We asked for and participated in a telephone interview with CEDIA Chairman of the Board Dennis Erskine and Senior Director of Marketing Cris Pyle in late May to discuss several topics swirling around the organization. First and foremost, we were seeking greater insight into the departure of CEDIA’s CEO Vin Bruno, as well as Ron Fleming and others, but we also discussed a few other topics – notably what rights members have, and what rights they don’t have.
Management
LeEco Appears to be Falling…Hard
What started as a roar appears to be ending as a whimper, as Asian wannabe-giant LeEco announced this week plans to lay-off nearly 70% of their entire U.S. workforce. This significant retrenchment occurs just weeks after its proposed $2 billion acquisition of Vizio fell apart just before closing, and suggests the company, which is in multiple businesses, may have gotten ahead of itself…and ahead of its funding.
See more on this dramatic announcement from LeEco… [Read more…] about LeEco Appears to be Falling…Hard
CEDIA Layoffs & New Headquarters
My assistant spotted it immediately. “There’s a strange letter in today’s mail,” she said with a slight hesitation in her voice one day last week as she handed me a small stack of mail that she had just picked up from our company post office box. That hesitation in her voice wasn’t so much concern as it was uncertainty as to whether she should bother to bring it to my attention. After all, it could simply be just another example of cleverly disguised junk mail.
But when I opened it, I knew immediately – this was not junk mail… [Read more…] about CEDIA Layoffs & New Headquarters
As We Suspected, The Deal is Off Between LeEco & Vizio
Less than a week after we questioned whether Chinese manufacturer LeEco would be able to actually complete its proposed $2 billion acquisition of Vizio, we received a note from a Vizio-connected official, saying that “the merger agreement to acquire Vizio will not proceed…” Given our report last week, this shouldn’t be a big surprise to Strata-gee readers…and it certainly was not to us.
But where do things between LeEco and Vizio go from here? Read on… [Read more…] about As We Suspected, The Deal is Off Between LeEco & Vizio
Five Practices of Effective Leaders
Perhaps the greatest issue that many of us face in our career is the challenge of leading people. People are complex. People are multi-dimensional. Each person is unique and requires a different type and amount of interaction and support. But as the current issue of Sales and Marketing Magazine notes, if you are a manager – a leader – then you need to “Lead or Get Out of the Way.”
See the five key practices of effective leaders… [Read more…] about Five Practices of Effective Leaders
Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Network systems provider Access Networks announced this week that it has hired Roy Beiser, a former Intel executive, as its first ever Director of IT. But even more than that, Beiser, who is said to be highly credentialed in network technologies and cyber security issues, will assist in helping Access Networks to establish “the highest IT and cyber security standards for the company’s base of integration professionals and their clients.”
See what Access Networks plans to do to raise the security bar for itself, and the industry… [Read more…] about Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Small Businesses Pick Social Media as Top Marketing Tactic
New research that came out at the end of last year shows that most small businesses are turning to social media as their top marketing tactic. This relatively new form of marketing has seen its adoption soar recently, but this is the first time we’ve seen it ranked as the top choice of small businesses.
See more on this dramatic shift in small biz marketing approach… [Read more…] about Small Businesses Pick Social Media as Top Marketing Tactic
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
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.
