Azione Unlimited, a leading buying group of custom integrators that calls itself the Smart Home Association, has for years been recognized as a leading provider of compelling education and knowledge sharing for its member companies. Now, the organization announces a reinvention of the education process that they call the Dynamic Education Ecosystem.
Strategy
Upscale Distribution Rebrands as Harmonia Distribution
Upscale Distribution, a distributor of high-end, high-fidelity audio components that originated in association with Southern California retailer Upscale Audio, has announced that it is rebranding as Harmonia Distribution. The new brand is not just a new name, but rather a reflection of a changed mission and new, more independent direction for the company.
As part of this new business model, the company has named a new president who will guide the Harmonia Distribution down this new path.
Learn more about Upscale Distribution becoming the independent Harmonia Distribution
[Read more…] about Upscale Distribution Rebrands as Harmonia DistributionWith Oasys Growing 100%, the Nationwide Drive to 1,000 is a Short One
Nationwide Marketing Group’s Oasys Residential Technology Group division reported this week that its membership has grown “over 100%” in 2023, a remarkable achievement in a relatively short period of time. It also propels the overall organization towards its publicly stated goal of achieving a total of at least 1,000 custom integration members across its three brands as part of its “Drive to 1,000,” first announced in March this year.
Learn more on Oasys driving progress to the Nationwide 1,000 member goal
[Read more…] about With Oasys Growing 100%, the Nationwide Drive to 1,000 is a Short OneParasound VP of R&D Has Fresh Ideas to Expand the Company & Grow High End
Darren Myers doesn’t look like your typical audio electronics engineer. He also doesn’t sound like a typical audio engineer. A young guy with fresh ideas…maybe they make sense, maybe they don’t…I had an unusual, thought-provoking, and even at times surprising conversation with Darren Myers, Parasound’s Vice President of Research and Development.
See what Myers thinks about the revitalization of Parasound and what he believes is an exciting and expanding future for the entire high end audio industry.
Check out my conversation with the top engineer at Parasound
[Read more…] about Parasound VP of R&D Has Fresh Ideas to Expand the Company & Grow High EndDraper Campus Expands with New 100,000 Sq. Ft. Facility
Draper, Inc. announced this week that it has added a new 100,000 sq. ft. building to its campus in Spiceland, Indiana. This is its tenth building and this addition brings the company’s total footprint in Spiceland to no less than 500,000 sq. ft.
Learn more about this expansion by Draper
[Read more…] about Draper Campus Expands with New 100,000 Sq. Ft. FacilityAfter $32.5M Jury Win for Sonos, Judge Throws Out Jury Verdict and Finds for Google
Declares Sonos Patents Unenforceable & Invalid
In a shocking twist to a long-running patent battle, U.S. District Court Judge William H Alsup declared Sonos’ ‘966 and ‘885 patents at trial are unenforceable and invalid effectively countermanding a jury decision on behalf of Sonos and a royalty award of $32.5 million. Furthermore, the judge’s order suggests that Sonos abused the patent system by attempting to use it to “punish an innovator” and to “enrich a[n] [innovation] pretender.”
See more on this shocking twist at the end of Sonos vs. Google
[Read more…] about After $32.5M Jury Win for Sonos, Judge Throws Out Jury Verdict and Finds for GoogleSnap One Opens Six New Warehouses; Will Host 400 Trainings in 2023
Barely out of CEDIA Expo 2023, Snap One announced this week that it has launched six new warehouse locations they call local partner stores, further filling out its national distribution footprint. The company also said it will finish 2023 having hosted no fewer than 400 events – a prodigious effort at connecting with its customers, the local integrators.
See more on this latest muscle flex by Snap One
[Read more…] about Snap One Opens Six New Warehouses; Will Host 400 Trainings in 2023Leading Rep Firm Momentum Group Says Synapse Sales Joins Rep Alliance
Momentum Group, a leading manufacturer sales representative firm located in Denver and covering the greater Rocky Mountain region has announced that another sales rep firm, Synapse Sales and Marketing, has joined what they call a Manufacturers Rep Alliance with Momentum Group and Rio Grande Reps. This new partnership greatly expands the group’s area of operation and offers many opportunities for greater efficiency and enhanced dealer support.
See more about Synapse Partnering with Momentum Group & Rio Grande Reps
[Read more…] about Leading Rep Firm Momentum Group Says Synapse Sales Joins Rep AllianceAfter Time on Defense, Team Crestron Goes on Offense…and They are Fired Up
Earlier this week, I had a consequential visit with Crestron Electronics Corp. in which company executives talked about the overall business environment, supply chain issues, several new products, and their strategy going forward. It was quite revealing not only in content…but in tone.
It quickly became clear to me that after a period of playing defense, Crestron is going on offense…
See more on what I learned from my visit to Crestron
[Read more…] about After Time on Defense, Team Crestron Goes on Offense…and They are Fired UpSavant Realigns Ops, Salesforce, & Pricing for Next Phase of Growth
There has been a flurry of activity in the Savant ecosphere lately, much of it causing a buzz in the industry. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had several integrators reaching out to let me know about some of these changes. Not all felt they were positive and many questioned the motivations behind the moves. Accordingly, I reached out to Savant to see if I could get some insight into just what is going on. The company responded by making President JC Murphy available to update me on a few of their recent moves.