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Investment Advisor on Potential Nortek Acquisition: ‘Nortek is a Bit of a Train Wreck’

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Nortek LogoAfter the Wall Street Journal revealed late last month that United Technologies Corp. (UTC) was in talks to potentially acquire Nortek, Inc., we questioned why UTC would even want to acquire Nortek. Within days of our post, investment advisory firm The Motley Fool (TMF) also raised the issue in a post last week about this not-quite-so-obvious marriage. Well, maybe it’s more like a dalliance than a marriage…at least at this point.

We found the Motley Fool’s analysis interesting – both in their clear-eyed assessment of Nortek and why the acquisition may in fact make sense for United Technologies.

See more on this Motley Fool discussion of the potential UTC-Nortek deal… [Read more…] about Investment Advisor on Potential Nortek Acquisition: ‘Nortek is a Bit of a Train Wreck’

Pay TV Systems Slammed in Q2; Lose Almost Half Million Subscribers

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eMarketer logoNew studies show pay TV providers saw a large and significant decline in the number of subscribers in the second quarter of this year, losing more than 470,000 subscribers – almost a half million – during the quarter. It was their worst quarterly performance ever and indicates a growing, troubling trend.

See more on this new research and see why cable content providers aren’t faring much better… [Read more…] about Pay TV Systems Slammed in Q2; Lose Almost Half Million Subscribers

Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble

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Rep Firm Holds Casino Night for Major Retailer’s Sales Staff – Everyone Wins, Especially the Sponsors

Photo of QMI teamWalled Lake, Michigan-based sales representative company QMI, Inc. (The QMI Group) held a Casino night on Sunday, August 23rd for the sales staff of ABC Warehouse, a large electronics and appliance retailer in the Midwest. Sponsored by Pioneer and Polk Audio, the Casino night capped a 90-day sales promotion that allowed floor salespeople the opportunity celebrate their success, blow off some steam, and earn valuable prizes.

See more about The QMI Group’s ABC Warehouse Sales Associates’ Casino Night… [Read more…] about Michigan Rep Says Betting on Retail Sales Teams is Always a Good Gamble

Bluesound: Talkin’ ‘Bout Our Generation

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New Brand Hits Key Milestone – Launches ‘Generation 2’ Products

Bluesound logoThis week in New York City, executives from Lenbrook America and Bluesound conducted a media presentation informing them of a major update to the Bluesound brand, which is distributed in the U.S. by Lenbrook America along with NAD and PSB.  It is the first major line update since the brand was first launched in 2013. With this update, called “Generation 2,” the Bluesound brand appears to have gained solid momentum – or at least enough traction for the company to justify a significant investment in further product development.

See more of what we learned, including both product and business updates… [Read more…] about Bluesound: Talkin’ ‘Bout Our Generation

Why Would United Technologies Want to Acquire Nortek?

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UTC logoThe Wall Street Journal broke the news yesterday that United Technologies Corp. is in talks to possibly acquire Nortek, Inc. Nortek is best known in our industry as the parent company of Core Brands, a collection of several prominent lines – such as Niles, Elan, SpeakerCraft (and others) – that are focused largely on the custom integration business, but also produces commercial and residential HVAC and air handling equipment. United Technologies is a large conglomerate with diversified holdings such as Pratt & Whitney jet engines, Otis elevators, and Carrier air-conditioning equipment.

See more on what we know so far on this potential deal, which isn’t much… [Read more…] about Why Would United Technologies Want to Acquire Nortek?

Research: Don’t Just Watch a Movie, Use Brainwaves to Alter It

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Photo of movie theaterWatching movies is a serial, linear, common experience…period. No matter how great of a movie enthusiast you may be, the experience is the same for us all – you can only watch one movie at a time, and you watch it from the beginning to the end. And we all exit the theater having watched the exact same movie. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if our mind controlled the movie, changing the plot as it plays? Science fiction…or science fact?

See the breakthrough researchers are working on that creates an new cinema experience… [Read more…] about Research: Don’t Just Watch a Movie, Use Brainwaves to Alter It

Russound Expands XStream Line with Two New Components

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RussoundLogoRussound announced today that it is adding two new components to its popular XStream line that seamlessly integrates streaming music services to any system installation, residential or commercial. The new models are the XSource Streaming Audio Player and the XZone4 Four-Stream, Four-Zone Audio System.

See more about these brand new models from Russound… [Read more…] about Russound Expands XStream Line with Two New Components

Toshiba Struggles to Get Past Troubles

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Toshiba FacilityToshiba Corp. has been subjected to almost daily press stories and analyses in the Japanese media on their continued struggles in the wake of a huge accounting scandal at the formerly blue-chip powerhouse company. The scandal was likely large in terms of financial losses, but even larger in terms of decimating the reputation of the company and its management. To turn the situation around, the company must start to build a new reputation for reliability. It isn’t going to be easy…

New President, new board, secret ballets…strange stuff… [Read more…] about Toshiba Struggles to Get Past Troubles

Planar Systems Acquired by Chinese Video Wall Maker Leyard Optoelectronic

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Planar logoPlanar Systems, Inc. announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese provider of fine pitch LED video wall systems. Leyard will purchase all outstanding shares of Planar stock paying $6.58 per share, valuing the deal at $156.8 million. This represents a 42% premium over the value of the stock at closing before the deal was announced.

See more on this Leyard and this deal… [Read more…] about Planar Systems Acquired by Chinese Video Wall Maker Leyard Optoelectronic

TiO Turns On Next Color of ‘Belt’ in Ninja Training Program

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Graphic of yellow belt ninjaTurn It On (TiO), the affordable wired and wireless multiroom home automation solution from Anuva Automation, announced on Wednesday that the next level in their comprehensive training program – known as the yellow belt level – is now live. TiO training, called “Ninja” training follows the conventions typical of martial arts programs, where each program level connotes to a different colored “belt” and dealers earn multiple colors of belts as they progress through the program. The first level of training, called the white belt, debuted in March and now the company has released the yellow belt level.

See more on TiO’s unique training solution… [Read more…] about TiO Turns On Next Color of ‘Belt’ in Ninja Training Program