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Control4 CEO Warns of Slowing Growth, Says Retrofit is Key

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Control4 logo, new

By most measures, Control4 had an excellent quarter and a record year in Fiscal 2018. Revenues and income were up for the quarter and the company noted that 2018 was another record year in financial performance with both revenues and profits increasing nicely.

But during an investor call, CEO Martin Plaehn warned that they are experiencing new headwinds that are slowing growth. And on the day after the fiscal results were announced, Control4’s stock got hit hard, dropping at one point more than 18% and closing down about 17%.

See what’s going on at Control4…

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I Smell a Scam

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Photo of Foxconn's Terry Gou & Scott Walker

The headline caught my attention immediately – “Exclusive: Foxconn reconsidering plans to make LCD panels at Wisconsin plant.” This story, from the highly respected Reuters News Agency, follows a series of articles on Foxconn’s growing business struggles in the wake of a decline in sales to Apple. But it immediately raised a red flag with me…

See why I question Foxconn’s motives…

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Foxconn Cuts 50,000 Jobs as iPhone Pain Continues

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Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the Apple, Inc. primary supplier better know as Foxconn, has cut more than 50,000 jobs as the pain from the dramatic drop in iPhone sales is taking its toll on the company. Not only that, but the company has fallen short of hiring goals to which it previously committed to the State of Wisconsin – losing major tax credits for this year.

Worse yet, the outlook for the near future, doesn’t look to improve any time soon.

See more on Foxconn’s trouble…

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James Loudspeaker is Jammin’

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James Loudspeaker came out with multiple announcements this week that give a strong indication that the company is growing. Not only has the manufacturer of high-quality residential and commercial architectural and landscape products added a new President, but also a new Director of Marketing and even announced a new headquarters and production facility in Nevada.

See more on James Loudspeaker growth in this announcement…

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TCL Launches 8K QLED & Audio Solutions at CES

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TCL show booth

TCL, a leading global TV brand out of China, launched several new A/V products at CES 2019, including new higher end 8K QLED¹ TVs with AI, a whole new range of headphone products, and new home theater soundbars. These products not only expand their assortment, they expand their market position with higher end solutions and advanced technologies.

See more on TCL’s impressive CES launches…

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Apple Supplier Foxconn Hit Hard by iPhone Sales Drop

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Taiwan’s GDP Declines Due to Apple Cuts

Photo: Nikkei

We have followed Foxconn for years now, first picking up on them in 2012 when news had emerged that a significant Apple supplier was having problems with employees committing suicide – eventually forcing the company to install ‘suicide nets’ on their taller factories and offices to help thwart further suicide attempts. Foxconn has continued on to become one of Apple, Inc.’s largest iPhone supplier of parts and assembly.

Foxconn rode the rising iPhone wave, but what about now?…

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Top Tech Stories From CES 2019

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CES graphic

CES 2019 is over the hump, closing tomorrow. But the top tech stories are pretty big and pretty clearly defined – and will be quite exciting, when they appear…someday. The top tech stories include – LG’s rollable, bendable OLED displays, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G – the next generation wireless tech, 8K TVs, autonomous vehicles – both car and motorcycle, and Apple & Siri strike back.

See what’s hot at CES 2019 in Vegas, baby…

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Bryston Terminates Reps; Hires National Firm

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Bryston's logoI had barely lit up the pixels with my post on Nortek’s holiday termination of their remaining independent sales representative groups, when I began hearing from a number of other sources about high-end specialty brand Bryston terminating their rep force as well. It’s like a New Year’s assault on sales representative groups…and they aren’t happy about it…

See what we know about the Bryston sales strategy… [Read more…] about Bryston Terminates Reps; Hires National Firm

Nortek to Reps: Happy New Year, You’re Fired

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BREAKING NEWS

Nortek Security & Control logoOur phones and email lit up over the last few days as word spread that Nortek Security and Control has fired all of the remaining Core Brands reps in the U.S., according to multiple sources. The timing of the terminations over the holidays only seems to add a sense of heartlessness to the action….a real-life ‘bah humbug’ that leaves the reps feeling cold.

See more on the New Year firing of all Nortek field sales reps… [Read more…] about Nortek to Reps: Happy New Year, You’re Fired

Gibson’s Speedy Bankruptcy Exit Hits a Big Roadblock

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Gibson's G-Force auto-tunerI have to admit, Strata-gee was considering moving on from its Gibson Brands (Gibson Guitar) coverage, first started in 2012 when the company made several acquisitions as part of an ill-advised foray into the consumer electronics business. As delineated in our copious coverage, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz turned to OPM (other people’s money) loading the company up with over half a billion dollars in debt to pursue a business in which the company had no expertise…ultimately resulting in Gibson’s bankruptcy filing in May of this year.

Gibson’s major creditors banded together, put together what some would call a pre-packaged bankruptcy plan and looked as though they would exit bankruptcy late November/early December. They were wrong. As they tried to power out of bankruptcy, they hit a brick wall – the United States Trustee who has filed a serious objection to their motion to exit bankruptcy.

Now what? See what the U.S. Trustee objects to in Gibson’s plans… [Read more…] about Gibson’s Speedy Bankruptcy Exit Hits a Big Roadblock