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Crestron Brings the Trade Show to You via the Crestron NEXT Road Trip

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Crestron NEXT logo

BREAKING NEWS Event Kicks Off in November, Starting in Boston & Chicago; More to Follow

I have just learned that Crestron is planning to launch a monster series of regional dealer shows, called the Crestron NEXT Road Trip, that sounds as though they’re going to be spectacular – with new product launches, full product displays & demos, and in-depth educational courses offered. The multi-day event will include huge displays from both the company’s commercial and residential business units in what promises to be quite a show.

See what we know so far about the Crestron NEXT Road Trip

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Melrose ‘Disposes’ of Nortek Air Mngmt in Deal Valued at $3.625B

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Melrose Industries PLC announced this morning that they have entered into an agreement to sell off the Nortek Air Management business – the most valuable part of the company – to Madison Industries of Chicago, Il. The cash deal is valued at approximately $3.625 billion. Melrose refers to this transaction as the “Disposal.”

See more on Melrose ‘Disposing’ of Nortek…

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Budding Onkyo & Voxx Romance Grows, Adds Teac & Esoteric to 11 Trading Company

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photo of teac component once part of Onkyo now to be distributed by 11 Trading Company

This week we learned that 11 Trading Company…part of Premium Audio Company…which itself is part of Voxx International (love those big corporate structures), has added the only remaining Onkyo brands – Teac & Esoteric – to their distribution line list. They did not include these brands in the original announcement of their agreement with Onkyo, but most people expected it to be added in time. With this new development we get a nice progression of the budding relationship between the companies – Voxx distributing Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite, Teac & Esoteric – while Onkyo Corp. becomes the Klipsch distributor in Japan. Where could this be heading?

See more on Onkyo & Voxx/11 Trading Company partnership…

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More Positive Consumer News as Luxury Marketer LVMH Reports Q1 Sales

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Photo of LVMH Louis Vuitton store in Paris, France
Louis Vuitton store in Paris, France

LVMH, the global owner and marketer of luxury goods carrying some of the most prestigious brands, reported on Tuesday strong first quarter 2021 sales growth that handily exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts of market analysts. This is yet another encouraging sign of a significant rebound in consumer spending – especially with the type of consumer who tends to be the primary customer base for the custom integration channel.

See more on LVMH and its results with luxury consumers…

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Onkyo Corps’ Struggle to Survive: The Situation has Become Dire

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photo of Onkyo component system
Onkyo turntable and component system from days gone by…

Last Thursday, Onkyo notified the Tokyo Stock Exchange that its latest forecast for fiscal 2021 results shows that – despite their best efforts – the company remains insolvent. It was a disappointing announcement, as it means that the company’s well thought-out plans to return to solvency failed. So what happens now?

What happens to Onkyo now?

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Melrose Makes It Official: Nortek is For Sale…Again

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Melrose logo

Melrose Industries Plc has announced that their financial results for fiscal 2020 and it wasn’t pretty. The company swung to a net loss on lower revenues. They said this was mostly due to the Coronavirus pandemic’s massive impact on its GKN Aerospace division. To streamline operations and raise cash, Melrose told the press that it has again put Nortek up for sale.

See more on Melrose putting Nortek up for sale…

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Pres. Biden Orders Supply Chain Review; This Might Not End Well for Tech

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all-electric Cadillac design at CES 2021

Auto Makers Now in the Driver’s Seat

Late last week, multiple news services reported that US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order directing a “broad review” of the supply chains for critical materials – critical materials that include, by the way, semiconductors. The fact is, this might not end well for Tech…

See why supply chain concerns are heightening…

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Strata-gee’s Top Ten Most Read Stories of 2020

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With 2020 rapidly disappearing into our rearview mirror, it’s always good to take a moment during the holidays and reflect on the year that just transpired. A year is a long time and a lot happens.

Also, as a content creator it is good to look back at those stories that seemed to resonate with most readers as I seek to constantly refine my editorial targets to better match the interests of readers. One way I do that is to put together an end of year list of the Top Ten Most Read Stories. Let’s look at those together – were these your favorites as well?

See 2020’s Top Ten Most Read Strata-gee Stories…

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High-End Faces A Matter of Survival in Pandemic’s Wake; Here’s What We Should Do Now

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In This GUEST POST, Bill Leebens Takes You on a Journey from ‘Me’ to ‘We’ & Proposes a New Industry Association

A few months ago, I unexpectedly became unemployed. There had been occasions in my career when it was clear that I needed to get the hell out of Dodge —but this wasn’t one of them.

A new job would not appear overnight; that was obvious. I was up to my ears in fearful self-absorption.

Then things changed…and the world was in upheaval.

This changed everything…

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Integrators Rejoice! Peace Chimes are Ringing – Crestron & Lutron are Working Together

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Lutron and Crestron are now working together

OK…I don’t want to overstate this, but over the last few years, integration industry giants Crestron and Lutron have been…shall we say…a little competitive with each other. Maybe not directly so, but certainly there have been skirmishes over several lines of products. Over time, the two companies’ line extensions have been progressively encroaching more and more into each other’s territory.

Well, that’s over now, as Creston announced last week that it has forged “an alliance” with Lutron – integrating several of the lighting company’s products into the Crestron Home ecosystem. Dealers who sell both brands are undoubtedly rejoicing – Hallelujah! Peace has come!

Read more on the Crestron & Lutron alliance…

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