Pivot Point

Is the Shake-Up at Core Brands Really About Retirement?

October 9, 2014 by Ted 1 Comment

Over the last few days, management of Core Brands has gone out of their way to reach out to several members of the media to talk about last week’s announcement of the retirement of President Bill Pollock, the exit of Senior VP of Sales Dave Keller, and of the layoff of “a small number of full-time positions.” The announcement suggests a lot of turmoil at Core Brands…a company that seems to have “turmoil” as its middle name.

But is this turmoil really about retirement? Or is something else going on at Core Brands?…

Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames

October 8, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

In an unusually breathless and overstimulated report out of Japan, we learn that Funai Electric Co., Ltd. – a large, global OEM manufacturing company of mostly AV gear – has filed a $400 million damage claim in their battle with Philips over the loss of a deal with the European giant for its Woox audio business. Not only that, but the report from the Nikkei also revealed that – at the same time – Funai’s President and CEO of less than 9-months has abruptly resigned in a dispute with upper management on the future direction of the company.

See more on this news out of Japan that sounds more like a reality TV show than a business… [Read more…] about Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames

Big Changes at Core Brands: Pollock Retires & Keller is Out

October 3, 2014 by Ted 1 Comment

BREAKING NEWS

We received word late today of big changes taking place at Core Brands as the company announced that President Bill Pollock will retire “after 27-years leading Panamax-Furman” and Core Brands. Pollock’s retirement becomes effective at the end of the year and he will be replaced by Joe Roberts, currently Core Brands Vice President of Products and Marketing.

The company also announced that Senior Vice President of Sales Dave Keller will be also leaving the company “before the end of the year.” Interestingly, there was no reason given for Keller’s departure.

See more on these dramatic developments… [Read more…] about Big Changes at Core Brands: Pollock Retires & Keller is Out

Sharp to Close European Operations; Licenses Brand to UMC of Slovakia

October 2, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

3,000 Sharp European Employees to be Cut

Sharp Corp. said late last week that it has reached an agreement with Universal Media Corp. of Slovakia to license its brand and market Sharp branded products in Europe. As part of this strategy, Sharp will either sell or close its factory in Poland, cutting approximately 3,000 employees in total between their company-owned factory and European operations.

See more on this development, as Sharp pursues a new business strategy…. [Read more…] about Sharp to Close European Operations; Licenses Brand to UMC of Slovakia

With New Funding & New CEO…TiO is Finally Ready for Takeoff

September 26, 2014 by Ted 5 Comments

“I have a very high regard and respect for the product,” Vinu Patel, CEO of Anuva Automation told us he said to Mike Anderson earlier this year as they discussed a possible buyout. Patel was sharing the story of how he came to know – and ultimately buy – Anderson’s home automation and control company Turn It On (TiO). As we reported earlier this year, TiO had run into trouble and out of money when financial backing fell through. The situation quickly became dire.

Then, Anuva entered the scene… [Read more…] about With New Funding & New CEO…TiO is Finally Ready for Takeoff

CEDIA on Latest Market Data, ‘Installers are Having a Good Year’

September 25, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Photo of Erica Shonkwiler of CEDIA — Erica Shonkwiler, CEDIA

The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) released new preliminary market data at their Expo held earlier this month – in a decidedly more optimistic presentation than in past years. Erica Shonkwiler, CEDIA’s Market Research Manager, was obviously pleased with the data she was to share with the media – and she conveyed an optimism that appears to be due to the new data showing an upturn in CEDIA members’ business results.

Not only was there a business upturn, it was the second year of positive results… [Read more…] about CEDIA on Latest Market Data, ‘Installers are Having a Good Year’

With Pyng, Crestron Zings the Integration Community

September 24, 2014 by Ted 3 Comments

At the CEDIA Expo earlier this month, Crestron surprised many in the integration community by offering a new, friendly, easy-to-program and easy-to-use, app-driven home automation system they call Pyng. In fact, at a presentation to the press during CEDIA Expo earlier this month, Crestron staff referred to Pyng as “the app for your home.”

But does Pyng’s ease of programming & use cut the integrator out of the picture? See more… [Read more…] about With Pyng, Crestron Zings the Integration Community

Pioneer Says Merger Talks with Onkyo Continue; But Equity Partner Appears Sidelined

September 18, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Pioneer Corporation released an interesting document on September 12th – while much of the tech media was in Denver for CEDIA – titled Notice with Respect to Basic Agreement for the Integration of Pioneer’s Home AV Business and Onkyo. This curious document, six pages long, gives an update as to the state of the discussions between the parties in the previously announced “basic agreement” between Pioneer, Onkyo, and Baring Private Equity Asia for a “Capital/Business Alliance” related to Pioneer’s Home AV business.

Now, apparently, the deal’s changed…with Baring PE pushed to the sidelines… [Read more…] about Pioneer Says Merger Talks with Onkyo Continue; But Equity Partner Appears Sidelined

Pioneer Fire Sale Continues – Dumps DJ Biz to KKR

September 17, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

Pioneer surprised everyone back in June of this year when word came that it had decided to sell its AV business to Onkyo Corp. and a private equity company. But actually, the gears for this and other deals were set in motion last year when the company launched a new strategic plan to focus on their core business – car electronics, their largest and most profitable division.

Now we learn the company has sold off its once burgeoning DJ business to KKR. See more… [Read more…] about Pioneer Fire Sale Continues – Dumps DJ Biz to KKR

SpeakerCraft…Just Got SpeakerCrafty

September 11, 2014 by Ted Leave a Comment

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW!

The hushed buzz of whispers of trouble at Nortek’s Core Brands had grown over the summer – culminating in almost a roar in the wake of Nortek’s last quarterly report identifying its AV division as troubled. One of the premier flagships of the Core Brands stable is SpeakerCraft. As if the SpeakerCraft crew didn’t already have enough on its plate countering these issues, the company faced a new challenge as its former founders launch a new competitor (Origin Acoustics) to a lot of noise.

Pivot Point

Is the Shake-Up at Core Brands Really About Retirement?

But is this turmoil really about retirement? Or is something else going on at Core Brands?…

Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames

See more on this news out of Japan that sounds more like a reality TV show than a business… [Read more…] about Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames