Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC) announced on Tuesday that its West Coast Sales Manager Marguerita Kiser has passed away after a brief illness. The company noted in a brief but solemn statement that it is in mourning.
Sales
Former Lutron Exec Rick Schuett Joins Echelon as SVP of Sales
Helped Popularize Lighting in the Residential Custom Integration Channel
Former Lutron executive Rick Schuett has joined Echelon Corporation as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, the company announced on Wednesday. Echelon describes themselves as a “control networking company for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).”
See more on this appointment… [Read more…] about Former Lutron Exec Rick Schuett Joins Echelon as SVP of Sales
McIntosh Program to Supply Celebrities Cut Dealers Out
Company Says No Such Program Exists Today
We’ve recently learned about a program at McIntosh Laboratory, Inc., in which the company approached select prominent individuals, such as famous musicians or other celebrities, and provided them with McIntosh products directly, without the involvement of its dealers. The program, according to sources, was launched by Linda Passaro, a former Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for McIntosh when it was part of D&M Holdings. Passaro was terminated in November 2011 by President Charlie Randall, but the program apparently remained in force for some time.
See more on this program that is a sore spot with some McIntosh dealers… [Read more…] about McIntosh Program to Supply Celebrities Cut Dealers Out
In Wake of Strata-gee Article, McIntosh Sends Letter to Dealers
Last week, we broke the news on Strata-gee.com that McIntosh Laboratories, historically a strong supporter of specialty A/V dealers, had decided to open up sales through the Internet. This decision hit the existing, largely offline, McIntosh specialty dealers hard…many reaching out to us to express their frustration.
The same day our story was posted, McIntosh electronically distributed a letter to dealers from Dan Wakefield, VP of North American Sales for McIntosh, explaining the company’s decision.
See what McIntosh said to dealers about their decision… [Read more…] about In Wake of Strata-gee Article, McIntosh Sends Letter to Dealers
Rep & Distributor Sales Jobs Evaporating – 1 Million More to Disappear by 2020
Data Suggests a New Blueprint for Greater Sales Success
A long and proud tradition in our industry is the narrative of the individual sales rep or distributor salesperson schlepping through wind and snow to meet with one of their dealers lugging product samples and marketing materials, pitching his lines, getting a purchase order from the dealer, calling the order into his manufacturers and thus earning a sales commission. But data from Forrester Research, Inc. released last year shows that this tradition is rapidly diminishing, with market trends projecting the elimination of as many as 1 million B2B sales jobs – like those held by sales reps and distributor salespeople – by 2020.
See this surprising data on the rapidly changing B2B sales processes… [Read more…] about Rep & Distributor Sales Jobs Evaporating – 1 Million More to Disappear by 2020
Dominique Rejoins Core Brands as National Sales Manager
Who says you can’t go home again? Core Brands announced this week that Jason Dominique has rejoined the company to take the role of National Sales Manager of the Security Channel. Dominique previously worked for Core Brands’ Proficient line from 2005 to 2013.
See more on Dominique and his return to Core Brands… [Read more…] about Dominique Rejoins Core Brands as National Sales Manager
Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble
Rep Firm Holds Casino Night for Major Retailer’s Sales Staff – Everyone Wins, Especially the Sponsors
Walled Lake, Michigan-based sales representative company QMI, Inc. (The QMI Group) held a Casino night on Sunday, August 23rd for the sales staff of ABC Warehouse, a large electronics and appliance retailer in the Midwest. Sponsored by Pioneer and Polk Audio, the Casino night capped a 90-day sales promotion that allowed floor salespeople the opportunity celebrate their success, blow off some steam, and earn valuable prizes.
See more about The QMI Group’s ABC Warehouse Sales Associates’ Casino Night… [Read more…] about Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble
Stressing the Industry, LCD Panel Prices Collapse 10% in 2015
In a sign of continuing struggles in the TV business, reports out of Japan indicate that LCD panel prices continue to decline. So far in 2015, the average price of LCD panels have dropped 10%…and show no sign of slowing down.
See what’s driving the decline in sales of LCD panels… [Read more…] about Stressing the Industry, LCD Panel Prices Collapse 10% in 2015
Apple Watch Sales Drop 90% Since Intro
It is not unusual for a hot new product to launch with huge demand, only to see unit sales taper down to more sustainable levels after the initial launch demand is fulfilled. Surely, Apple, Inc. was expecting just this type of behavior after the launch of their long-awaited Apple Watch wearable. However, new data from Slice Intelligence shows that sales of the Apple Watch have plummeted by 90% – an amount well beyond Apple’s typical experience.
See more on this surprising sales curve for this new Apple product… [Read more…] about Apple Watch Sales Drop 90% Since Intro
DOW to Distribute Sony ES Line
Tampa, Fl-based DOW Electronics announced on Tuesday that it will distribute the entire Sony ES line of products, effective immediately. The latest addition to their line-up, DOW says Sony offers a line to dealers that is “protected from online shopping” and has “controlled distribution.”
