<May 16, 2012> Late last week Nortek Inc. released the results of its fiscal first quarter or the period that 
ended March 31, 2012. Nortek – parent company to venerable industry brands such as Niles Audio, Speakercraft, Xantech, Elan, and more – showed a 7% sales increase in the quarter to $522.8 million as compared to $488.6 million in the year before. And while the company continued to book a net loss in the first quarter, it clearly showed solid improvement in several areas…including a dramatically reduced net loss of $1.2 million as compared to the same quarter last year when the net loss was $21.1 million. [Read more…] about Nortek’s Net Losses Continue – And Continue to Improve
Manufacturers
U.S. Dept. of Justice Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple & Five Publishers
<April 11, 2012> The Department of Justice (DOJ) today filed an antitrust civil lawsuit against Apple, Inc. and five major book publishers, alleging that the parties had formed an illegal cabal for the purpose of artificially inflating the price of e-books. The publishers charged in the action were Hachette SA, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster. [Read more…] about U.S. Dept. of Justice Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple & Five Publishers
Nortek’s Losses Increased in 2011, But Company Says Q4 Results are Encouraging
<April 4, 2012> In financial results filed with the SEC at the end of last week, Nortek, Inc. said fiscal year 2011 (year ending December 31, 2011) saw a substantial sales increase of 12.7% from $1.899 billion in 2010 to $2.141 billion last year. However, the company reported that losses also increased from 2010’s $13.4 million to last year’s $55.9 million. Still, the company feels there’s cause for optimism as fourth quarter results improved substantially over the fourth quarter of 2010. [Read more…] about Nortek’s Losses Increased in 2011, But Company Says Q4 Results are Encouraging
Gibson Guitar’s Weissburg Gives the ALERT a Status Update
<March 28, 2012> Earlier this month, the ALERT reported that ex-D&M President Bob Weissburg had joined Gibson Guitar as its global executive vice president. While Weissburg was said to have responsibilities over the entire organization, his focus is primarily on Gibson’s audio and pro businesses which are growing largely as the result of several acquisitions by the company, including Onkyo’s U.S. subsidiary, Onkyo USA. [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar’s Weissburg Gives the ALERT a Status Update
Warning: Don’t Buy These Cat5E and USB 2.0 Patch Cables
<March 28, 2012> Underwriters Laboratories (UL) issued a warning today that cables are being sold fraudulently bearing the “UL Approved” seal even though they have not been tested as safe by the testing service. As a result, UL cannot guarantee their performance. [Read more…] about Warning: Don’t Buy These Cat5E and USB 2.0 Patch Cables
Skullcandy Turns to Eye Candy to Sell Headphones
<March 21, 2012> Expanding on the concept of what constitutes performance, Skullcandy announced today it was creating a new group of supermodel ambassadors, appropriately called their “Supermodel Crew,” starting with the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover girl Kate Upton. Consummating a multi-year deal with Upton, Skullcandy says it will have “all-access” to the Sports Illustrated “it girl.” [Read more…] about Skullcandy Turns to Eye Candy to Sell Headphones
Onkyo Launches New Tablet – It’s Going to be Big…Really Big
<March 15, 2012> Onkyo Corp. will launch a new tablet computer which will be targeted towards the business market, according to a report in the Nikkei. And in a move sure to set it apart from the new iPad and other tablet designs, Onkyo’s version sports a huge 20-inch screen and weighs over 11 pounds. [Read more…] about Onkyo Launches New Tablet – It’s Going to be Big…Really Big
Agreeing with Soul by Ludacris, Judge Orders PRO Group To Testify Now
<March 14, 2012> Over the last few weeks, we have reported on a trademark and unfair business practices lawsuit filed by Signeo, the parent company of Soul by Ludacris, against Sol Republic. In its original filing, Signeo alleged that Sol Republic deliberately selected the SOL mark used on their headphone products in order to confuse the marketplace with a name that is phonetically identical to the SOUL trademark used by Signeo on its headphones. [Read more…] about Agreeing with Soul by Ludacris, Judge Orders PRO Group To Testify Now
Vintage Cars Collide with High Performance Entertainment at McIntosh Listening Experience
<March 14, 2012> McIntosh Audio Labs audio products received great acclaim as they competed with vintage motor cars at the McIntosh Listening Experience the company set up at the Concours d’Elegance. This was the second time McIntosh showed their products at the popular vintage motor car show which took place this past weekend at the Ritz-Carleton on Amelia Island, FL. [Read more…] about Vintage Cars Collide with High Performance Entertainment at McIntosh Listening Experience
Select D&M Sales Rep Territories Remain Brand Specific
>>NOTE: UPDATED MARCH 9TH – SEE BOX BELOW<<
<March 7, 2012> Last week, Stratecon’s BEACON broke the news about a major overhaul and consolidation of D&M Holdings’ sales representative and distributor network. Later that day, D&M confirmed our initial report, releasing a statement spelling out the substantive, albeit generally described, changes to their sales network. Now the ALERT has discovered that not all of D&M’s rep territories were merged – in select markets, separate sales rep forces are being maintained. [Read more…] about Select D&M Sales Rep Territories Remain Brand Specific
