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Amazon Retreats: Will Close 68 Brick & Mortar Stores in U.S. and U.K.

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[Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid]

Company Exiting Bookstores, 4-Star Stores, and Pop-Up Stores

Yesterday Amazon announced it will close all of its non-grocery bricks and mortar locations, ending its foray into physical store locations. The company had previously entered the physical bookstore business – a business that many feel its online business destroyed – as well as pop-up stores and its 4-star shops that carried a selection of its best-selling online products. However, the company will keep its grocery stores and a department store concept.

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Crestron Continues Expansion of Residential Line with Two New Models

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New Crestron DM NAX 4-Zone Streaming Pre-Amplifier

Crestron Electronics announced today that it is launching two new audio products, both part of its successful Crestron HOME residential line-up. The addition of these new models – an in-wall subwoofer developed in conjunction with partner Origin Acoustics, and a new DM NAX 4-zone streaming pre-amp – demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to further expanding their residential business.

Learn more about these all-new Crestron audio products

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First-Ever ‘Inside Sound United’ Virtual Event is Next Week; Register Today

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Inside Sound United graphic

Major industry player Sound United is on the cusp of launching its first-ever virtual event called, appropriately enough, “Inside Sound United” (ISU). Coming November 9-12, 2021 to a computer near you, this highly immersive 4-day virtual event will be chock full of useful content and allow integrators to experience a side of the company not usually seen.

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New Vanco Introduction Powers Up Your Assortment, Client Satisfaction & Profits

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I recently became aware of the fact that Vanco, the Chicago-based manufacturer of a broad range of mostly accessory products had decided to become a master distributor for a product category that we all need, we all use, and yet to which we pay little attention. It is in this reality, Vanco’s President Mark Corbin tells me, that there lies a tremendous opportunity to better serve our customers and to add meaningful profit to our financials.

See this Vanco solution…

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Azione Unlimited Merges with Nationwide Marketing Group

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Azione logo

Azione Unlimited announced today that it has partnered with Nationwide Marketing Group, a group representing more than 14,000 storefronts made up largely of appliance, furniture, and electronics retailers. While Nationwide may not be an immediately obvious choice as a partner for Azione, the custom integration specialist group maintains that it makes perfect sense as they say integrators must be able “to address all of their clients’ needs, no matter the room in the home.”

See more on the merger of Azione Unlimited and Nationwide Marketing Group

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Moody’s Upgrades Credit Rating of Once Bankrupt Guitar Center, Parent of AVDG

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Moody’s Investors Service, one of the nation’s largest credit rating agencies, announced last week that it has raised the credit rating of Guitar Center, the owner of custom integration company Audio Visual Design Group. Guitar Center has struggled for years, finally falling into bankruptcy – from which it emerged about ten months ago in December 2020.

Read more about Guitar Center & AVDG’s elevated rating

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Emerald: The Show WILL Go On!

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Emerald Holding logo

Emerald Letter Tries to Nail Down Remaining Exhibitors

On Wednesday, Emerald emailed a letter to exhibitors that appears to be an attempt to stem the outflow of companies that have canceled their participation in the CEDIA Expo 2021 – 42 brands according to Strata-gee’s tracking – and encourage those exhibitors that have not yet abandoned the show from leaving. Signed by Emerald executives Brian Pagel and Jason McGraw, the letter declared “the show is still very much on as planned.”

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How Big is Amazon in E-Commerce? Bigger Than You May Realize

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Amazon logo on sign

In new data from market researcher eMarketer, we learn more details on just how well e-commerce sales are doing both overall and for specific players such as Target and Amazon. It is pretty well known that as the pandemic rolled out in early Spring of 2020, Americans were thrust into quarantine and a 24/7/365 existence at home. This caused many to order their supplies from online retailers, even those consumers who had not previously ever purchased online before. Clearly, COVID was horrible for America (and the world) but good for the e-commerce business.

All online retailers did well, with companies like Walmart and Target seeing their e-commerce operations really gain some traction. But did some do better than others? Oh yeah…

See more on the current state of Amazon and e-commerce

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Impressive Savant Experience Center Tour Reveals Smart Home Possibilities

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Sports bar set up at the Savant Experience Center in Manhattan
A full sports bar, part of the Savant Experience Center in Manhattan’s SoHo district

Savant Integrators Should Sign Up Clients & Prospects for a Tour Now

Just last week I was an invited guest to an event that I wasn’t entirely sure would be all that exciting – yet another Zoom meeting in a year full of Zoom meetings. Or so I thought. My invitation came from industry powerhouse Savant, who wanted to host me on a virtual tour of their new Experience Center in Manhattan. Boy!…am I glad I agreed to participate….

What a delightful surprise that tour delivered…

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Guitar Center, Owner of AVDG, Files for Bankruptcy

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Guitar Center store
Guitar Center store [Click to enlarge]

In an unusual Saturday night filing, Guitar Center, Inc., parent company to AV integration company Audio Visual Design Group (AVDG), filed for bankruptcy protection. The move was widely expected by many industry watchers for years, and caps a difficult business history for Guitar Center, starting back in 2007 when they were first acquired by Bain Capital.

See what we know so far about the Guitar Center and AVDG bankruptcy…

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