Sharp Brand Name for Smaller, Cheaper TVs Sourced from OEM Suppliers
New Marketing VP for Core Brands Zeros in on a Key Problem
Core Brands continues to rejigger its team as we mentioned in our Breaking News SYNCH earlier this week. And one major step in this process took place in September 2013 when Core Brands surprised many by announcing the appointment of Joe Roberts as its new head of marketing, replacing Paul Starkey. Two weeks later, Roberts headed to his first CEDIA ready to jump in feet first and reassure dealers of the company’s direction…and learn all about any concerns that they felt the company needed to address.
Boy…did he get an earful… [Read more…] about New Marketing VP for Core Brands Zeros in on a Key Problem
Witten & Weisenberg Out of Core Brands as Company Reorganizes Its Product Management Team
BREAKING NEWS
Today we learned that Core Brands has taken steps to reorganize their product marketing teams with moves both to bring in new executives – and to move two prominent executives out. Mitch Witten, former Core Brands Director of Audio, and Mark Weisenberg, Business Development, are both out of the company effective immediately.