Newly released data from the Commerce Department shows that housing starts took what many are characterizing as a startling jump in November – rising 23% overall above the October rate and almost 30% above the November 2012 rate. Analysts are struggling to explain the gains other than to say these numbers show a durable housing recovery – welcome news considering the fact that the housing construction industry is a key driver of the overall economy.
News
Toshiba Tries to Turnaround Its Troubled TV Division
Toshiba Corp. has launched an aggressive strategy aimed at turning around its troubled, money-losing television manufacturing business. We wrote last week about their decision to close a manufacturing plant in China in a bid to restructure their production base – one part of a larger TV turnaround strategy. Now word comes of additional aggressive moves by the company attempting to return their once vaunted TV business to profitability.
Toshiba plans to cut factories, jobs, and even countries as it tries for a turnaround… [Read more…] about Toshiba Tries to Turnaround Its Troubled TV Division
Not Just Another Pretty Face – CEDIA’s New Website Means Business
Senior Director of PR & Marketing
On Monday, CEDIA launched an all-new website that represents a dramatic leap forward from their previous offering and provides a much more accessible way for members and other “customers” (more on this later) to learn, communicate, and manage their relationship with the trade group. A complete overhaul, CEDIA’s Senior Director of Public Relations & Marketing Jamie Riley told us in a phone interview that this website has been under intensive development for two years.
See CEDIA’s new website – a major overhaul for members…AND for the association… [Read more…] about Not Just Another Pretty Face – CEDIA’s New Website Means Business
Redbox, Once a Blockbuster Buzzsaw, Finds It Must Now Cut Itself
Outerwall, Inc. (f/k/a Coinstar), owner of Redbox – the national video rental kiosk powerhouse – made several surprising announcements on Tuesday that suggest the company is dealing with some serious business issues. First, the company announced that Redbox division president, Anne Saunders, has left the company. And second, the company said that it would make significant cuts to its staff…and to other projects.
How significant did Outerwall say the staff and project cuts would be? See more below… [Read more…] about Redbox, Once a Blockbuster Buzzsaw, Finds It Must Now Cut Itself
Smart! Spotify Streamed to Your Smartphone is Now Free; Now Offers Led Zeppelin
Spotify, the popular music sharing app, announced today that it will offer streamed music to smartphones for free (ad-supported), starting today. Spotify has long offered this capability on desktop computers for free (again supported by advertising), but had required a paid subscription (ad free) for mobile devices. Now…everything changes.
The company also announced that it has exclusively licensed the rights to stream music from rock icons Led Zeppelin…also starting today.
See more on these dramatic changes, as Spotify moves to increase market share… [Read more…] about Smart! Spotify Streamed to Your Smartphone is Now Free; Now Offers Led Zeppelin
Clare Controls Appoints the New York Marketing Team as Its Metro NY Rep
Clare Controls, a mid-level manufacturer of home automation products, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed the New York Marketing Team as its sales representative for the New York Metropolitan market. The appointment is effective immediately.
See more about Clare Controls and this appointment… [Read more…] about Clare Controls Appoints the New York Marketing Team as Its Metro NY Rep
Toshiba Stops Manufacturing TVs in China
In an announcement earlier this month that could be characterized as counter-intuitive, Toshiba Corp. said it will stop manufacturing LCD televisions at its plant in Dalian, China by the end of December. The company says the move is aimed at helping improve profitability – even though most companies opened plants in China to take advantage of the lower labor costs to help their profitability.
See how Toshiba plans to improve its TV division profits by closing a China factory… [Read more…] about Toshiba Stops Manufacturing TVs in China
Catalyst AV’s 1st Birthday: What a Difference a Year Makes
We first reported on the formation of a new distributor group called Catalyst AV almost exactly one-year ago in December 2012, just prior to their formal launch at the International Consumer Electronics show this past January. While the concept of a national association of regional distributors was not a new phenomenon – various groups started forming back in the mid- to late-1990s – this particular announcement had some added drama with several of the initial members unilaterally defecting from competitor DDG.
So what’s life like at 1-year old Catalyst AV? See details below… [Read more…] about Catalyst AV’s 1st Birthday: What a Difference a Year Makes
Yamaha Wants to Help You Wake Up & Smell the Coffee; Literally
Yamaha Corp. announced on Tuesday a clock radio – something new from them – to help you wake up and smell the coffee…oh and enjoy great music while you’re drinking it! Part of their growing desktop audio solutions, this is a modern take on the traditional clock radio…including premium sound, Bluetooth streaming, and even app control.
See more on this new twist on a bedside table staple… [Read more…] about Yamaha Wants to Help You Wake Up & Smell the Coffee; Literally
Yikes! New Research Confirms It: Affluents are Moving to Digital Shopping
In news sure to send a chill through the backbone of every luxury retailer and manufacturer of every luxury product – electronics included – eMarketer is reporting that new research makes it clear that Affluents, loosely defined as those with household incomes over $100,000, are now shopping online in increasing numbers. Up until now, online shopping was predominantly the domain of the mass consumer, with Affluents preferring gorgeous showrooms laden luxury appointments and knowledgeable, well-dressed and poised staff who cheerfully kowtow to them. Not any more…
