Toshiba Corp. has launched an aggressive strategy aimed at turning around its troubled, money-losing television manufacturing business. We wrote last week about their decision to close a manufacturing plant in China in a bid to restructure their production base – one part of a larger TV turnaround strategy. Now word comes of additional aggressive moves by the company attempting to return their once vaunted TV business to profitability.
Manufacturers
Redbox, Once a Blockbuster Buzzsaw, Finds It Must Now Cut Itself
Outerwall, Inc. (f/k/a Coinstar), owner of Redbox – the national video rental kiosk powerhouse – made several surprising announcements on Tuesday that suggest the company is dealing with some serious business issues. First, the company announced that Redbox division president, Anne Saunders, has left the company. And second, the company said that it would make significant cuts to its staff…and to other projects.
How significant did Outerwall say the staff and project cuts would be? See more below… [Read more…] about Redbox, Once a Blockbuster Buzzsaw, Finds It Must Now Cut Itself
Clare Controls Appoints the New York Marketing Team as Its Metro NY Rep
Clare Controls, a mid-level manufacturer of home automation products, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed the New York Marketing Team as its sales representative for the New York Metropolitan market. The appointment is effective immediately.
See more about Clare Controls and this appointment… [Read more…] about Clare Controls Appoints the New York Marketing Team as Its Metro NY Rep
Toshiba Stops Manufacturing TVs in China
In an announcement earlier this month that could be characterized as counter-intuitive, Toshiba Corp. said it will stop manufacturing LCD televisions at its plant in Dalian, China by the end of December. The company says the move is aimed at helping improve profitability – even though most companies opened plants in China to take advantage of the lower labor costs to help their profitability.
See how Toshiba plans to improve its TV division profits by closing a China factory… [Read more…] about Toshiba Stops Manufacturing TVs in China
Yamaha Wants to Help You Wake Up & Smell the Coffee; Literally
Yamaha Corp. announced on Tuesday a clock radio – something new from them – to help you wake up and smell the coffee…oh and enjoy great music while you’re drinking it! Part of their growing desktop audio solutions, this is a modern take on the traditional clock radio…including premium sound, Bluetooth streaming, and even app control.
See more on this new twist on a bedside table staple… [Read more…] about Yamaha Wants to Help You Wake Up & Smell the Coffee; Literally
What’s Better Than a Warranty? The DaVinci Group Announces WarrantyPLUS
>Strata-gee SCOOP<
The DaVinci Group announced today a significant upgrade to its warranty program – already one of the best overall warranty programs available. Currently, the company offers 2-years parts and labor on all wireless products, 5-years parts and labor on all amplifiers, and an impressive Lifetime replacement warranty on all architectural speakers, volume controls, and speaker selectors. How do you improve on a solid warranty package like that?
What is The DaVinci Groups’ WarrantyPLUS™? If you’re a dealer, you’ve got to see this… [Read more…] about What’s Better Than a Warranty? The DaVinci Group Announces WarrantyPLUS
Panasonic, Cutting Costs, Halves Digital Camera Assortment
The Nikkei reported this week that Panasonic Corp. will only introduce about five new digital camera models next year – half its normal number – in a bid to take all steps necessary to return to profitability. While once a bright spot for the company which saw success for some of its higher end Lumix models – the report says that the category has come under intense pressure as smartphone cameras continue to improve.
See more on Panasonic’s decision to cut back on the number of cameras it will offer in 2014… [Read more…] about Panasonic, Cutting Costs, Halves Digital Camera Assortment
The Picture of Its Future is Still a Little Fuzzy at Loewe AG
German luxury TV manufacturer Loewe AG said today that it is in final stages of discussions with two different potential investors or buyers. The company, once the source of hopes by U.S. specialty A/V dealers for a more profitable step-up video line, has yet to emerge from the bankruptcy protection it invoked earlier this year.
See more on this worldwide luxury television manufacturer who is struggling to survive… [Read more…] about The Picture of Its Future is Still a Little Fuzzy at Loewe AG
Easy Access Distribution Says 14th Annual Dealer Event a Huge Success
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.
See more about this large area event… [Read more…] about Easy Access Distribution Says 14th Annual Dealer Event a Huge Success
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.
