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Latest Financial Results for Samsung and LG Show Impact of Trade Troubles

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Samsung and LG released preliminary financial results

Two major South Korean tech behemoths, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, have released preliminary reports on their financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, and these results paint a troubling portrait of a changing trade environment where declining profits and softening consumer demand foretell a challenging road ahead. Both companies reported modest revenue declines and more dramatic operating profit declines as each scrambles to adjust operations for a challenging business environment.

Read all about the strong headwinds buffeting Samsung and LG

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Tariffs: New Business Survey Shows Companies are Already Feeling the Pain

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Tariffs are disrupting international trade as shown by this ship

A new survey of U.S. companies by KPMG reports that they are already feeling the pain of the Administration’s new tariff program, which is still under negotiation with countries around the world. Even at current levels, U.S. businesses have been impacted, reporting they are experiencing declining gross margins…will be forced to further raise prices…are already being impacted by consumer pushback…have suffered sales declines from retaliatory tariff increases in other countries, and more.

Overall, it’s a pretty sobering look at the impact of tariffs on companies now, and a scary foretelling of what they anticipate in a darkened future.

See more on this eye-opening KPMG study on the impact of tariffs

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Harman Luxury Audio Group Names Progressive Custom Integration as Rep for 7 Territories

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Harman Luxury Audio Group brands

On Tuesday, Harman Luxury Audio Group, a division of Harman International focused on high-end audio products, announced that it has appointed manufacturer representative firm Progressive Custom Integration as the company’s representative of record in seven different geographic territories across the U.S. The announcement, which was released retroactively, said that this appointment took effect on July 1, 2025.

See more on Harman’s appointment of Progressive Custom Integration

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May New Home Sales Drop 13.7%, the Largest Drop in Three Years

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Photo of newly constructed home

The latest government data on sales of newly built residential homes in May showed a significant drop of 13.7% as compared with revised sales in April. This data is a sign of continuing struggles for the housing industry, which is grappling with material cost increases and hesitant buyers concerned about still-high mortgage rates and the future of the economy.

Learn more about May’s new home sales dropping

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Latest Yelp Data Shows Q1 Interest in Home Theater Installation was Up 562%

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Yelp reported new consumer trends in Q1 2025

Yelp, the social media site that was started to help you find the best local Chinese takeout, but now covers a very wide range of interests, such as home improvement, has released a comprehensive report of the latest trends in site user interest. In a report titled 2025 Summer Home & Outdoor Trends, Yelp noted a recent surge in user interest in a wide variety of home remodeling projects, including a huge leap in those making project requests for “home theater installation,” up 562% as compared to 2024.

See more on the surprising Yelp trend data for 2025…

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Josh.ai Announces It’s Partnering with SoCal Rep Firm Unified Representatives

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Josh.ai has partnered with Unified Representatives

Josh.ai (Josh) expands its market presence by partnering with Southern California-based manufacturer representative firm Unified Representatives. Josh calls Unified Representatives “a premier manufacturers’ rep firm” who will support what it says is its “rapidly growing dealer base” in Southern California.

See more on Josh.ai partnering with Unified Representatives

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AVPro Edge Expands Commercial Distribution in the Middle East; Partners with Keyston Dist

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New AVPro Edge distributor Keyston Distribution website

AVPro Edge, part of the AVPro Global group of companies, announced this week that it has expanded its commercial channel distribution in the GCC region, part of the Middle East, by partnering with Keyston Distribution Fzco. This move, which the company calls a “strategic step,” will help further extend its presence in this major world region.

Learn more about AVPro Edge & Keyston Distribution in the GCC Region

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Cambridge Audio Dispatches Summer Heat w/ Cool New Products – Evo 150 SE & Melomania A100

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Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE

Cambridge Audio seems to be single-handedly attempting to dispatch the intense summer heat by introducing two new products that are pretty darn cool – the Evo 150 SE Streaming Amplifier and the Melomania A100 true wireless earbuds. Both embody the traditional strengths of Cambridge Audio products with thoughtful component selection and matching, careful engineering, and extensive listening/tuning.

Learn more about Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE and Melomania A100

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After Years of Member Requests, CEDIA is Finally Launching a Smart Home Consumer Campaign

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Image of girl with magic wand to control a smart home

The Magic of a Smart Home

The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) announced on Tuesday that it is launching its first-ever consumer advertising campaign – something members have been asking it to do for years. The campaign is a professionally conceived, created, produced, and now distributed advertisement that includes, amongst other things, a 60-second video that educates consumers on the “magic” of a well-designed smart home and the need for a professional installer.

Learn more about the new CEDIA Magic of Smart Home consumer campaign

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Epic Saga of THIEL Continues as Gary Dayton Acquires Coherent Source Svc

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Gary Dayton & Ted Green in Zoom interview
A recent Zoom interview with Gary Dayton, new owner of Coherence Source Service [Click to enlarge]

One of the remarkable stories to emerge from the demise of high-end loudspeaker brand THIEL Audio, which went out of business in 2018, was the phoenix-like rising of THIEL Service from the ashes of the bankrupt company. Long-time head of service Rob Gillum, sensing the continuing needs of a significant installed base of THIEL owners, purchased service-connected assets out of the bankrupt company and launched the independent Coherent Source Service (CSS), a full-fledged repair center dedicated to servicing the ongoing needs of THIEL legacy model owners everywhere.

Now, in the wake of Rob Gillum’s recent retirement, CSS has been acquired by Gary Dayton, another long-time THIEL service executive (trained by Gillum), who seeks to carry on the mantle of offering THIEL owners ongoing exceptional service of THIEL legacy products.

Learn all about this latest transition of Coherent Source Service

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