A group of integrators, including Premier Group in Carmel, Indiana and Integration Controls in St. Louis, MO have come together to launch a fund-raising effort on YouCaring.com to benefit CEDIA integrators impacted by Harvey, the storm that has battered Houston and surrounding area over the last few days. Noting the “the flooding in Houston is nothing short of catastrophic,” the group are hoping to raise at least $20,000 to help affected integrators rebuild their businesses.
Integrators
Allnet Distributing Moves into Minnesota
Chicago, IL-based Allnet Distributing announced recently that it is opening an all-new location in Minneapolis, MN in September. It is the fourth warehouse location, as the custom integration-focused distributor continues to expand its reach throughout the Midwest geographic region.
See more on this latest expansion by Allnet Distributing… [Read more…] about Allnet Distributing Moves into Minnesota
Are Amazon Geeks Geekier than Best Buy’s?
Amazon Tests In-Home Installations
Recode is reporting that Amazon is testing an installation service for smart home products in several key test markets – in direct competition with Best Buy’s Geek Squad. While these two giants battle over the rights to install smart home solutions into the home, where does this leave the independent integrator?
See more of what we learned from Recode… [Read more…] about Are Amazon Geeks Geekier than Best Buy’s?
Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship
BREAKING NEWS
Crestron announced today that it is dramatically deepening its partnership with Sonos that was first revealed at last Fall’s CEDIA show. That partnership, which Strata-gee was the first to break the story on ahead of the 2016 CEDIA show, is now growing even stronger as Crestron is making the full line of Sonos products available directly to Crestron Technology Professionals through their normal purchasing system. Crestron dealers can add as much Sonos product to their Crestron orders as they’d like…starting today.
See more on this growing partnership between Crestron & Sonos… [Read more…] about Crestron and Sonos Deepen Their Relationship
PE Firm General Atlantic Sells Its Stake in SnapAV
BREAKING NEWS
SnapAV announced today that General Atlantic, its private equity partner, has sold its ownership interest in the company to San Francisco-based Hellman and Friedman, another private equity group. The move, while unexpected, is not unusual in the world of private equity – especially in the case where a portfolio company transitions stages of growth that move it beyond the the investment strategy of the PE partner as compared to when the investment was initially made.
See more on this big change at SnapAV… [Read more…] about PE Firm General Atlantic Sells Its Stake in SnapAV
Savant Launches New Line of Touch Screens
Savant Systems, LLC, a leading controls systems manufacturer for the custom integration industry, announced this week it is launching a all-new line of touch screens it calls “Wally.” This new Wally lineup offers consumers easy access to their climate, lighting, and entertainment systems with a simple touch of the finger.
See more on the Savant Wally touch screen… [Read more…] about Savant Launches New Line of Touch Screens
Simply Reliable Launches ‘Digital Proposals’ in SmartOffice Update
Simply Reliable Software announced this week that it has added a dramatic new feature called “Digital Proposals” in the latest update of its SmartOffice software. The company called Digital Proposals “a game changing feature.”
Learn more about Simply Reliable’s Digital Proposals… [Read more…] about Simply Reliable Launches ‘Digital Proposals’ in SmartOffice Update
Sapphire Marketing Road Show Rolls into the Big Apple
The Sapphire Marketing 2017 NYC Road Show rolled into Manhattan this week, taking over the 11th floor (and terrace) of the Midtown Loft & Terrace on 5th Avenue, just a stone’s throw from the Empire State Building. A large group of integrators and end users gathered to see the latest technology offerings from top brands such as Crestron, Digital Projection, Stewart, Leon Speakers and more.
See what we found at Sapphire Marketing’s NYC tech show… [Read more…] about Sapphire Marketing Road Show Rolls into the Big Apple
Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Network systems provider Access Networks announced this week that it has hired Roy Beiser, a former Intel executive, as its first ever Director of IT. But even more than that, Beiser, who is said to be highly credentialed in network technologies and cyber security issues, will assist in helping Access Networks to establish “the highest IT and cyber security standards for the company’s base of integration professionals and their clients.”
See what Access Networks plans to do to raise the security bar for itself, and the industry… [Read more…] about Access Networks CEO: Network Security is an ‘Existential Challenge’ for Industry
Integra Moves Into Distribution, Eliminating a Key Selling Point
This week we learned that Onkyo and Integra products would now be sold through AVAD, a distributor of custom integration products in the U.S. that is in the middle of changing its business model. Interestingly, this announcement came from AVAD, not from Onkyo/Integra, although Onkyo Vice President of Sales and Business Development Joe Petrillo is quoted in the official release.
But this simple announcement is being viewed as a game changer for many in the industry, who note that with the loss of its more “protected” status, Integra may have lost one of its key selling points.
