Oops, they did it again (to quote pop icon Brittney Spears) – Gibson Brands has acquired WOOX Innovations, a Singapore-based brand of accessory products, from owner Royal Philips, N.V., according to an announcement from Philips earlier this week. Another in a line of acquisitions in the consumer electronics space by Gibson, WOOX brings in a complementary line of products and international distribution into its portfolio. This is the second attempt to sell the division by Philips, who had a deal with Funai fall through late last year, resulting in legal action.
News
Thiel Audio Communicates with Dealers about Move to Nashville…Finally
Last week, we told you about the many changes we learned that were taking place at Thiel Audio – some of which we characterized as “troubling.” Thiel, a storied brand whose products were originally based on technology and research from co-founder Jim Thiel, was purchased by a group of investors in 2012. Last week, we learned that these investors were closing up the Thiel factory in Lexington, KY – the company’s base of operations for 38-years – and moving it to their home base of Nashville, TN.
When we first heard this news, we reached out to the company, but they declined to speak with us.
Now, in the wake of our story last week, the company reached out to their dealers… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Communicates with Dealers about Move to Nashville…Finally
Thiel Audio Story Takes a New and Troubling Turn
*Strata-gee EXCLUSIVE*
Company Leaving Lexington after 38 Years, Moving to Nashville
Thiel Audio Products Company (Thiel), the iconic high-end speaker manufacturer founded in 1976 in Lexington, KY by engineer Jim Thiel and two friends – and purchased by investors in 2012 – is in the throes of major change as we mentioned in our post last month. Now new details are slowly emerging…some of which are troubling.
See what we’ve learned about what’s transpiring…and what the company told Strata-gee… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio Story Takes a New and Troubling Turn
Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue
Like a damsel in distress, Sony’s money-losing electronics businesses are hoping that Spider-Man can save them…and it just might take a superhero to do it. With Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man 2 about to launch in Japan this month – and in the U.S. next month – the company’s hardware businesses have teamed up with their entertainment businesses to launch an aggressive cross-promotion.
Can Spider-Man save Sony electronics?… [Read more…] about Sony’s Struggling Electronics Division is Hoping for a Spider-Man Rescue
Are Investors Doing as Well as Ingram Micro Executives?
For many tech companies, the industry has never been more challenging than the period following the end of the 2007 economic recession. For most of us, we put on a brave face and tell anyone who asks that everything is fine. But executives in public companies have the added challenge of having their performance publicly announced…often subjecting management to rebuke from angry investors.
For the last two years, however, most public companies on Wall Street have enjoyed a significant comeback. And this comeback has led to substantial increases in remuneration for company executives – Ingram Micro included. But who has done better – investors in the company’s stock…or the company management?
See our analysis on Ingram Micro executive compensation below…Hint: it’s not even close… [Read more…] about Are Investors Doing as Well as Ingram Micro Executives?
UPDATE: Sony Corporate Responds to Strata-gee’s EXCLUSIVE Story on Tech Support Termination
STRATA-GEE EXCLUSIVE
We told you last week about a shocking email received by a Sony dealer which proclaimed in a bold headline that “Sony Technical Support is now terminated.” This seemed to us like a pretty big deal, and yet we could find no official announcement surrounding this email. We dug deep and found sources who told us a hazy and vaguely troubling story that sounded as though the company may be going through some kind of reorganization of its support services.
The day our story ran, we heard from Sony Corporate – seeking to correct some inaccuracies… [Read more…] about UPDATE: Sony Corporate Responds to Strata-gee’s EXCLUSIVE Story on Tech Support Termination
D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses
D+M Group (formerly D&M Holdings), continues their program of divesting businesses it determines are “non-core” to the company’s central focus on the consumer-based Denon, Marantz and Boston Acoustics brands. This week, we learned that the company has cut a deal to license the professional products businesses done under both the Denon and the Marantz brand names to inMusic Brands, Inc.. This move closely follows the announcement last month that the company was selling off the Calrec Audio business to Electra Parters.
See more on this new but not particularly surprising development… [Read more…] about D+M Group Cuts Licensing Deal for Denon & Marantz Professional Businesses
Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
Alpine Electronics will be the first of ultimately several companies to offer a in-car infotainment system based on Apple’s CarPlay system according to a report late last week by the Nikkei. Alpine’s system, which will likely be replicated by others, allows drivers to listen to music, view maps, as well as access other iPhone capabilities.
See more on this new Alpine/CarPlay system that is coming soon… [Read more…] about Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
NY Times Launches Blistering Critique of LG; Says New U.S. HQ is a ‘Public Shame’ & a Reminder to ‘Shop Samsung’
We told you a few days ago about a rising chorus of opposition to the construction of LG’s new 143-foot tall U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ – a borough which borders on a lush, green, wooded area of the state known as the Palisades – a National Natural Landmark. Now, in a scathing “Critic’s Notebook” article in Saturday’s New York Times, Michael Kimmelman compares how Samsung – also building a new headquarters building in San Jose, CA – took steps to be a good corporate citizen and fit in with the community…versus the approach by LG, “…a lousy neighbor.”
A critique of building design, the article didn’t pull any punches in thoughts about LG… [Read more…] about NY Times Launches Blistering Critique of LG; Says New U.S. HQ is a ‘Public Shame’ & a Reminder to ‘Shop Samsung’
End of an Era? J&R Music World Closes Store Today
J&R Music World has announced that it will close its Manhattan store location today. The announcement is likely a surprise to consumers – but those in the industry in the New York Metro market are not surprised. J&R has been struggling for years, starting with a major push down a slippery slope in the wake of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks which were close enough to damage their location in lower Manhattan.
