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Federal Criminal Charges Brought Against Former Vann’s CEO Manlove

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Prosecutor’s Plea Deal with Co-Conspirator Appears to Have Fallen Through

Photo of George Manlove, now with Velodyne
George Manlove

George Leslie Manlove, former CEO of Missoula, Montana-based Vann’s, Inc. has been arraigned on federal criminal charges brought against him by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor. The charges, more than 200 of them in total, allege extensive criminal conduct, including: conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements. Manlove has pleaded ‘not guilty’ and was released on his own recognizance.

See more on this stunning fall from grace by a former tech retail star… [Read more…] about Federal Criminal Charges Brought Against Former Vann’s CEO Manlove

ProSource Scores Deal with Leon Speakers

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ProSource LogoProSource, a division of BrandSource and the self-proclaimed largest buying group of AV integrators, announced this week that it has added Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Leon Speakers to its vendor roster. Proclaiming the addition “an honor,” group co-President Jim Ristow says Leon brings “incredible design and top-notch audio quality” to the group.

See more on this news from ProSource… [Read more…] about ProSource Scores Deal with Leon Speakers

Layoffs Hit Velodyne’s Audio Division as Company Bets All on LIDAR

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BREAKING NEWS

Velodyne LogoMultiple sources are reporting that Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. – a once high-flying specialty subwoofer manufacturer – has had a significant layoff in its audio division last week as the company seeks to redeploy its resources full-scale behind its LIDAR business. The company, which is driven by its enigmatic founder, David Hall, is betting its future (betting the farm, some would say) on its LIDAR technology which is used in self-driving vehicles (such as Google’s).

See more on this dramatic shift in business by a former audio high-flyer… [Read more…] about Layoffs Hit Velodyne’s Audio Division as Company Bets All on LIDAR

Former Retail Shining Star Vann’s Declares Bankruptcy

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Vann's LogoBased in Missoula, Montana, Vann’s Inc. has been a shining star of the retail business – for years a hearty player in a rugged part of the country where only the strong survive. Founded in 1961 by Pete Vann, the company has steadily grown over the years – adding locations, diversifying retail formats, and even expanding into online sales. But signs of stress began to emerge this year with the company closing one location in February, then replacing long-time CEO George Manlove in June with a CEO from outside the company, losing the support of a key lender in July, and finally declaring bankruptcy just a little over one week ago.

How did this all happen?…. [Read more…] about Former Retail Shining Star Vann’s Declares Bankruptcy

Velodyne Hires Major Retail Executive to Guide their Direct-to-Consumer Model

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Velodyne LogoVelodyne Acoustics, Inc. announced today that it has hired George Manlove – formerly of Vanns, Inc. – as its Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing. Manlove is a very high-profile executive best known for his 26-year tenure as President and CEO of Vann’s, Inc., a Montana-based traditional bricks-and-mortar and Internet retailer. Manlove also served as chairman of the Progressive Retailers Organization (PRO Group), a national retailer buying group. [Read more…] about Velodyne Hires Major Retail Executive to Guide their Direct-to-Consumer Model

Agreeing with Soul by Ludacris, Judge Orders PRO Group To Testify Now

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PRO Group logo<March 14, 2012> Over the last few weeks, we have reported on a trademark and unfair business practices lawsuit filed by Signeo, the parent company of Soul by Ludacris, against Sol Republic. In its original filing, Signeo alleged that Sol Republic deliberately selected the SOL mark used on their headphone products in order to confuse the marketplace with a name that is phonetically identical to the SOUL trademark used by Signeo on its headphones. [Read more…] about Agreeing with Soul by Ludacris, Judge Orders PRO Group To Testify Now

Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar

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Gibson Logo<March 6, 2012> Gibson Guitar announced yesterday that it has hired ex-D&M President Bob Weissburg as global executive vice president – a new position at Gibson. Although Weissburg’s focus will likely be their consumer electronics and pro divisions, Gibson says he will be in charge of all divisions at the company – including musical instruments. [Read more…] about Ex-D&M President Weissburg Heads to Gibson Guitar

Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit

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<February 29, 2012> New court documents filed late last week as part of the ongoing lawsuit Soul by Ludacris Headphonesbetween Soul by Ludacris and SOL Republic appear to more deeply entangle one of our industry’s most prominent national retail buying organizations, the Pro Group. Court filings from both sides have ignited a controversy in which certain Pro Group members appear to make a claim that is contradictory to one by the Pro Group Executive Director David Workman. [Read more…] about Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit

Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out

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<February 22, 2012> Dealerscope reported on its website today that Signeo, the company that markets primarily headphone products under the brand Soul by Ludacris or “Soul,” has filed a trademark lawsuit against Sol Republic, Inc. who markets primarily headphone products under the brand “Sol.” At the root of the case is consumer confusion over the marketing of competing products that are similar in design and price containing one word brands…that are pronounced phonetically to sound identical. [Read more…] about Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out