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ISUS in America? Emerald Adds a Commercial Show to CEDIA Expo; Exhibitors React

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Emerald owned CEDIA Expo 2022

Emerald Expositions (NYSE: EEX), the national B2B trade show company that owns CEDIA Expo, CE Pro, and Commercial Integrator surprised the industry at the recent CEDIA Expo 2022 by abruptly announcing that next year they will be “co-locating” a show for commercial integrators at the same time and in the same facility. Reaction to this announcement was…to put it mildly…mixed. Is Emerald trying to imitate the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show – an event for both residential and commercial businesses – by launching an ISUS (Integrated Systems United States) event??

Do you wonder why there was a mixed reaction to Emerald’s move? Read on…

See why some big exhibitors were not happy with the Emerald announcement…

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Sonance Names National Sales Manager for Canada Biz Transition

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Sonance logo with slogan

Sonance announced last week that it was transitioning its business model in Canada from one centered around a distribution model with an in-country partner responsible for all sales and servicing in the country to a new direct one where Sonance HQ will directly handle all sales and service of its products there. This week, we learn that the company has appointed a new National Sales Manager for Canada, responsible for implementing this new business model, building an all-new sales team, and managing their sales operations there.

That new executive is Toronto-based sales professional Brad Middleton.

Learn more about Sonance appointing Brad Middleton

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In Stinging Rebuke, a Double-Digit Percentage of CEDIA Members Vote No on Slate

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CEDIA boardroom
Boardroom at CEDIA HQ in Fishers, IN

After Obvious Failure of Transparency, CEO Says He’s Learned a ‘Lesson’

On Wednesday, CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman sent a letter to all members advising them that the election process for new Board members has been completed – and that the slate of three Board-selected candidates for the three open Board seats has now been filled by Stephan Goodhue, Jennifer Mallett, and James Ratcliffe. The cheery tone of the letter belies the fact that the election process was viewed by many as tainted and has inflamed anger from what seems to be a fairly significant percentage of members who resent losing the opportunity to vote for a candidate of their choice.

However, in this letter, Friedman did allow that “…we need to do a better job of communication.”

See more on the CEDIA letter to members

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Sonance Residential Biz In Canada to Go From Distributor to Company Direct

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Sonance booth at CEDIA Expo 2022

Sonance announced this week that it is transitioning its residential business in Canada to a direct model, ending its distributor-led approach that has existed there for several years. Beginning on January 1, 2023, all sales and service of residential products from Sonance, James Loudspeaker, and IPORT will be handled directly by Sonance’s salesforce.

Learn more about this change by Sonance in Canada

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Masimo Acquisition of Sound United Spurs Ugly Activist Shareholder Lawsuit

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Masimo home page

Will Sound United End Up on the Chopping Block as One of Kiani’s Follies?

Politan Capital Management LP filed an amended Schedule 13D to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) two important actions the activist investment company had recently taken. One of those actions was that it had increased its holdings of Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI) to 4,648,869 shares or nearly 9% of the company’s outstanding shares – making it a significant owner. And the second action? Politan has filed a “Verified Complaint” against the company and its Board of Directors – and boy, that complaint is a doozy!

See the details of Politan’s lawsuit against Masimo Corp.

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Nationwide Sets Sights on Custom Integration & Luxury Home Dominance

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Nationwide tiny home with home automation display

See My Interview w/Nationwide President Tom Hickman

In the days leading up to the recent CEDIA Expo in Dallas, Nationwide Marketing Group, one of the largest buying groups in the U.S., announced that former ProSource VP Andy Orozco would be joining Nationwide as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration. That news grabbed my attention as it came less than a year after Nationwide’s acquisition of one of the top custom integration buying groups, Azione Unlimited, back in October 2021.

Clearly, something big is going on at Nationwide…

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CEDIA Board Elections Now Open, But Did Org Violate Its Own Bylaws?

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CEDIA HQ
CEDIA’s headquarters building in Fishers, Indiana

Why Did an Anonymous Source Call My Attention to the Bylaws?

On Tuesday, CEDIA members received an email from David Weinstein, the well-known VP of Lutron who also serves as the Chairman of CEDIA’s Board of Directors, informing them that the election process to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors was now open. There are three seats to be filled and Weinstein’s email helpfully/confusingly names just three candidates the Board’s Governance Committee has selected to fill the three open seats. It was the first indicator that something was different with this election as compared to the usual process.

I read this announcement carefully, as only hours before it was distributed I had received a cryptic message from a source exhorting me to find and read “the current Cedia [sic] bylaws.” Something was definitely brewing…

See more on the CEDIA Board elections…

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What to Expect at CEDIA Expo 2022

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CEDIA Expo 2022 will be in the Kay Bailey Hutchinson convention center in Dallas

Finally, after two years without a real show – absolutely no show in 2020, and a very tiny one in 2021 – the industry comes together again for its one big show of the year – the CEDIA Expo 2022. Although not technically post-COVID, at least the situation is improving to the point where the world is beginning a return to something that approaches normal. And that brings us to now, the relaunching of live in-person events like the CEDIA Expo in Dallas, TX. But what can you expect if you head to Dallas and Expo?

See what to expect in Dallas at CEDIA 2022…

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Layoffs Hit Premium Audio Company as It Right-Sizes Ops; To Skip CEDIA Expo

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Onkyo receiver, part of Premium Audio Company

BREAKING NEWS

Premium Audio Company, a division of VOXX International and operator of brands such as Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Elite, confirmed today that it has instituted a round of layoffs to “right-size” company operations based on current macroeconomic trends. The company has also confirmed that it has decided, for the second year in a row, not to participate in next week’s CEDIA Expo 2022, due to product roadmap cycles.

See more on these Premium Audio Company decisions

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VOXX Int’l Launches E-Commerce Platform Selling Premium Audio Co. Brands

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Voxx Int'l home page

VOXX International Corporation (VOXX), owner of Premium Audio Company (PAC) and many other brands, announced this week that it has launched a new e-commerce platform. This new platform is initially being rolled out at Premium Audio Company – the division that operates brands such as Klipsch, Jamo, Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, Elite, Magnat, and Heco.

Learn more on Voxx’s top brands being sold through e-commerce

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