The world of national distributor groups often resembles the ever-shifting sands of the desert – members change, vendors change, and its relative market position often changes. So it is a radically changed world in which the Digital Delivery Group (DDG) finds itself in the wake of last week’s announcement of the formation of a new national distributor group – Catalyst AV – an announcement that prominently featured the names of four DDG distributors who apparently defected to the new competitor.
News
READER’S CHOICE: Top 20 Stories of 2012 on strata-GEE.com
As we come to the end of 2012, I want to thank you – the reader – for coming back often to read the posts on strata-GEE.com either directly or via one of our popular ALERT newsletters. It has been an eventful year for us and nothing was bigger than changing our web address and going to a new content manager system to publish our stories – or “posts” in blog parlance.
I’m pleased to report that our page views continue to increase, as does our subscriber list. It is obvious that you have embraced our new web address – www.strata-GEE.com. And while we remember fondly our old address and the many stories we posted there at www.stratecongroup.com…we hope to continue to be able to entice you to visit us over-and-over again here at strata-GEE.com.
See the twenty most popular stories of 2012 as selected by our readers, below… [Read more…] about READER’S CHOICE: Top 20 Stories of 2012 on strata-GEE.com
Wally Whinna’s New Catalyst AV Distributor Group: AVAD Part Two?
The industry is abuzz about the recently announced launch of a new national distributor group known as Catalyst AV. While the emergence of a new distributor group has been rumored for months, the formal announcement came out just last week. The genesis of the group, according to our sources, was a triumvirate of Wally Whinna (Chicago’s Allnet Distributing), Glen O’Brien (California’s Electronic Stockroom), and Mike Hench (Florida & Southeast’s Electronics Source).
Wally Whinna was one of the original partners of the Alliance of Value Added Distributors (AVAD), the most successful of the national distributor groups that was ultimately purchased by Ingram Micro several years ago. We spoke to Whinna about his latest venture.
Is Catalyst AV really just AVAD, part two?… [Read more…] about Wally Whinna’s New Catalyst AV Distributor Group: AVAD Part Two?
Internet Advertising Revenues Hit Historic Levels of $9.3 Billion in Q3
According to new data released by IAB Internet Advertising Bureau, total revenues from online advertising hit $9.3 billion in the third quarter of 2012. This is the highest level of revenue from Internet advertising ever and is hailed by the organization as a significant milestone for the digital media industry.
See more details as business continues to turn to digital advertising to drive business… [Read more…] about Internet Advertising Revenues Hit Historic Levels of $9.3 Billion in Q3
Businessweek Names Best Buy’s Brian Dunn as Worst CEO of the Year
Businessweek Magazine has published online their latest annual list of the five worst CEOs of the year. The short list, not one that CEOs hope to see their names featured on, is topped this year by a CEO from the consumer electronics retailing industry – none other than Brian Dunn of Best Buy. Dunn, who left Best Buy in April in the wake of a scandal involving an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate, earned the title of the absolute worst chief executive on 2012 – and it wasn’t even because of the affair!
See why Businessweek feels Dunn is the “absolute worst chief executive of 2012″… [Read more…] about Businessweek Names Best Buy’s Brian Dunn as Worst CEO of the Year
Reps: Are They On the Right Track? Or Have They Run Off the Rails?
On Tuesday last week, much like any other day, after arriving at my office I powered up my computer and began wading through the usual 100-150 emails that greet me every morning. Some of these are client-related emails, some are personal, but most are press releases or announcements. On that day, however, one in particular caught my attention – it was from Richard Glikes of Azione and it included a link to a video which was…remarkable.
This press release caught my attention not because it was from Azione, that is an common occurrence. Rather it caught my attention because it was from Azione on a topic that I am not used to dealer buying groups concerning themselves with – sales representative companies.
Little did I suspect that this would be the beginning of a strange turn of events… [Read more…] about Reps: Are They On the Right Track? Or Have They Run Off the Rails?
Sharp Spike in Sharp’s Prospects – Said to Working with Hon Hai on Apple iTV
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that unnamed sources are telling it that Apple has built and is testing a large screen, high definition television that it has worked closely with Asian suppliers to create. Most notably, these sources say that Apple worked closely with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn) – it’s leading iPhone/iPad supplier – and Sharp Corp. – the troubled Japanese television company.
Will Apple’s iTV save Sharp?… [Read more…] about Sharp Spike in Sharp’s Prospects – Said to Working with Hon Hai on Apple iTV
Belden to Acquire PPC
BREAKING NEWS
strata-GEE.com has learned that Belden, Inc., the large cable manufacturing company, has acquired Syracuse, New York-based PPC, a broadband and specialty cable manufacturer that also markets the Perfect Path cable brand to the custom integration industry. The deal is said to be worth $515.7 million.
See what PPC’s Eric Bodley told us about this surprising news… [Read more…] about Belden to Acquire PPC
Nortek’s Core Brands Appoints Chris Bundy Director of Marketing Communications
Core Brands, a division of Nortek, Inc.’s TECH segment, announced today that it has appointed Chris Bundy as its new Director of Marketing Communications. In this role, the company says that Bundy is responsible for “developing and delivering innovative branding, marketing strategies, and product launches across then brand lines…” Bundy’s most recent position was director of marketing for Atlona.
See more on this development below… [Read more…] about Nortek’s Core Brands Appoints Chris Bundy Director of Marketing Communications
New THIEL CEO Tells Us THIEL’s the Real Deal
“It’s really not that fancy,” new Thiel CEO Bill Thomas told us with a chuckle and a noticeable Southern drawl when we asked about his private equity company that was mentioned in a Thiel press release announcing its acquisition last week. [See our post on the acquisition here…] In a telephone interview with strata-GEE.com earlier this week, the 55-year old Thomas said it was simply he and two friends that came together to purchase Thiel Audio Products Company – not some high-powered M&A company.
