Easy Access Distributing announced last week that their dealer event held last month, called the Emerging Technologies & Home Awareness Expo was a huge success. Held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Billerica, Massachusetts, the company said the event drew an attendance of 170 area integrators over two days.
Manufacturers
In Wake of Poor Results, JVC Kenwood Announces Major Cuts to Staff & Compensation
Just days after the JVC Kenwood Corp. announced their dismal fiscal first-half results and revealed dramatic revisions to their full-year forecast – including the surprising news that they would lose money this year – the company released a statement saying they would attack their performance shortcomings aggressively. A series of actions were outlined designed to mitigate the company’s projected loss…but they couldn’t say for sure at this time if these actions will have a material effect on the remaining fiscal period’s performance.
See the steps JVC Kenwood’s board of directors outlined to minimize their losses… [Read more…] about In Wake of Poor Results, JVC Kenwood Announces Major Cuts to Staff & Compensation
Nortek Q3 Results: The Road to Success Remains Really, Really Bumpy
On Thursday last week, Nortek, Inc. released the financial results for its third quarter (ending September 28, 2013) as well as their nine-month YTD results – and on the following Friday convened a conference call with analysts to discuss them. While management put a positive spin on these results, one didn’t have to look very hard to see some glaring bumps Nortek is experiencing on their challenging road to success through restructuring and reorganization.
You can almost hear it in Michael J. Clarke’s voice when he said: “Nortek’s net sales and underlying operating performance for the third quarter were consistent with our expectations.” Not exactly the rousing proclamation of success we typically hear on their conference call for industry analysts.
What are the “bumps” Nortek’s hitting on the road to success?… [Read more…] about Nortek Q3 Results: The Road to Success Remains Really, Really Bumpy
Wren Sound Systems – This Bird’s Ready to Fly
Government data makes a strong case for a sustainable recovery under way – but most people in the consumer electronics industry tell me that this recovery is, at best, mediocre and, at worst, not happening. And as challenging as most are finding the economy, start-up companies tell me the headwinds are more like those of a Category 1 hurricane as they try to launch new products and services – hoping to get traction – in a very hostile start-up environment.
But one new start-up that has caught our attention – Wren Sound Systems – seems to be gaining ground with its new wireless speaker system…a product we find unique and interesting.
See what interests us about Wren below… [Read more…] about Wren Sound Systems – This Bird’s Ready to Fly
JVC Kenwood Dramatically Revises Fiscal Forecast – Now Says It Will Lose Money This Year
In documents released today but dated November 6th, JVC Kenwood Corp. announced both their results for the first half of the current fiscal year (the period of April 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013) and a radically revised forecast for their entire fiscal year (ending March 2014). Both these documents combine to reveal a company undergoing a surprising change of fortunes with sales and profits declining dramatically as compared to the same period last year…and a downward revision to their annual forecast.
JVC Kenwood now says – in contravention to their last forecast in May – that they will lose money this year.
What has caused such a turnaround in JVC Kenwood’s fortunes? See more below…
Onkyo Expands Headphone Line with Two New iOS Compatible Models
Onkyo USA announced today two new high-performance headphone models that feature full iOS compatibility for user convenience. Both the on-ear ES-CT1300 and in-ear IE-CT1300 include incline controls and microphones to help Apple product users both adjust their sound levels and take calls while using either of these new models.
Learn more about these two new headphones from premium manufacturer Onkyo… [Read more…] about Onkyo Expands Headphone Line with Two New iOS Compatible Models
Monster Launches a Shaq Attack; Sports Star to Help Market Monster Products
Monster Products Inc. announced today that it has cut a deal with basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal to endorse and otherwise market select Monster-branded products. The company says that O’Neal will aid in the marketing of Monster products in multiple categories “from personal audio to headphones and beyond.”
See more on this new celebrity endorsement deal from Monster below… [Read more…] about Monster Launches a Shaq Attack; Sports Star to Help Market Monster Products
Strata-gee’s Editor Appears in Latest Edition of AV Week Webcast
Not having learned their lesson last time, AV Nation once again invited me to participate in the latest edition of their AV Week webcast to discuss the hot A/V topics of the day. Also appearing in this week’s episode of AV Week was Sam Malik of ASK Proxima and Kevin Iselli of Crestron Electronics. And, of course, AV Week is hosted by the incomparable Tim Albright, founder of AV Nation.
What topics did the guests on AV Week ponder? See more below… [Read more…] about Strata-gee’s Editor Appears in Latest Edition of AV Week Webcast
HTSA Announces Their Top Vendors for 2013
The Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) on Tuesday announced their top vendor awards for 2013. These awards were handed out at their Fall 2013 dealer conference held last week and included a special Lifetime Achievement Award.
See who earned top honors from the national dealer group below… [Read more…] about HTSA Announces Their Top Vendors for 2013
Lenbrook Hopes This Line Will Make You Blue
Lenbrook America held a media event last week in Manhattan where they announced the birth of a new brand of multi-room wireless (and wired) music streaming systems called Bluesound. Bluesound is designed to be positioned above brands like Sonos in terms of price and performance…but tuck underneath some of the higher-end solutions such as those offered by NAD and others. The company hopes to create a profitable step-up market for higher priced, better performing solutions in the digital domain – as once existed in the analog realm years back.
