<December 15, 2011> At the September CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, the trade association’s CEO, Utz 
Baldwin, held a press event in which he announced that the organization was in the final stages of completing a detailed research report on the custom installation market served by its members. Baldwin, who is no longer with the organization, promised a fourth quarter release – and they just made it as they announced today selected data from the report which, interestingly, will not be available for sale in 2011. [Read more…] about At Long Last CEDIA Releases Findings from New Research on CI Market
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CEDIA’s First, and Perhaps Only, CEO Leaves the Trade Group
<December 7, 2011> Last Monday, CEDIA, the predominant trade association for the custom integration market, announced that its Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Utz Baldwin “have agreed on Mr. Baldwin’s departure from CEDIA…” The prepared statement from the group gave no reason for the change but assured members that the Board of Directors “will continue to provide strategic leadership for the organization…”
See more on this surprising development… [Read more…] about CEDIA’s First, and Perhaps Only, CEO Leaves the Trade Group
Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
<November 30, 2011> Toshiba Corporation said today in Tokyo that it will close three of its six factories in Japan producing so-called discrete or single-function chips which are widely used in the electronics business. A very competitive part of the chip business, Toshiba has struggled to maintain profits in this division as competitors such as Samsung put downward pressure on the pricing – and profits – for these chips. [Read more…] about Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans
<November 30, 2011> On Tuesday, Pioneer Corporation released its revised medium-term business plan designed to rebuild their sales and profits after a tough year of environmental and economic challenges including earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and Thailand, as well as a global economic slowdown. The company also revised its forecast for the results of the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 showing a slightly better outcome than the last revised guidance offered. [Read more…] about Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans
B&W Announces Retirement of Chris Browder
<November 30, 2011> Bowers & Wilkins, a British manufacturer of loudspeakers sold in the U.S. as well as around the world, announced this Monday that longtime Executive Vice President of B&W North America Chris Browder will be retiring at the end of this year. Browder has been with B&W for 25 years and was part of the team that built their business here in America. [Read more…] about B&W Announces Retirement of Chris Browder
Blaupunkt, Under New Ownership, is Back in the U.S. with Car Audio & Headphones
<November 30, 2011> Blaupunkt AudioVision GmbH & Co. KG (Blaupunkt) announced earlier this week that it was re-entering the U.S. market with a line of car audio products and – in a bit of a return to its roots – a line of in-ear and over-ear headphones. But what has not been widely reported is that Blaupunkt is also under new ownership, now under the control of German equity group Aurelius AG based in Gruenwald, Germany. [Read more…] about Blaupunkt, Under New Ownership, is Back in the U.S. with Car Audio & Headphones
Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
<August 2, 2011> Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. (Velodyne) surprised many in the industry last week by summarily dismissing their independent sales representative force and announcing that they would begin selling Velodyne subwoofers direct to consumers via a new online ecommerce website. The webstore was already open by the time some of the sales representatives received their termination notice. [Read more…] about Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
<June 1, 2011> Lenbrook America Corporation President and CEO Dean Miller began with an apology. In a May 20th email communication with BEACON editor Ted Green, Miller apologized for his lack of responsiveness, saying that until he read last month’s BEACON he was unaware that attempts had been made by its editors to contact him. Miller, it seems, was on an aggressive two-week spin through Europe to attend a Tivoli event in Italy, a Munich high-end show in Germany, and finally a Lenbrook International distributor show.
See more on our interview with Lenbrook’s Dean Miller… [Read more…] about Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
IPRO Prez to the ALERT: Reps Reconceived Remain Really Relevant
<May 18, 2011> Shortly after a story appeared in last week’s BEACON about Lenbrook’s decision to terminate its national independent sales force and transition to a direct sales model, we were contacted by David Humphries, president of IPRO, the nation’s most prominent organization of independent sales representatives. Humphries shared with us the organization’s perspective on the Lenbrook decision and the role of the independent rep in today’s industry.
A strong proponent… [Read more…] about IPRO Prez to the ALERT: Reps Reconceived Remain Really Relevant
Have Tech Industry Trends Rendered Reps Irrelevant?
<May 18, 2011> The specialty segment is still buzzing about the decision by Lenbrook earlier this month to hire Dean Miller and terminate their entire U.S. sales force of independent sales representatives. The story, originally run last week in the BEACON, [ See: Lenbrook Lunacy? Or Crazy Like a Fox? Market Reacts to Recent Moves ] caused an explosion of email messages and telephone calls to the ALERT’s offices and there appears to be no shortage of comments…except from Lenbrook America, who has not yet returned multiple messages left by the ALERT’s editor.
