Denon Electronics, part of the D&M Group, introduced a new receiver line-up on Tuesday that really embodies a trend they’ve been championing for a couple of years now – to optimize their products for consumers by making them “easy” (as in easy to hook-up and easy to use). In fact, the company calls this new receiver line-up their “E-Series” and say the design philosophy was actually four “E’s” – Easy, Exciting, Entertainment, and Experience.
Owners, CEOs, Presidents: How Often Do You Travel with Your Sales Team?
Often, when a company contacts The Stratecon Group (our marketing company, and owner of www.strata-GEE.com), to ask for advice on “business development issues” (i.e. they are in trouble and running out of ideas), the first question we ask of the owner/CEO/president is: “How Often Do You Travel with Your Sales Team?” The answer to this question is critical to our assessment of the situation. Understand, there’s no right or wrong answer…but the answer will be incredibly illuminating as to several critical elements of their management of the enterprise.
And what do you think the most common answer we receive is?… [Read more…] about Owners, CEOs, Presidents: How Often Do You Travel with Your Sales Team?
Samsung Takes Significant Stake in Sharp Corp.
*STORY UPDATED BELOW* – FOXCONN ‘OFFENDED’
The Nikkei reported today that South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Company has agreed to invest ¥10 billion ($107 million) into former high-flying, now troubled Sharp Corporation as it continues to struggle to raise much-needed cash. According to the report, Sharp will issue the shares to Samsung possibly as early as this month.
The surprise announcement signifies that Samsung will have own significant share of Sharp… [Read more…] about Samsung Takes Significant Stake in Sharp Corp.
FCC to Test Ultra HDTV Broadcasts
Just when you thought then dust had finally settled on the switch from analog to digital high-definition television broadcast, and adding fuel to the heated debate over 4K Ultra HDTV, we learn that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this month approved a test of Europe’s OFDM-based DVB-T2 format. Could the U.S. government be quietly putting in place plans for an Ultra HDTV broadcast future?
Critics of Ultra HDTV complain that there is no content or UHDTV broadcasts…yet… [Read more…] about FCC to Test Ultra HDTV Broadcasts
Plasma: The Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
The conventional wisdom in the world of television technology is that LCD won the panel platform wars and most talk of the future has moved from LCD to LED to OLED and beyond. But wait a minute, as new data from market researcher Quixel Research shows, don’t bury plasma in the grave just yet…
The rumors of plasma’s death appear to be greatly exaggerated as the tech shows growth in 2012… [Read more…] about Plasma: The Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Are You Using These Best ‘Tough Economy’ Marketing Practices of Top-Performing SMBs?
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.
There are some interesting insights from what they discovered… [Read more…] about Are You Using These Best ‘Tough Economy’ Marketing Practices of Top-Performing SMBs?
Apple Supplier Foxconn Halts Expansion and Freezes Hiring; Sign of iPhone Slump?
The Nikkei in China reported today that it has learned that key Apple, Inc. supplier Foxconn Technology Group (also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.) has stopped plans to expand its production capacity at its large facility in Zhengzhou, China. This is the facility that assembles smartphones such as Apple’s iPhone5 and the news has set Wall Street buzzing that this is another sign of the waning dominance of the formerly powerhouse iOS line.
Separately, Foxconn fueled the fire by additionally announcing a freeze on hiring factory workers at the plant. Reuters is reporting that the Foxconn freeze extends to all of their factories in China.
But Foxconn denies it is due to any one customer. So what’s the deal?… [Read more…] about Apple Supplier Foxconn Halts Expansion and Freezes Hiring; Sign of iPhone Slump?
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.
