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.
Marketing
The Miracle of…Birth – The Birth of the Bluesound Brand
Last week, I witnessed a miracle. The miracle was…a birth. It was a birth like no other, as every proud parent believes is the case with THEIR child. There was a proud Papa…and a large assembled family…brought together to celebrate the event.
This birth, like any birth, was wondrous. And…for the parents…this was an event full of hopes and dreams of what their “bundle of joy” will become. At this joyous event was a group of observers, like me. But not like me.
Was this birth – the birth of Bluesound – truly “miraculous”???… [Read more…] about The Miracle of…Birth – The Birth of the Bluesound Brand
Promising Newcomer AudioXperts Abruptly Ceases Operations
BREAKING NEWS
After only a little more than one year in operation, AudioXperts – a new specialty brand of audio electronics targeted at the luxury consumer market – has closed down operations. According to AudioXperts President Eli Harary, the company was forced to shut down last Friday after a key investor stopped all funding.
See more details on this startling development from a new and innovative company… [Read more…] about Promising Newcomer AudioXperts Abruptly Ceases Operations
Buying Group Kerfuffle Continues to Smolder
Yesterday, we reported on an unusual flare-up involving Azione Unlimited, VIA International, and the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) – initially fueled by a press release from Azione that announced VIA was resigning all buying groups. In the wake of this announcement, we contacted both VIA and HTSA, who suggested that Azione’s release was not accurate.
Our post yesterday reported what both sides were saying. But today, they said more…as the kerfuffle continues… [Read more…] about Buying Group Kerfuffle Continues to Smolder
CEDIA EXPO 2013 Overview and Attendance
CEDIA’s Expo in 2013 returned to Denver, CO, a favorite location for many attendees and exhibitors – a point to which we can attest as so many said so in Strata-gee’s CEDIA Survey over the last few years. So was Denver the panacea needed to get everyone back into a positive state of mind? Was the show everything everyone hoped it would be?
See our thoughts below on EXPO 2013… [Read more…] about CEDIA EXPO 2013 Overview and Attendance
GoldenEar Launches New Larger SoundBar and ‘SuperCenters’
GoldenEar, the now 3-year old brainchild of speaker savant Sandy Gross, continues an aggressive product launch schedule announcing both a new larger soundbar and a line of center channel speakers with the rather shopping mall-sounding name of SuperCenters. Like all GoldenEar products, these new models are reserved strictly for GoldenEars’ limited distribution to predominantly specialty dealers and installers.
See more on these interesting new GoldenEar speakers… [Read more…] about GoldenEar Launches New Larger SoundBar and ‘SuperCenters’
Peachtree Audio to Tap D&M Executive Andrew Clark as President
We learned today that Peachtree Audio will name Andrew Clark as its new President, effective October 1st. Clark, a long time industry executive with experience at company’s large and small, is currently employed at D&M Group as its Global Business Team Leader, Soundbars & Speakers. He will leave his position in one week to take over at Peachtree Audio.
See more on Clark’s transition to Peachtree… [Read more…] about Peachtree Audio to Tap D&M Executive Andrew Clark as President
Gibson Brands Goes Looking for an Advertising Agency on AMC’s ‘The Pitch’
Gibson Brands (formerly Gibson Guitar) announced today that CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be featured on an episode in season two of AMC’s reality show “The Pitch.” The show chronicles the steps that rival advertising agencies go through to win new clients.
See more on Gibson’s participation on ‘The Pitch’… [Read more…] about Gibson Brands Goes Looking for an Advertising Agency on AMC’s ‘The Pitch’
Strata-gee’s CEDIA Expo Survey Offers Surprises – Positive & Negative
The CEDIA Expo is next week and our annual CEDIA Survey is now closed for responses. Thank you all who participated – we truly appreciate those of you who took the time to respond. Results are in and we have to say, just when we think there are no surprises left…we get surprised again.
See some of the surprising…and not so surprising results from this our 2013 Expo Survey… [Read more…] about Strata-gee’s CEDIA Expo Survey Offers Surprises – Positive & Negative
Apple Launches New iPhones, Stock Gets Squashed Like a Bug
Is Apple the Victim of Unreasonable Expectations? Or Is the Reaction to Incrementalism Justified?
Apple, Inc. announced on Tuesday the long-awaited update of its key iPhone 5 smartphone, only to see its stock pummeled – losing more than 2% of its value on Tuesday and another 5.44% on Wednesday as investors appeared under-whelmed by the announcement. But is this reaction fair? Has Apple lost its innovation mojo? Or is Apple the victim of unreasonable expectations?
