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Amazon Alexa and Devices Division On Pace to Lose $10B; Div. in Crisis Mode

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Photo from Amazon Keynote
Charlie Kindel, then with Amazon, pitches Alexa and tells integrators that Amazon wants to work with them at CEDIA Expo 2016

This has to rank up there with one of the most spectacular product failures in tech history. According to leaked documents acquired by Insider, Amazon’s “Worldwide Digital” unit – the unit that includes Echo smart speakers, Alexa voice technology, and Prime Video streaming – lost over $3 billion in just the first quarter of this year. It is on pace to lose $10 billion for the year and the company has announced its largest layoffs ever – cutting more than 10,000 jobs…many targeted to hit this division specifically…as Amazon reorients their business strategy.

See the latest news on the failing Amazon Alexa business

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EXCLUSIVE: AVIXA CEO Weighs In on Trade Assocs., Shows, Emerald & More

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Photo from InfoComm show, an AVIXA production

About five seconds into our phone call, before I even had a chance to explain myself, AVIXA CEO David Labuskes suddenly burst out: “Oh! I know why you called me!” This reaction caught me off-guard as we’d never spoken before. But when he went on to tell me why he thought I had called him, he was right on the money. It was a clue that he is a deeper thinker than many executives I reach out to, and as we spoke further, that impression only got stronger.

Another surprise was that Labuskes knew me (and Strata-gee) better than I realized…

Learn what the CEO of AVIXA shared with me in this EXCLUSIVE interview…

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New Commotion at Kaleidescape

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Sources are telling Strata-gee that movie media server specialist Kaleidescape is undergoing a new round of turmoil, terminating manufacturer sales representatives and executives. Reports from multiple sources indicate the company is undergoing some type of transformation. However, details are sparse as to just exactly what is transpiring there. I asked Kaleidescape for comment and they responded.

See what we know about the actions Kaleidescape is taking so far

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ISUS in America? Emerald Adds a Commercial Show to CEDIA Expo; Exhibitors React

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Emerald owned CEDIA Expo 2022

Emerald Expositions (NYSE: EEX), the national B2B trade show company that owns CEDIA Expo, CE Pro, and Commercial Integrator surprised the industry at the recent CEDIA Expo 2022 by abruptly announcing that next year they will be “co-locating” a show for commercial integrators at the same time and in the same facility. Reaction to this announcement was…to put it mildly…mixed. Is Emerald trying to imitate the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show – an event for both residential and commercial businesses – by launching an ISUS (Integrated Systems United States) event??

Do you wonder why there was a mixed reaction to Emerald’s move? Read on…

See why some big exhibitors were not happy with the Emerald announcement…

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In Executive Team Expansion, Fidelity Imports Appoints Director of Finance and Operations

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Fidelity Imports logo

Fidelity Imports, a U.S. importer and distributor of fine, upscale audio products, announced this month the appointment of Derek Kolterman as Director of Finance and Operations. The move is said to be the result of dramatic company growth driving the need for personnel expansion.

See more on Fidelity Imports and Derek Kolterman

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Sonance Names National Sales Manager for Canada Biz Transition

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Sonance logo with slogan

Sonance announced last week that it was transitioning its business model in Canada from one centered around a distribution model with an in-country partner responsible for all sales and servicing in the country to a new direct one where Sonance HQ will directly handle all sales and service of its products there. This week, we learn that the company has appointed a new National Sales Manager for Canada, responsible for implementing this new business model, building an all-new sales team, and managing their sales operations there.

That new executive is Toronto-based sales professional Brad Middleton.

Learn more about Sonance appointing Brad Middleton

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Emerald Reports Q3 Results; Its Relief is Palpable w/COVID Finally Behind Them

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Emerald Q3 Fiscal 2022 results cover

Owner of CEDIA Expo and CEPro Reports Recovery from COVID Era

Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), parent company of Emerald Expositions, a large B2B trade show, conference, and event company, reported the financial results of its fiscal third quarter and you could almost feel the relief of a company rapidly climbing its way out of the deep hole into which COVID-19 had thrust them. I follow Emerald’s results because the company owns the CEDIA Expo trade show, as well as CE Pro and other media properties that participate in the custom integration industry.

See more on Emerald’s Q3 results

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In Stinging Rebuke, a Double-Digit Percentage of CEDIA Members Vote No on Slate

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CEDIA boardroom
Boardroom at CEDIA HQ in Fishers, IN

After Obvious Failure of Transparency, CEO Says He’s Learned a ‘Lesson’

On Wednesday, CEDIA Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman sent a letter to all members advising them that the election process for new Board members has been completed – and that the slate of three Board-selected candidates for the three open Board seats has now been filled by Stephan Goodhue, Jennifer Mallett, and James Ratcliffe. The cheery tone of the letter belies the fact that the election process was viewed by many as tainted and has inflamed anger from what seems to be a fairly significant percentage of members who resent losing the opportunity to vote for a candidate of their choice.

However, in this letter, Friedman did allow that “…we need to do a better job of communication.”

See more on the CEDIA letter to members

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Draper Adds Muscle to Residential Push, Promoting Two from Within

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Draper with its Draper@Home division

Draper Inc., a major manufacturer of shades, projection screens, solar control solutions, and more, announced this week a move to build up its management infrastructure to support its push into the residential custom integration channel. As part of this process, it has promoted Chris Sitarov and Pat Herron from within to two new Director of Sales roles overseeing the company’s sales force.

See more on this move by Draper

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AVNation Features Ted Green on Special Episode Discussing CEDIA Board Election Issue

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AVNation graphic on panel where AVNation Features Ted Green

This week, AVNation features Ted Green – me – on a special episode discussing the CEDIA Director Elections taking place right now. As you may know, there was some controversy surrounding this election as CEDIA’s board decided to change the normal election process where association members pick from a selection of nominees to vote on those they want on the Board of Directors. Instead, this year members vote with a simple yes/no on a predetermined slate of candidates selected by the Board’s Governance Committee.

See more on this special AVNation episode featuring me

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