Strategy in TECH...
Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) – parent company of Emerald Expositions, CEDIA Expo, CEPro, Commercial Integrator, and many more – announced Tuesday that it’s Board of Directors has begun “a review of potential strategic options.” Why does it have to consider “strategic options?” Because Emerald says it has received “inquiries” about offers for a possible acquisition of the company.
Calling 2025 a “transitional” year, new Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) CEO Tom Conrad suggested the company turned a corner in the fourth quarter, as part of reporting its financial results for fiscal 2025, the year that ended on September 27, 2025. However, I couldn’t help but notice company executives were carefully choosing their words in describing the company’s performance – referring to just certain key Q4 numbers and “adjusted” results. This always makes me want to take a deeper look, and when I looked at fiscal 2025’s total performance, it was disappointing, with revenues continuing to decline and losses progressively increasing…again.
Even in the fourth quarter, which the executives did want to talk about, the company lost $37.9 million.
Crestron Electronics, a leading industry manufacturer of commercial and enterprise-grade connectivity gear, as well as sophisticated but simple control and automation solutions for the smart home, has launched another Crestron Experience Center (CEC) in Mechelen, Belgium. Not only does this stunning facility showcase the depth and breadth of Crestron technology, but it also demonstrates the company’s commitment to EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) markets as well as to the greater global community.
By any measure, Sean Weiner has had an exemplary run in custom integration. His blue-chip resume includes significant roles with custom integrators such as Myer Emco, Starr Systems, and Bravas, where he was the organization’s Chief Technology Officer.
But now he’s left the role of integrator and created something new, called Spexi Advisory. And in so doing, he may have created a new business model – something that puts him on the side of the buyer (client).
The past couple of years there’s been a lot said about the value and effectiveness of CEDIA Expo. While some of the criticisms may be valid, it does not mean that industry professionals should skip the event because its usefulness has passed.
Here are my thoughts on some of the powerful, but intangible, benefits of attending our industry’s most important trade show.
Cleverly Home, a custom home builder in Japan, has come up with a way to generate additional revenue from its model homes, while also opening up a new way for prospective homeowners to experience its designs. A reporter for the Nikkei in Japan was quite taken by the concept as the homebuilder will allow the model homes to be rented out as private lodgings on dates when no homebuyer showings are scheduled.
Azione Unlimited, a leading North American buying group of upscale custom integrators, announced on Wednesday that it has formed the Azione Collective, a group of women drawn from all walks of the greater Azione ecosystem who have come together to “empower connection, mentorship, and growth.”
Just days after Amazon put on its glitzy annual devices and services showcase for the media in New York City, employees were surprised to learn that a Vice President who helps oversee the devices division is leaving the company. In an internal memo circulated to employees, and viewed by Reuters News Agency, it was announced that Rob Williams, Vice President of Device Software and Services – and part of a small elite group of executives with direct access to CEO Andy Jassy known as the S-team – stepped down from his post…and furthermore, will leave the company entirely at year-end.
Here is a really smart idea: AVPro Global, one of the industry’s fastest-growing manufacturers of a wide range of products designed specifically for the residential and commercial custom integration spaces, is creating an “Expert Advisory Board.” Why is that smart? Because a well-selected advisory board can be a great sounding board (no pun intended) on strategies and tactics, and an almost limitless source of fresh ideas and perspectives for driving above-average growth.
The first expert appointed to this board is well-known industry executive Wally Whinna, formerly of ADI/Snap One, AVAD, Tandem Marketing, and Allnet.
Emerald Expositions, part of Emerald Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) and owners of CEDIA Expo and CEPro, has reported that final attendance at CEDIA Expo 2025, “the premier event for the custom systems integration industry,” establishes it was yet another year of declining participation. This rather sobering news is consistent with feedback I received from several exhibitors at the event this year – almost all of whom told me that attendance was noticeably off, with several saying it was significantly down from last year.
Now we know with certainty, even with Emerald’s attempt to hide the real attendance figures, that attendance at Expo 2025 was in fact appreciably below attendance at Expo 2024 last year.
