Strategy in TECH...
It is not unusual for a hot new product to launch with huge demand, only to see unit sales taper down to more sustainable levels after the initial launch demand is fulfilled. Surely, Apple, Inc. was expecting just this type of behavior after the launch of their long-awaited Apple Watch wearable. However, new data from Slice Intelligence shows that sales of the Apple Watch have plummeted by 90% – an amount well beyond Apple’s typical experience.
The folks at Anuva Automation, maker of the TiO wireless home automation solution, are getting their act together and taking it on the road – launching what they call the “Grow Your Business Tour” for dealers around the country. Kicking off today at the Anuva Innovations center in Raleigh-Durham, NC, the GYB Tour will hit 10 major markets between now and September 23rd.
Denon announced two new A/V receivers (AVRs) on Wednesday, both sporting Dolby’s latest Atmos surround sound technology and, hedging their bets, ready for DTS:X with a free firmware update later this year. These new AVRs are moderately priced and, as is the rule these days, absolutely packed with features.
How dogged are we in pursuing stories for Strata-gee.com readers? Dogged enough to travel to Florida…in June! Yes, we traveled earlier this month to Melbourne, FL to visit Anuva Automation, parent company of home automation upstart Turn It On (TiO). There has apparently been a lot going on at TiO lately with a flurry of recent press releases and we wanted to see for ourselves, just exactly what the company has been up to in the still early stages of its launch.
We live in interesting times! In a news report out of Japan that is, shall we say, unusual – proxy investment advisory firm ISS is recommending that Japanese shareholders vote against the reelection of the top executives at both Sony Corp. and Sharp Corp. at upcoming annual shareholders meeting for the firms. Coming from the land of consensus and support for local brands, this news is quite surprising.
An independent commercial finance company, Siena Lending Group, announced last week that it has worked with North Mill Capital to close on a three-year asset-based revolving credit facility in the amount of $25 million with D&M Holdings, Inc. and D&M Canada, Inc. Siena says that the funds will support D&M’s growth and their “seasonal working capital requirements.” It will also, apparently, help Denon grow their HEOS line. Why do we say that? Read on…
HiFiMan, an independent manufacturer of high-end headphones, portable music players, and associated accessories, announced on Wednesday a new top-of-the-line, full-sized headphone – the HE1000. Featuring the company’s preferred planar magnetic technology and a breakthrough diaphragm design, these headphones are for serious music listening, or as the company puts it, “intended for reference use in home or studio.”
Sharp Corp., as we have previously reported, is going through some seriously tough times. Earlier this month, company-connected sources had told the Japanese media that the company would announce drastic restructuring measures, including significant staff cutbacks – not just in export markets, but on their home turf of Japan as well. And while the company went on to officially announce these cuts, it did not take any additional steps to fundamentally restructure their company, disappointing investors who were looking for much more.
