“Sharp has fallen on hard times again,” declared an at times shocking report in the Nikkei this week. The statement comes in the wake of the company announcing on Tuesday that, rather than their forecast of a profit for the current fiscal year, the company will in fact book a net loss. And this disappointing news will almost certainly drive the call for a much more drastic restructuring than has been accomplished in the past – with the company reportedly considering pulling out of the television business in North America altogether.
News
Long-Time, Well-Respected Industry Executive Tom Ishii Passes Away
Sadly, we learned at the end of last week that long-time, well-respected industry veteran Tom Ishii has passed away. Mr. Ishii was a long time Executive Vice President of Onkyo USA Corp. and we are told he passed away after a short illness.
Learn more about Mr. Ishii’s passing… [Read more…] about Long-Time, Well-Respected Industry Executive Tom Ishii Passes Away
Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
Toshiba Corp. announced late yesterday that it has decided to exit the TV business in all export markets, including North America. The move shocked some, but those who follow the trends in the TV business were not surprised at all as Japanese manufacturers have struggled to maintain viability in a low profitability category with declining demand.
See more on Toshiba’s industry reshaping decision… [Read more…] about Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
Kaleidescape Appoints Industry Veteran Mark Weisenberg as VP Sales
BREAKING NEWS… STRATA-GEE.COM EXCLUSIVE
We have learned today that Kaleidescape has appointed well-known industry veteran Mark Weisenberg as Kaleidescape’s new Vice President of Sales. Weisenberg replaces former VP of Sales Buzz Goddard, who left the company this past December.
See more on this new appointment… [Read more…] about Kaleidescape Appoints Industry Veteran Mark Weisenberg as VP Sales
Irony: Apple Reports Historic Fiscal Quarter Results – Sony Announces More Layoffs
Two rather significant news stories emerged today – one about Apple’s amazing Q1 fiscal results and the other about Sony’s troubled mobile division – and we couldn’t help but notice an incredible irony. In a way, it’s almost a tale of two CE industries.
See more on the incredibly irony of today’s top news stories… [Read more…] about Irony: Apple Reports Historic Fiscal Quarter Results – Sony Announces More Layoffs
Strata-gee Editor Ted Green is Guest Panelist on AVWeek
AVWeek, a weekly audio/video webcast on AV industry news from AV Nation invited Strata-gee.com editor Ted Green to participate as a guest panelist last Friday. The group discussed several of the AV industry’s most recent news stories including Harman’s acquisition of software company, a new AVNu Alliance product, Via founder Randy Stearns leaving, and more…
Get the link to view/listen to the webcast here… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Editor Ted Green is Guest Panelist on AVWeek
Nortek Acquires Anthro Corporation
BREAKING NEWS
Nortek, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Anthro Corporation through its Ergotron division. Anthro makes and designs a range of technology furniture. Nortek said that it financed the purchase using cash on hand and its existing asset-based lending facility.
See more on this acquisition… [Read more…] about Nortek Acquires Anthro Corporation
SpringDeck Appoints Aim High Audio; Launches Innovative ‘Test’ Program
Spring Deck, LLC (SpringDeck) made two significant announcements this week – one sales-oriented, and the other service-oriented. First, the company announced plans to begin hiring sales representative companies around the United States to sell its unique sales presentation software and app to custom integrators. Second, the company announced a new “pilot” or test program, offering an affordable way to access their large database of vendor marketing materials.
See more on these two new unique initiatives… [Read more…] about SpringDeck Appoints Aim High Audio; Launches Innovative ‘Test’ Program
Company Warns Media & Investors, Sharp Pain is Coming
Sharp Corp. this week began warning the media and, through them, investors that it is likely to miss its forecasts for revenues and profits for the fiscal year set to end March 31, 2015…and miss big. Just days after the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where Sharp excitedly showed a large roster of new products, the company is hinting that it may have to take extraordinary steps to stem a newly expected tide of red ink.
See more on this remarkable admission from Sharp… [Read more…] about Company Warns Media & Investors, Sharp Pain is Coming
OmniMount Shows New Product Concept at Private CES Display
OmniMount, part of Ergotron…which is part of Nortek…showed a new product concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month at their private, invitation-only booth. The product is a new concept home product…potentially a real solution to some of the more modern emerging home storage issues. Called the WorkSpace Wall Organizer, will this solution find its say onto the wall in your home?
