<April 11, 2012> Best Buy Company’s abrupt announcement on Tuesday morning that CEO Brian Dunn, a 28-year veteran of the nation’s top electronics retailer, was leaving the company effective immediately, caught industry and financial analysts by surprise. No one saw it coming although in view of Best Buy’s dismal financial performance, the company’s explanation that it needed new leadership to forge a new strategic direction for the company seemed to ring true. [Read more…] about Best Buy’s Dunn is Done, But an Investigation into His Personal Misconduct Continues
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Google Reveals Its Much-Rumored Augmented Reality Glasses
<April 4, 2012> Not content to simply dominate a virtual world, Google has long been rumored to be working on a technology that will allow it to move into the real world. Today, Google revealed the widely-rumored product that it calls “Project Glass.” Project Glass is a technology that uses glasses and micro-projectors to allow it to “augment” your real world by super-imposing images and graphics on the glasses such that the image floats in front of you. [Read more…] about Google Reveals Its Much-Rumored Augmented Reality Glasses
The Top Ten Leadership Lessons of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos
<April 4, 2012> In an upcoming issue of Forbes magazine, entrepreneur Jeff Bezos will be profiled and 
analyzed as the technology-industry’s leading “philosopher-CEO.” As part of this coverage, Forbes contributor George Anders solicited the rule-breaking CEO’s lessons of leadership. [Read more…] about The Top Ten Leadership Lessons of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos
Best Buy Bombed by Wall Street as Word Comes Its Bonds May Get Rated ‘Junk’
<April 4, 2012> Best Buy Co. may be starting to feel a little like Rodney “I don’t get no respect” 
Dangerfield as Wall Street reacted strongly to news today that Standard and Poor’s may drop the industry’s largest retailer’s bond rating to “junk” status. As word leaked out, Best Buy’s stock dropped 2.55%, more than twice the rate the overall Dow dropped. [Read more…] about Best Buy Bombed by Wall Street as Word Comes Its Bonds May Get Rated ‘Junk’
Nortek’s Losses Increased in 2011, But Company Says Q4 Results are Encouraging
<April 4, 2012> In financial results filed with the SEC at the end of last week, Nortek, Inc. said fiscal year 2011 (year ending December 31, 2011) saw a substantial sales increase of 12.7% from $1.899 billion in 2010 to $2.141 billion last year. However, the company reported that losses also increased from 2010’s $13.4 million to last year’s $55.9 million. Still, the company feels there’s cause for optimism as fourth quarter results improved substantially over the fourth quarter of 2010. [Read more…] about Nortek’s Losses Increased in 2011, But Company Says Q4 Results are Encouraging
New Group Azione Unlimited Continues Ramp-up with New Dealers & Vendors
<March 28, 2012> Azione Unlimited, the new buying group targeted at the integration and custom retail channels announced Tuesday that it has added two “founding” dealer members who will both join the organization and serve on its advisory board. The organization followed this announcement up today with another hailing the addition of two new vendors bringing the total number of vendors supporting the group to just under thirty. [Read more…] about New Group Azione Unlimited Continues Ramp-up with New Dealers & Vendors
University Offering Free Training to Those Who Will Start a Tech Company in Michigan
<March 28, 2012> Kettering University is offering free training for technology entrepreneurs interested in starting tech companies in the State of Michigan. The training, called their TechWorks program, begins in April and runs through May. [Read more…] about University Offering Free Training to Those Who Will Start a Tech Company in Michigan
Gibson Guitar’s Weissburg Gives the ALERT a Status Update
<March 28, 2012> Earlier this month, the ALERT reported that ex-D&M President Bob Weissburg had joined Gibson Guitar as its global executive vice president. While Weissburg was said to have responsibilities over the entire organization, his focus is primarily on Gibson’s audio and pro businesses which are growing largely as the result of several acquisitions by the company, including Onkyo’s U.S. subsidiary, Onkyo USA. [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar’s Weissburg Gives the ALERT a Status Update
HTSA Announces New Member – Their 64th for the Group
<March 28, 2012> Home Technology Specialists of America, a national dealer buying group of integrators and custom retailers, announced today that Digitech Custom AV of Carmel, Indiana has joined the group as their 64th member dealer. According to HTSA, Digitech merged with another dealer in 2011 – Integrated Home Technologies – and has been in business for 23-years offering a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial solutions. [Read more…] about HTSA Announces New Member – Their 64th for the Group
Warning: Don’t Buy These Cat5E and USB 2.0 Patch Cables
<March 28, 2012> Underwriters Laboratories (UL) issued a warning today that cables are being sold fraudulently bearing the “UL Approved” seal even though they have not been tested as safe by the testing service. As a result, UL cannot guarantee their performance. [Read more…] about Warning: Don’t Buy These Cat5E and USB 2.0 Patch Cables
