Strategy in TECH...
Nationwide Marketing Group (Nationwide) continues to hit the accelerator pedal as it seeks to build upon its plans to expand the custom integration segment for the group, first indicated when it acquired another CI-centric group, Azioned Unlimited, back in October of 2021. Now Nationwide is announcing that Andy Orozco, a former top (and long-time) executive with ProSource, has joined the organization as its Senior Vice President of Custom Integration.
Creston Electronics announced today its plans for the upcoming CEDIA Expo show in Dallas at the end of the month. The company says they will have a big showing for their Crestron Home ecosystem and a “deep roster of new solutions” that integrators are going to want to see.
Hunter Douglas, one of the leading makers of custom window treatments, announced this week a couple of really interesting new additions to their PowerView Gen 3 Automation line – a cool internal Rechargeable Battery, ideal for retrofit installations, and the PowerView+ Gen 3 Automation wired solution, perfect for new construction projects. The company says that these new options are both consistent with PowerView Gen 3’s principles of installation simplicity, performance reliability, and system scalability.
PrepTECH, a for-profit workforce service company that finds, vets, trains, and places new entry-level techs into the custom integration space, has had its first graduating class enter the industry in the Dallas market. A “pilot” or proof-of-concept initiative, the company says it was quite successful and a great learning experience for them – as well as for their participating students and the industry.
Now the company is looking to scale the concept.
Is it possible for a speaker company that doesn’t sell architectural speakers, or home cinema speakers, or soundbars, or outdoor landscape speakers – to grow and thrive in today’s market? I would argue that YES, it is very possible. And it is equally possible for dealers to thrive in the segment as well, if they are willing to take just a few simple steps. I make that argument based on my direct experience in the high-performance stereo music system segment in my role as U.S. Brand Director for Vivid Audio.
This week, Crestron Electronics held a special Supply Chain Town Hall meeting with their dealers to conduct a deep dive into the root causes of their delivery delays, suggest what actions dealers can take, and offer a preview of what to expect in the future. The action was taken, the company says, in the name of transparency – a noble goal. But some dealers are asking what took so long – we are now 2½ years into supply chain issues and things don’t seem to be getting any better at Crestron. Or are they?
Russound announced this week that it is partnering with Jetbuilt, a project management software tool that is popular with custom integrators. Separately, the company announced the new products it will be focusing on during the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2022 event.
Lithe Audio, a London, U.K.-based designer and manufacturer of unique, all-in-one, wireless streaming music solutions announced on Wednesday that it is entering the U.S. market for the first time at CEDIA Expo 2022. The company is experienced in supplying products to European commercial and residential channels since its founding in 2014 and is now expanding its distribution here in America. With a unique line of products, such as all-in-one powered in-ceiling/in-wall, surface mount, and outdoor speaker solutions, the company offers a new approach to system configurations.
Emerald Exposition, one of the largest exposition companies in the U.S. and the owner of the CEDIA Expo (and CE Pro), announced this week that they will be offering “reinvigorated educational programming” at this year’s CEDIA Expo 2022. This initiative will include a range of more than 150 sessions, including seminars, panels, workshops, and manufacturer product training.
Crestron Electronics, Inc. (Crestron) announced today a firmware update that adds Spotify Connect to its growing selection of streaming music services available through its recently-launched DM NAX 8-Zone Network Streaming Amplifier. With Spotify Connect in the DM NAX’s firmware, users get “an elevated music experience” the company says, with control available directly through the Spotify music service or via any Crestron interface.
