Panasonic Corp. has laid off 20% of their workforce – or 600 employees – in its lithium ion battery operations, according to a report by the Nikkei yesterday in Osaka, Japan. The move was made in an attempt to help turn the division profitable. The company has also decided to restructure their manufacturing processes as the layoffs alone won’t likely be enough to achieve profitability.
Management
Core Brands to Significantly Downsize Their Sales Rep Network
BREAKING NEWS *EXCLUSIVE*
Just three weeks ago, we had the opportunity to speak with Core Brands Senior Vice President of Marketing Paul Starkey, who confirmed information we had received from multiple sources about an impending announcement of significant changes in the way the company planned to go to market. Starkey confirmed much of the information we had uncovered, especially changes to systems and processes.
But regarding one major initiative we asked Starkey about – that of an extensive restructuring of its sales representative network – he was not able to confirm…at that time.
But that changed last Friday when the company told reps of a major sales force restructuring… [Read more…] about Core Brands to Significantly Downsize Their Sales Rep Network
5 Reasons Why You Should Love the Competition
Amanda Dai loves competition. In an excellent blog post on Huffington Post, she talks about competition in a way that sets her apart from a large number of people, including many of my tech industry colleagues. For many of us, competition is the enemy…and we are at war. For others, the competition is someone to be (too) closely watched…so much so that they dictate our actions. “Price Shack has the Mega 456 on sale?!? Drop our price immediately!”
But here is why you should accept…and even appreciate…your competitors… [Read more…] about 5 Reasons Why You Should Love the Competition
Yamaha Launches New Medium-Term Plan; 1st Task? Explain Why Last One Failed
Yamaha Corporation last week announced a new medium-term management plan titled Yamaha Management Plan 2016 (YMP2016) which sets forth management’s strategies for the time period of fiscal 2014-to-fiscal 2016. The new plan succeeds the previous Yamaha Management Plan 125 (YMP125) which was just completed March 31, 2013.
First task of the new plan? Explain why the previous plan failed… [Read more…] about Yamaha Launches New Medium-Term Plan; 1st Task? Explain Why Last One Failed
3vNet to Shut Down; CEO Anderson Launches Automated Control Technology Partners
BREAKING NEWS
Mike Anderson, CEO of 3vNet announced today that 3vNet’s business is being wound down and would cease shipping all products by December 31, 2013. At the same time, Anderson also announced the launch of an entirely new enterprise called Automated Control Technology Partners, Inc. which is expected to debut at the upcoming InfoComm in Orlando, FL this June.
See more details on this surprising pair of announcements… [Read more…] about 3vNet to Shut Down; CEO Anderson Launches Automated Control Technology Partners
First Onkyo – Now Gibson Guitar Acquires Majority of Teac; Can Gibson Put the Pieces Together?
Gibson Guitar Corp. announced last Friday morning at 4:00AM EDST that it would acquire a controlling interest in Japan’s Teac Corp, extending it’s entré into consumer electronics market via newly affordable, if struggling, Japanese companies. Last year, Gibson took a significant minority stake in Onkyo Corp., and additionally purchased a majority share of Onkyo’s American subsidiary, Onkyo USA. Teac, with both a consumer business under the Teac and Esoteric brands, and a professional business under the Tascam brand, broadens Gibson’s consumer and pro initiatives.
Can Gibson put the pieces together into a cohesive – and profitable – group?… [Read more…] about First Onkyo – Now Gibson Guitar Acquires Majority of Teac; Can Gibson Put the Pieces Together?
Electronics Expo Falls into Bankruptcy
Wayne, NJ-based Electronics Expo, an independent regional retail chain selling quality A/V electronics, has entered bankruptcy as of March 31st. The company, which at one time had as many as eight locations at its peak, is now down to two showrooms and one outlet center at its offices, according to a report by NorthJersey.com. Electronics Expo is owned by Leon Temiz, once a partner with family members in another regional player, Sixth Avenue Electronics.
See the “Who’s Who” list of vendors who were hit in this most recent bankruptcy… [Read more…] about Electronics Expo Falls into Bankruptcy
EXCLUSIVE: Core Brands Set to Announce Sweeping New Initiatives April 1st
Senior VP of Marketing
Core Brands, a division of Nortek, Inc., will announce sweeping new structural and marketing initiatives this coming Tuesday, April 1st, Strata-gee.com has learned from multiple sources. In a recent post on parent company Nortek, we alluded to sources telling us about impending changes in what was to be a major announcement – literally a fundamental change in the way the company does business.
Find out what Core Brands is set to announce next week… [Read more…] about EXCLUSIVE: Core Brands Set to Announce Sweeping New Initiatives April 1st
Nortek’s TECH Segment’s Troubled Transformation
In a recent fiscal year 2012 fourth quarter and full-year report, Nortek, Inc. showed a mixture of hit-and-miss results with fourth quarter sales dropping 5.6% to $505.4 million as compared to Q4 2011’s $535.2 million. Worse yet, the company’s Q4 net loss increased from last year’s $800,000 to a substantial $12.5 million. These results were in spite of the fact that this year’s calendar for the quarter had two more days in it than the quarter last year.
However, Nortek’s overall annual results showed a brighter picture with 2012 sales increasing to $2.2 billion, up 2.8% from the previous year’s $2.14 billion. Net profits in 2012 came in at $9.5 million – a substantial improvement over 2011’s net loss of $55.9 million.
But one other thing came through loud and clear…Nortek’s TECH segment remains troubled… [Read more…] about Nortek’s TECH Segment’s Troubled Transformation
New Details of Drama Emerge in Continuing Sharp & Samsung Soap Opera
A story that has stunned many in Japan, the partnership between two former arch-rivals Sharp Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co., continues to churn out surprising new details of the backroom drama worthy of the most melodramatic soap opera. As the Japanese press digs up more of these stories, it is clear that Sharp – as desperate as it had become – was nervous, measured, and a little tentative in approaching the new pact.
