Ted

UPDATE: Now a Much Larger Group of AXPONA Exhibitors are Calling for Its Cancellation

April 28, 2020 by Ted 5 Comments

Strata-gee reported last week that a group of 20 exhibitors had written an open letter to petition Joel Davis of JD Events – the producer of the AXPONA high-end audio show – calling for the cancellation of that event. The exhibitors making that call included some of the more prominent names in the specialty audio community – and their argument for a cancellation was well-articulated in their petition.

Now, several dozen more exhibitors have joined that original group to also call for its cancellation.

See the expanding list of exhibitors calling for AXPONA to be canceled…

[Read more…]

Tighten Your Harness, The Rocket Ship U.S. Economy is Coming Down Hard

April 23, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

You knew it was coming, but we just couldn’t see it until statistical data caught up with the rapidly changing U.S. economy. But now, we are getting a snapshot of these changes and they are breathtaking…and a little scary. Hold on tight…it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

See a selection of data showing the economy hitting the brakes…

[Read more…]

Emerald Expositions Announces Death of Sally Shankland, Its Most Recent CEO

April 23, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Emerald Expositions announced this week that Sally Shankland, it most recent CEO who had been hired in June 2019 to replace resigning CEO David Loechner, has died following her month’s long battle with cancer. The company says Shankland passed away at home peacefully.

See more on this news about Shankland…

[Read more…]

IFA 2020 Show, Scheduled in September, is Now Canceled

April 23, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

All Eyes Turn to the Emerald City – San Juan Capistrano

IFA 2020, a huge consumer electronics show scheduled to take place in Berlin on September 4-9, 2020, is now canceled, the organization behind the event announced this week. It is yet another show joining a long line of mass, in-person marketing events to suffer this fate. The promoter is promising “an innovative new concept” to replace it – which some speculate will be a virtual online conference.

See more on this cancellation of IFA…

[Read more…]

Group of 20 Prominent Exhibitors Call on Producer of AXPONA to Cancel Event

April 22, 2020 by Ted 5 Comments

Cites COVID-19 & Economic Hardship

In an “Open letter to Joel Davis of JD Events,” a group of 20 prominent personalities in the high-end specialty audio industry – who are also contracted exhibitors – call on the producer of AXPONA to cancel the event. AXPONA had already been previously rescheduled by its production company from the originally planned April 17-19 dates…to August 7-9, due to the expanding COVID-19 pandemic.

Now some exhibitors are publicly calling upon the show’s producer to fully cancel the event for 2020 altogether, as COVID-19 – and the economic damage it’s causing – continues to be a major issue.

See why exhibitors want AXPONA canceled…

[Read more…]

New Rep Firm Hi-Fi Representation Nabs Atlantic Technology and Seymour-Screen Excellence

April 16, 2020 by Ted 1 Comment

Photo of Jacob Atkinson of Hi-Fi Representation

Hi-Fi Representation, a new manufacturer sales representative firm covering Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, has signed representation agreements with Atlantic Technology and Seymour Screen Excellence. The company was launched in January 2020 and says Seymour-Screen Excellence is actually one of their first lines represented.

See more on Hi-Fi Representation with Atlantic Technology and Seymour-Screen Excellence…

[Read more…]

After Nearly 18 Years, SVP & GM Doug Cole Leaves Universal Remote Control

April 16, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Doug Cole, former SVP and GM of Universal Remote Control URC

For several days now, multiple sources have reached out to Strata-gee to report that Doug Cole, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Universal Remote Control – better known as URC – has left the company. I have confirmed his exit, a decision that marks the end of a long career leading the organization’s sales and marketing efforts.

See more on Cole’s exit from Universal Remote Control…

[Read more…]

Finding Purpose in Life During Wartime

April 16, 2020 by Ted 6 Comments

A Guest Post

Guest Post by Bill Leebens talks about life during wartime

My parents were newlyweds at the outbreak of World War II. As the war progressed, Dad became an officer in the Navy, and Mom worked as a newspaper ad copywriter (until “the boys” came home – but that’s a story for another time).

I grew up with their stories of the constant tension of that time, the uncertainty, the loneliness and despair, the shortages, the rationing, the periodic outbursts of anger and insanity— alongside acts of selflessness, kindness, and a strong sense of community.

Sound familiar?

Stuck at home feeling gloomy? Our Guest Post suggests you take a fresh look at your role…

[Read more…]

Fear Factor: Consumers’ Fear Suggests a Slow Recovery from Recession

April 16, 2020 by Ted 2 Comments

Photo from Manhattan showing stores closed due to recession and very few people on the street — [Photo: Juan Arredondo, New York Times]

COVID-19 Recession: Will Rebound be a V…U…or W?

The Coronavirus pandemic has hit America big time. With a head-spinning swiftness, the epidemic swept across the country with ruthless efficiency – first impacting densely populated urban areas (NYC, LA, Chicago), then spreading its tentacles throughout more sparsely populated regions of the country. It has extracted a devastating human toll, striking fear in the hearts of consumers, and brought a once bustling economy to a screeching halt…plunging it into recession.

We have never seen anything quite like this and for business owners and managers…we are truly in uncharted territory. With almost 85% of all Americans now subject to some form of Shelter-In-Place or Stay-At-Home order, everything except essential services, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, has been closed down – and most companies have seen their sales disappear. Will a fearful consumer complicate our recovery from this recession?

See more on what kind of rebound to expect…

[Read more…]

AVNation Launches ‘Commercial Learn From Home’ Virtual 3-Day Online Event

April 9, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Previous Residential Event a Big Success

AVNation, a largely podcasting group of integrators in both the residential and commercial AV space, this week held a somewhat abruptly announced, but ultimately successful online learning event they call their LFH – or Learn From Home – virtual residential event. Essentially an online conference with multiple presentations from a variety of industry experts, the event gave COVID-19 isolated colleagues an opportunity to while away the hours of their isolation…and perhaps learn something in the process.

Now, the group announces it will offer a new LFH event targeted at the commercial channel next week.

See more on AVNation’s LFH events…

[Read more…]

Ted

UPDATE: Now a Much Larger Group of AXPONA Exhibitors are Calling for Its Cancellation

See the expanding list of exhibitors calling for AXPONA to be canceled…

Tighten Your Harness, The Rocket Ship U.S. Economy is Coming Down Hard

See a selection of data showing the economy hitting the brakes…