Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

Sonance James Small Aperture Series
You are here: Home / Archives for Pivot Point

Pivot Point

More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?

by 16 Comments

Significant Staff Terminations Drop Headcount

New Thiel Audio logoWe are hearing from multiple sources both public and private that Thiel Audio has ceased operations, effective November 30, 2017. If true, the news would be a sad punctuation to the end of the story of a once proud  high-end audio brand that since 2012 has endured multiple CEO’s and their changing business plans. Current CEO Elyse McKenna is, by our count, the fifth CEO at Thiel since the end of 2012 – a year which started with co-founder Kathy Gornik as the CEO who then sold the company to David B. Griffin, a wealthy farmer and landowner according to our sources.

But, apparently, the answer to the question posed in our headline is that it depends on who you ask. CEO Elyse McKenna, in a telephone interview this afternoon, denied that Thiel is closed and tells us the company remains open for business.

See more on this confusing news on Thiel… [Read more…] about More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?

Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – How We Do RMR in the Big City

by Leave a Comment

We continue on with our new Strata-SERIES:RMR Programs series of articles. Smack dab in the middle of Manhattan you’ll find Union Square and in Union Square you’ll find Cloud9 Smart, a leading New York City integrator in both commercial and residential installations.

[Note: this article is part of a series and will make more sense if you read Installment 1 first. You can find it at this link…]

See How They Do RMR in the Big Apple… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – How We Do RMR in the Big City

Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – Just What Kind of Business are You In?

by Leave a Comment

Topic Introduction – RMR Programs Can Change the Game

First installment of RMR seriesWhen given the assignment to check up on the state of recurring monthly revenue (RMR) programs, it seemed like a pretty straightforward task. After all, everybody embraces RMR…right? We began by randomly reaching out to custom integrators around the country – including a few large, high revenue businesses. The simple request…tell us about your RMR program.

[This is the first post in a series of articles we call Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs. Read about why we created this series here…]

First problem? Nobody wanted to talk to us! Read on to see why… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – Just What Kind of Business are You In?

Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – Not Just Revenue, A Redefined Client Relationship

by Leave a Comment

Introducing A New Article Series on RMR Programs

Cover of Residential Systems December issueHave you seen the December issue of Residential Systems Magazine? I wrote the cover story, “Maintaining Customer Joy” (online as: “Maintaining Customer Joy Through Service Plans“), a detailed article about the benefits and challenges of implementing a recurring monthly revenue (RMR) program in an integration company. In that story, I interviewed four top integrators who all had successful RMR programs, about the trials and tribulations of establishing that program…and the benefits they derived from it.

In researching RMR programs, I learned that they are much more than a revenue stream – they literally redefine the relationship with the client. I had uncovered more than I expected…so much more…

A new Strata-SERIES on RMR programs – redefining the client relationship… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs – Not Just Revenue, A Redefined Client Relationship

Samsung’s Graphene Ball Battery Breakthrough

by Leave a Comment

Fully Recharge Batteries in Just 12 Minutes

Samsung logoKorean media is touting a major breakthrough in battery technology from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) called graphene ball. Said to dramatically improve both charging capacity and charging speed, the breakthrough could have a real impact on consumers who have come to rely on their battery driven mobile devices. And there are implications as well for electric automobiles and other applications.

See more on the Samsung graphene ball… [Read more…] about Samsung’s Graphene Ball Battery Breakthrough

Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk

by 5 Comments

Acquired in 2013, Cakewalk was Killed for Philips, Gibson Says

Cakewalk logoIn what many in the industry are suggesting is yet another indicator of struggles at Gibson Brands, the company announced a little over a week ago that it would wind down operations at Cakewalk Inc., a popular music creation software company it owns. Music industry-centric websites around the internet exploded with largely critical coverage of the move, and comments on Cakewalk’s website are decidedly negative – both sad and angry – as customers seek to process the shocking news.

See more on yet another move by struggling Gibson…

[Read more…] about Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk

Toshiba: Beginning to Slip From View

by Leave a Comment

Company Pulls Monster LED Display from Times Square

Top of Toshiba's Times Square displayStruggling Toshiba Corp. has made what is undoubtedly a difficult decision and a big blow to their corporate ego  – they will abandon their giant LED display overseeing Times Square. The huge lighted billboard was a prominent showing of the Toshiba logo all year-round, but especially during the dropping of the ball on New Years Eve, when it served as the countdown shown on network TVs as cameras broadcast the ball drop around the world. The Toshiba logo has literally lit up Times Square for ten years, having been first erected there in December 2007.

See more on Toshiba’s decision to vacate Times Square… [Read more…] about Toshiba: Beginning to Slip From View

CEDIA’s Big Dig in Fishers, IN Begins

by Leave a Comment

Association Breaks Ground on $14 Million HQ Building

CEDIA announced today it has broken ground on its previously revealed new $13.7 million headquarters building being built in Fishers, Indiana. The project is expected to take about a year to complete, with the organization taking residence in November 2018.

See more on this move by CEDIA… [Read more…] about CEDIA’s Big Dig in Fishers, IN Begins

Confirmed: B&W Closes Classé HQ; Staff Dismissed

by 1 Comment

Photo of Classe amp
Classé CP-800

We have now confirmed that at the end of the day last Friday, October 6th, the Classé headquarters facility was in fact closed by Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) for the last time and all remaining employees were dismissed. This move is a sad and sobering end to a once proud brand celebrated by many audiophiles as one of the finest performing lines of high-end electronics available.

See more of what we know about the closing of Classé… [Read more…] about Confirmed: B&W Closes Classé HQ; Staff Dismissed

Case Closed: Classé Closing October 6th

by Leave a Comment

Classe logoMultiple sources are telling us that on Friday, October 6th, the Montreal headquarters of Classé will close their doors for the last time and all remaining employees will be let go. This includes the dismissal of Classé President Dave Nauber, who has been with the company since 2002. Classé is part of the B&W Group, which itself is going through a major restructuring in the wake of the dismissal of President Doug Henderson as we reported to you back in July.

See more on what we’ve learned about the situation at Classé… [Read more…] about Case Closed: Classé Closing October 6th