<March 14, 2012> McIntosh Audio Labs audio products received great acclaim as they competed with vintage motor cars at the McIntosh Listening Experience the company set up at the Concours d’Elegance. This was the second time McIntosh showed their products at the popular vintage motor car show which took place this past weekend at the Ritz-Carleton on Amelia Island, FL. [Read more…] about Vintage Cars Collide with High Performance Entertainment at McIntosh Listening Experience
News
Select D&M Sales Rep Territories Remain Brand Specific
>>NOTE: UPDATED MARCH 9TH – SEE BOX BELOW<<
<March 7, 2012> Last week, Stratecon’s BEACON broke the news about a major overhaul and consolidation of D&M Holdings’ sales representative and distributor network. Later that day, D&M confirmed our initial report, releasing a statement spelling out the substantive, albeit generally described, changes to their sales network. Now the ALERT has discovered that not all of D&M’s rep territories were merged – in select markets, separate sales rep forces are being maintained. [Read more…] about Select D&M Sales Rep Territories Remain Brand Specific
Netflix Looks to Partner with Major Cable Company
<March 7, 2012> Reuters is reporting today that Netflix, once feared as a predator to many in the Cable TV industry, may be more kitten than lion as it seeks to partner with one or more major cable TV providers in offering Netflix as part of its programming package. Once an unthinkable proposition, Reuters says the company is actively pursuing just such an arrangement. [Read more…] about Netflix Looks to Partner with Major Cable Company
Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar
<March 6, 2012> Gibson Guitar announced yesterday that it has hired ex-D&M President Bob Weissburg as global executive vice president – a new position at Gibson. Although Weissburg’s focus will likely be their consumer electronics and pro divisions, Gibson says he will be in charge of all divisions at the company – including musical instruments. [Read more…] about Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar
HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
<March 1, 2012> The Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) announced today that it has created a new Director of Marketing position that it believes will dramatically increase support for HTSA members with dynamic new programs. The new Director of Marketing is Kathleen Marini. [Read more…] about HTSA Appoints New Director of Marketing
D&M Consolidates Sales Force; Some Long-Time Reps Lose Key Lines
<February 29, 2012> Multiple sources are telling the BEACON that D&M Holdings has consolidated their sales representative network, unifying their Denon, Boston Acoustics, and Marantz brands under one representative firm in each territory. Prior to this move, each territory had a Denon/Boston Acoustics representative, and a Marantz representative. So this move effectively cuts their force in half. [Read more…] about D&M Consolidates Sales Force; Some Long-Time Reps Lose Key Lines
Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
<February 29, 2012> New court documents filed late last week as part of the ongoing lawsuit 
between Soul by Ludacris and SOL Republic appear to more deeply entangle one of our industry’s most prominent national retail buying organizations, the Pro Group. Court filings from both sides have ignited a controversy in which certain Pro Group members appear to make a claim that is contradictory to one by the Pro Group Executive Director David Workman. [Read more…] about Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out
<February 22, 2012> Dealerscope reported on its website today that Signeo, the company that markets primarily headphone products under the brand Soul by Ludacris or “Soul,” has filed a trademark lawsuit against Sol Republic, Inc. who markets primarily headphone products under the brand “Sol.” At the root of the case is consumer confusion over the marketing of competing products that are similar in design and price containing one word brands…that are pronounced phonetically to sound identical. [Read more…] about Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out
S&P Cuts Panasonic’s Long-Term Debt Rating…Again
<February 22, 2012> Standard & Poors, the credit rating agency, today cut Panasonic Corp.’s long-term debt rating for the second time in only four months suggesting it continues to expect a rough road ahead for some of Japan’s most prestigious brands, according to a report in the Nikkei. [Read more…] about S&P Cuts Panasonic’s Long-Term Debt Rating…Again
Home Building Pro’s Reveal Changing Design Trends, With Disturbing Tech News
<February 15, 2012> CBS MarketWatch reported today on the changing trends in home design based on
research by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Based on a survey of industry professionals, the NAHB shared with CBS how the taste and desire of the typical home buyer has changed radically over the last few years…including, and perhaps especially, relative to the inclusion of technologies in the home.
