A new board of directors has been selected by the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), one of the leading retail buying groups in the U.S. This new board, along with the recently announced new managing director (Jon Robbins), represents an all-new and fresh approach to group management and oversight – albeit from a selection of executives with tremendous history within the organization.
Retailers
Bluesound Scores Deal for National Placement in Magnolia Design Centers
BREAKING NEWS
Bluesound, a division of Lenbrook America, has cut a deal with Best Buy that will result in a national roll-out of the company’s line of high-quality digital multi-room music systems through Best Buy’s Magnolia Design Center locations. The agreement will begin to take effect later this month in a phased introduction into the first 25 locations.
See more about this major development for Bluesound… [Read more…] about Bluesound Scores Deal for National Placement in Magnolia Design Centers
Taking Integration to a Whole New Level; Millson to Launch CinemaFrame at CEDIA Expo
Strata-gee EXCLUSIVE
Well-respected custom integrator Richard Millson, founder of Vancouver, BC-based Millson Technologies, has some 25-years of experience in high-end residential AV and automation systems installation. Many of these installations were in luxury high-rise condominium developments, trendy boutique hotels, and high-end homes. After literally tens of thousands of installations, Millson knew well the gaping holes in the market that manufacturers simply weren’t addressing.
So Richard created a new company, Millson Custom Solutions, to address these gaps. And the first product from MCS, four years in the making, is CinemaFrame – an amazing in-wall high-performance home theater solution.
See more on the remarkable CinemaFrame invisible home theater system… [Read more…] about Taking Integration to a Whole New Level; Millson to Launch CinemaFrame at CEDIA Expo
Rosewater Installs Energy Hub in Integrator Showroom
UPDATE – See correction below story
Rosewater Energy Group announced this week that it completed the first installation of their residential energy hub in the showroom of South Florida integrator Boca Theater and Automation in Boca Raton, Florida. The installation was completed at the end of August and it features the latest version of Rosewater’s hub with nano-carbon battery technology.
See more about Rosewater’s hub and this new installation… [Read more…] about Rosewater Installs Energy Hub in Integrator Showroom
Reps – Hire Them? Or Fire Them?
GUEST POST
Manufacturers in the CE industry have bantered this question about since the industry began. Should we establish factory direct sales teams or use independent sale representatives? Or maybe a hybrid of both? Varied levels of success and failure with any of these models riddle the history of our business. What works for one vendor may not work for another. Get 10 vendors and 10 dealers in a room and you’ll get 30 answers as to the most effective sales strategy, many of which would be valid. Which is one reason why the debate continues as to which selling strategy is best.
Let’s break down the many issues surrounding sales force strategy… [Read more…] about Reps – Hire Them? Or Fire Them?
Differentiate Your Business – To Demo or Not to Demo
GUEST POST
It has never been more difficult to communicate real differentiation or to create real value. Which is why a loyal customer has become more of a concept and less of a reality. But loyalty is something we’ve always had to earn and to earn it now it will require that we get serious about creating innovative programs that build real consumer engagement.
Like brilliantly executed, creative, face-to-face demonstrations can. [Read more…] about Differentiate Your Business – To Demo or Not to Demo
Sporting Goods Retailer Cabela’s Tells Customers to Disconnect from Tech
Company Seeks to ‘Rally Against…Over-Connectivity’
Cabela’s Inc., the world’s largest direct marketer of hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor goods, announced last week that it is partnering with country music star Justin Moore to launch a campaign to encourage their customers to disconnect from tech by supporting a Disconnect Day. Saying, “It’s no secret that a dependence on technology affects individuals and families,” the company plans to launch a multi-faceted effort to encourage consumers to “step away from their devices for a day of their choosing to enjoy outdoor activities.”
See more on how Cabela’s wants you to disconnect from tech… [Read more…] about Sporting Goods Retailer Cabela’s Tells Customers to Disconnect from Tech
SupplyStream Says Its All About the Search
SupplyStream, the industry product-line aggregator that offers dealers and integrators a web platform with cross-vendor consistency in product and pricing information, announced today that it has upgraded its search function based on feedback from current users. The company also says that it will make its API available to select 3rd party software solution providers.
See more on this growing service… [Read more…] about SupplyStream Says Its All About the Search
Azione Unlimited to Sell Sony
Azione Unlimited, a retail buying group of custom integrators, announced today that it has partnered with Sony Corp. to offer its line to Azione’s nationwide membership. The group will carry products from Sony’s AV specialty and custom integration channel division.
See more on this new partnership at Azione… [Read more…] about Azione Unlimited to Sell Sony
U.S. Market Hit With Largest Decline in Retail Sales in 11 Months
New data released by the Commerce Department showed an unexpectedly large drop in retail sales for the month of December. In fact, U.S. retail sales had their largest across-the-board drop in the past eleven months – plunging economists into vigorous debate over just what this means for the economy.