How are top-performing small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) adjusting their marketing for the current sluggish economic climate? Act-On Software, a marketing automation software company, commissioned Forrester Consulting to find out by probing hundreds of SMBs in an effort to learn more about their marketing practices – especially in regards to tactics employed in response to the recent economic morass within which we all find ourselves. A few months ago, Forrester and Act-On released excerpts from the research titled Driving SMB Revenue in a Tough Economy – excerpts that revealed several interesting insights into the differences between the marketing practices of top-performing companies as contrasted to overall results…or those of bottom-performing companies.
Strategy
Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’
Although things often move slowly in the world of high end audio – models stay in the line for years, product testing goes on for months, policies are practically carved in stone – upscale loudspeaker manufacturer Thiel Audio is undergoing an incredibly rapid series of changes in the wake of its purchase last November by a group of Tennessee-based investors. Their latest addition, the well-known industry personality Bob Brown as a Board member and Interim COO, generously granted strata-GEE.com an interview to discuss in detail just where Thiel is at – and where it’s going.
See what Brown told us about how he came to join the company, and where Thiel is going… [Read more…] about Thiel Audio’s Bob Brown Sees ‘Lots of Opportunity’
Catalyst AV Adds IC Realtime Security to Vendor List
Catalyst AV, the newest national distributor group, announced yesterday that it has added IC Realtime Security to their vendor line-up. Catalyst AV is made up of eleven regionally based rep/distribution companies. The group launched officially at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
See more on this new line and on Catalyst AV… [Read more…] about Catalyst AV Adds IC Realtime Security to Vendor List
Nortek Acquires 2GIG Technologies
BREAKING NEWS
Nortek, Inc. announced today that it has acquired 2GIG Technologies, Inc. from APX Group, Inc. 2GIG is a designer and supplier of residential security and home automation systems. A privately held company, 2GIG will expand Nortek’s portfolio of installed home systems products.
See what 2GIG brings to the table and how much Nortek paid to add the brand to its portfolio… [Read more…] about Nortek Acquires 2GIG Technologies
Founder Schulze Considering Abandoning Deal for Best Buy
Former Best Buy Chairman
Multiple news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and Reuters News Service, are reporting that Best Buy founder Richard M. “Dick” Schulze is considering abandoning his bid to take the company private. Schulze had informed the Board of Directors in August 2012 that he intended to purchase all outstanding shares of stock to take the company private. After months of study and planning, Schulze is said to be ready to scuttle the plan.
Why, after so much effort, is Schulze considering dropping his bid?…See what we discovered… [Read more…] about Founder Schulze Considering Abandoning Deal for Best Buy
Pioneer Announces Q3 & 9-Month Losses; Cuts FY2013 Forecast from Profit to Loss
In what is turning out to be a very rough earnings season in Japan, Pioneer Corp. announced yesterday its results for the third quarter and nine-month periods of fiscal year 2013 which ends March 31, 2013. Both Q3 and the 9-month periods showed losses, with the YTD loses increasing substantially to ¥9.8 billion ($105 million) down from a loss of ¥6.6 billion. As a result of this, the company has cut its FY2013 forecast from a profit of a ¥1 billion ($11 million) to a loss of ¥4 billion ($42.8 million)…a surprising ¥5 billion change of fortune.
Due to the company’s deteriorating business, the Board of Directors has ordered a significant restructuring including salary and bonus cuts for executives and employees. The company has also said it will cut jobs.
Why has Pioneer’s business shifted so dramatically? See more details below… [Read more…] about Pioneer Announces Q3 & 9-Month Losses; Cuts FY2013 Forecast from Profit to Loss
Yamaha Board Orders Major Restructuring; Revises FY2013 Forecast Downward to Break-Even
BREAKING NEWS
Yamaha Corporation announced yesterday in Japan that its Board of Directors has ordered a major restructuring of the company’s domestic operations – in one case merging eight separate operating subsidiaries into one. The company has also released results for FY2013 through the third quarter ending December 31, 2012 and revised its annual forecast downward from a profit to break-even as a result of extraordinary charges related to the restructuring as well as sales and profit declines.
See details on the dramatic steps Yamaha’s Board is taking to try and improve efficiency & profitability… [Read more…] about Yamaha Board Orders Major Restructuring; Revises FY2013 Forecast Downward to Break-Even
Ube Launches Indiegogo Campaign to Crowdfund the Manufacture of 10,000 Wi-Fi Smart Dimmers
Start-up Ube, the new company founded by former CEDIA CEO Utz Baldwin and partners, offers an all-new mobile device-optimized, cloud-based home control technology bringing new power – and new simplicity – to the masses. This new technology could be a highly disruptive game changer with a re-conceived business model that just might gut the heart of the highly lucrative residential systems installer market. Or not…
Today, Ube [pronounced YOU-bee] announced their first major step forward in the wake of their stunning technology show win at last fall’s DEMO 2012 in which the company received the People’s Choice Award earning them $1 million in media from the show’s promoter. Ube has begun a campaign on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo to raise funds so that the company can manufacturer their first 10,000 Wi-Fi smart dimmers. The company also announced a BETA test program open to residential A/V electronics installers and integrators.
See more on this fascinating first product Ube is launching on Indiegogo…and on the special “BETA” test program for integrators and installers… [Read more…] about Ube Launches Indiegogo Campaign to Crowdfund the Manufacture of 10,000 Wi-Fi Smart Dimmers
Fierce Competition by Ads Challenge the Game for Super Bowl Viewer Attention
Since this is a blog dedicated to marketing strategy, we would be remiss if we failed to comment on last week’s Super Bowl – which has become almost as important to advertisers as it is to the NFL. With advertisers spending an average of $4.0 million for a 30-second spot this year (oh yeah that’s an average, some paid more), you would expect we would see that best that marketers could muster. And, for the most part, you’d be right.
See the Top 10 Super Bowl Ads, as rated by CONSUMERS here… [Read more…] about Fierce Competition by Ads Challenge the Game for Super Bowl Viewer Attention
Bob Brown Joins Thiel as Interim COO and Board Member
Industry veteran Bob Brown, known to many from his long tenure as President at Lenbrook America, has joined Thiel Audio as a member of their board of directors. Brown will also, effective immediately, begin serving as the company’s interim Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Thiel, as we recently reported, is in the middle of an exciting revival as the result of its recent purchase by a consortium of Tennessee investors led by current CEO Bill Thomas.
