SpringDeck, LLC announced today that it has expanded its national sales force with the addition of five more sales representative firms. The company had previously announced last month their first representative appointment of Aim High Audio.
Strategy
Despite Scary Sales Slide, JVC Kenwood Posts Big Profit Gains
JVC Kenwood Corp. released their financial results for the first 9-months of the current fiscal year (ending March 31st) and the company points to a tremendous swing in profits as proof of the positive impact of their painful, multi-year business restructuring efforts. The company completely turned around a negative profit trend – booking an operating profit, an ordinary profit…and a ¥500 million ($4.2 million) improvement to a modest net loss.
See more on these results which occurred despite a continuing sales decline… [Read more…] about Despite Scary Sales Slide, JVC Kenwood Posts Big Profit Gains
After Fighting Idea for Years, Sony is Ready to Dump TV, A/V, & Smartphone Businesses
In a revealing presentation with the press yesterday in Japan, embattled Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai told the media that the company is finally ready to consider alternatives for its TV, A/V, and smartphone businesses, including exiting them. This is a stunning turnaround in strategy, not just for the inventor of the Trinitron picture tube, but for Hirai himself who had previously identified their TV and smartphone businesses as a core categories when he first took over as CEO in 2012.
See more on Sony’s strategy to turn around their business…which has many skeptics… [Read more…] about After Fighting Idea for Years, Sony is Ready to Dump TV, A/V, & Smartphone Businesses
7 Trends That Will Influence Marketing in 2015
From The Stratecon Group
Marketing is changing in fundamental ways. That is not a theory…that is a fact. And if you’re still marketing your goods and services the way you always have – using traditional interruption marketing tools & agencies…you are losing ground to more savvy competitors who have embraced the new tools and techniques of engagement marketing.
AdAge.com recently published an article called Seven B-To-B Marketing Trends That Will Shape 2015, that agrees with our premise of the changing nature of marketing…and highlights trends taking place in the market now…
See more about the 7 trends in marketing you should be taking advantage of now… [Read more…] about 7 Trends That Will Influence Marketing in 2015
D&M Fires Back – Asks Judge to Throw Out Sonos Lawsuit
BREAKING NEWS
D&M Holdings fired back at Sonos this week, filing papers with the United States District Court asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit launched against them by Sonos last October alleging patent infringement. Saying that Sonos’ complaints, both the original and a later-amended one, “fail to meet the pleading requirements” established by the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. District Court.
Likely not the response that Sonos was hoping for, D&M has bounced the case back to the judge for an immediate ruling.
D&M’s response included some interesting details… [Read more…] about D&M Fires Back – Asks Judge to Throw Out Sonos Lawsuit
Local TV Crew Tracks Mysterious Van; Traces It to Apple
A San Francisco TV station KPIX news crew inadvertently ran across a mysterious blue minivan with an odd assortment of cameras and technology affixed to the top. The purpose of this van was not obvious…nor was the owner, as it was completely unmarked. But the intrepid KPIX reporters traced the van and discovered it was leased to…Apple.
What was Apple up to with this van?… [Read more…] about Local TV Crew Tracks Mysterious Van; Traces It to Apple
Sharp Considers Dropping TV Biz in N. America
“Sharp has fallen on hard times again,” declared an at times shocking report in the Nikkei this week. The statement comes in the wake of the company announcing on Tuesday that, rather than their forecast of a profit for the current fiscal year, the company will in fact book a net loss. And this disappointing news will almost certainly drive the call for a much more drastic restructuring than has been accomplished in the past – with the company reportedly considering pulling out of the television business in North America altogether.
See more on this stunning reversal in Sharp’s fortunes… [Read more…] about Sharp Considers Dropping TV Biz in N. America
Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
Toshiba Corp. announced late yesterday that it has decided to exit the TV business in all export markets, including North America. The move shocked some, but those who follow the trends in the TV business were not surprised at all as Japanese manufacturers have struggled to maintain viability in a low profitability category with declining demand.
See more on Toshiba’s industry reshaping decision… [Read more…] about Toshiba Takes A Hike – Drops TV Biz Everywhere But Japan
SOL Republic Signs Promotion Deal with Pro Golfer Tiger Woods
SOL Republic announced today that it has signed PGA pro golfer Tiger Woods to promote its brand of headphones and speakers. One of the most successful pro golfers of all time, Woods is an 11-time PGA Tour Player of the Year and has won 14 major golfing events.
See more about this endorsement deal… [Read more…] about SOL Republic Signs Promotion Deal with Pro Golfer Tiger Woods
Irony: Apple Reports Historic Fiscal Quarter Results – Sony Announces More Layoffs
Two rather significant news stories emerged today – one about Apple’s amazing Q1 fiscal results and the other about Sony’s troubled mobile division – and we couldn’t help but notice an incredible irony. In a way, it’s almost a tale of two CE industries.