<January 4, 2012> Next week, the International Consumer Electronics Show kicks off in Las Vegas, NV starting January 10 and running through the 13th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Over the last few years, many ALERT and BEACON readers have indicated to me that they no longer attended the event as they feel the show is no longer targeted at the specialty side of the business – and instead were using the CEDIA Expo as their main show. [Read more…] about Once Again, It’s Show Time – Our CES Survey Results Reveal Reader’s Real Intentions
Industry Trends
More Details Emerge on Unique Gibson Guitar & Onkyo Partnership
<January 4, 2012> Only hours after the initial announcement this morning that Gibson Guitar Corporation and Onkyo Corporation will partner with mutual investments and the creation of a joint venture (JV) for product acquisition and marketing – new details of the deal are emerging. Also, the Japanese stock market has reacted to the deal driving up the value of Onkyo stock. [Read more…] about More Details Emerge on Unique Gibson Guitar & Onkyo Partnership
Gibson Guitar Buys Stake in Onkyo Corporation & Takes Control of Onkyo USA
<January 4, 2012> In a surprise move, Gibson Guitar Corporation announced that it has invested in Osaka, Japan-based Onkyo Corporation as part of what it called a “strategic partnership” pursued as part of a “continued diversification into the music and audio lifestyle arena.” The company also announced that it has taken a majority interest in Onkyo’s American subsidiary, Onkyo USA Corp. [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar Buys Stake in Onkyo Corporation & Takes Control of Onkyo USA
CEDIA Membership Meeting was Remarkable for What Was Said… and for What Wasn’t
<December 28, 2011> The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) held its annual Membership Meeting through a webinar on Tuesday with a total of 76 attendees including CEDIA members, press, and others. The meeting, conducted by CEDIA Board of Directors Chairman Randy Stearns, was remarkable both in terms of what was presented…and what wasn’t. [Read more…] about CEDIA Membership Meeting was Remarkable for What Was Said… and for What Wasn’t
Sony Decides to Stop Sleeping With the Enemy; Breaks Off Samsung Partnership
<December 28, 2011> Multiple reports from The New York Times, Reuters, the Nikkei and others say that
Sony Corp. has decided to pull out of its joint venture with Samsung called S-LCD Corp. Launched in 2004, the JV manufactured LCD TVs in South Korea for both partners and was Sony’s attempt to catch up with the rest of the industry after its disastrous decision to stay with analog sets as everyone else turned to flat panels. [Read more…] about Sony Decides to Stop Sleeping With the Enemy; Breaks Off Samsung Partnership
At Long Last CEDIA Releases Findings from New Research on CI Market
<December 15, 2011> At the September CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, the trade association’s CEO, Utz 
Baldwin, held a press event in which he announced that the organization was in the final stages of completing a detailed research report on the custom installation market served by its members. Baldwin, who is no longer with the organization, promised a fourth quarter release – and they just made it as they announced today selected data from the report which, interestingly, will not be available for sale in 2011. [Read more…] about At Long Last CEDIA Releases Findings from New Research on CI Market
Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
<November 30, 2011> Toshiba Corporation said today in Tokyo that it will close three of its six factories in Japan producing so-called discrete or single-function chips which are widely used in the electronics business. A very competitive part of the chip business, Toshiba has struggled to maintain profits in this division as competitors such as Samsung put downward pressure on the pricing – and profits – for these chips. [Read more…] about Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
<August 2, 2011> Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. (Velodyne) surprised many in the industry last week by summarily dismissing their independent sales representative force and announcing that they would begin selling Velodyne subwoofers direct to consumers via a new online ecommerce website. The webstore was already open by the time some of the sales representatives received their termination notice. [Read more…] about Velodyne Vaults into Direct-to-Consumer Sales Leaving Sales Reps Behind
Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
<June 1, 2011> Lenbrook America Corporation President and CEO Dean Miller began with an apology. In a May 20th email communication with BEACON editor Ted Green, Miller apologized for his lack of responsiveness, saying that until he read last month’s BEACON he was unaware that attempts had been made by its editors to contact him. Miller, it seems, was on an aggressive two-week spin through Europe to attend a Tivoli event in Italy, a Munich high-end show in Germany, and finally a Lenbrook International distributor show.
See more on our interview with Lenbrook’s Dean Miller… [Read more…] about Lenbrook President & CEO Miller: On a Mad Mission? Or Simply Misunderstood?
IPRO Prez to the ALERT: Reps Reconceived Remain Really Relevant
<May 18, 2011> Shortly after a story appeared in last week’s BEACON about Lenbrook’s decision to terminate its national independent sales force and transition to a direct sales model, we were contacted by David Humphries, president of IPRO, the nation’s most prominent organization of independent sales representatives. Humphries shared with us the organization’s perspective on the Lenbrook decision and the role of the independent rep in today’s industry.
