In an announcement that is a bit unusual for a manufacturer, Autonomic announced on Tuesday that it is reducing the MSRP on its popular Mirage Audio System (MAS). Not only that, but the company says it will actually increase the dealer margin at the same time. Normally, a price reduction is a sign of a slow selling product – but Autonomic says that is not the case here.
News
Sony’s Tightened Partnership with Best Buy Credited for Biz Turnaround
Newly Spun-Off TV Division May Show a Profit for 1st Time in 10 Years
In a new report out of Japan, Sony’s TV business is said to be expected to report an operating profit this fiscal year – its first after ten years of losing money. Due to an improved situation in the U.S. market, the report credits the turnaround in Sony’s U.S. results largely as a function of its tightened partnership with retailer Best Buy.
But the report featured the subheading ‘Outlook Remains Unclear’… [Read more…] about Sony’s Tightened Partnership with Best Buy Credited for Biz Turnaround
Sharp Officially Announces Its Exit from the Canada TV Market
BREAKING NEWS
Canadian tech industry website WiFiHiFi (wifihifi.ca) announced today that it has confirmed that Sharp Corp. will exit the Canadian TV market. Much in line with our recent reporting on the troubled brand, this is probably just the first shoe to drop…there will most likely be more.
See more on what WiFiHiFi has learned about the situation… [Read more…] about Sharp Officially Announces Its Exit from the Canada TV Market
Legal Guns Blazing, Beats Fires Back at Monster
‘Lee Apparently Regrets His Business Decisions…’
We reported to you in January that Monster, LLC and Noel Lee had filed what appears to be a major lawsuit against Beats Electronics, LLC, Andre Young (Beats founder, aka Dr. Dre), Paul D. Wachter (a Beats director), Jimmy Iovine (Beats founder) and HTC (a Taiwanese cell phone manufacturer). The wide ranging suit alleged all sorts of nefarious business practices by the Beats parties – but especially alleged that Beats and HTC engaged in a “sham transaction” solely for the purpose of triggering a “change of control” provision to defraud Monster and Lee out of their rightful interests.
Funny, but Beats see this matter quite differently… [Read more…] about Legal Guns Blazing, Beats Fires Back at Monster
Azione Unlimited to Sell Sony
Azione Unlimited, a retail buying group of custom integrators, announced today that it has partnered with Sony Corp. to offer its line to Azione’s nationwide membership. The group will carry products from Sony’s AV specialty and custom integration channel division.
See more on this new partnership at Azione… [Read more…] about Azione Unlimited to Sell Sony
How Customers Prefer to Receive Your Marketing Messages
An important element of marketing is communication…internally and externally. There are many choices of media through which to communicate with your B-to-B or B-to-C customers and different companies often choose different paths for this critical communication.
But do you know how your customers would prefer you communicate with them? New research tells you the customers’ preferred media…by age range.
See the data on how your customers want you to communicate with them… [Read more…] about How Customers Prefer to Receive Your Marketing Messages
With 60% Growth in Users in 2014, Instagram Blows by Twitter
Now the 2nd Largest Social Media Site
From our friends at The Stratecon Group
Hey TECH SMBs…get out your cameras and start snapping! Those bright graphics and dramatic displays in your booth at a trade show…that dazzling product unveiling at a major corporate launch event…a sophisticated setup for an all-new training event – all captured with your smartphone or digital camera and ready to share. You’ll want to consider posting those company & business-appropriate images on Instagram…now the second largest social media network in the U.S., according to new data released by eMarketer.
Not only that, but the researcher says more is to come from Instagram… [Read more…] about With 60% Growth in Users in 2014, Instagram Blows by Twitter
Bloomberg Reporter Asks ‘Why is Sharp Still With Us?’
We’ve been reporting for a while now on the epic survival struggles of some of this industry’s biggest brand names in Japan…most recently Sharp Corp. Some of the changes we’re seeing now were unforeseeable even 24-36 months ago – Sony spinning off divisions, JVC Kenwood pulling out of the consumer business, Pioneer first shutting down A/V, then selling that division to Onkyo, Toshiba pulling out of TV biz, Panasonic dropping consumer business, and on and on…
Now a reporter for the respected Bloomberg View asks, “…why Sharp should still be in business?”
See more on this surprising declaration and criticism of the practices of Japan, Inc… [Read more…] about Bloomberg Reporter Asks ‘Why is Sharp Still With Us?’
With AVC Sales Declining & Losses Increasing, Did Nortek’s CEO Signal a Change?
BREAKING NEWS
Nortek, Inc. on Tuesday released their fourth quarter and full year results for fiscal year 2014. The company showed sales & profit growth for the quarter – although they booked a net loss for the year. But in a conference call with analysts to discuss the Q4 results, Nortek President and CEO Michael Clarke was questioned specifically about the Audio, Video & Control Solutions (AVC) segment – and he struggled to explain why the company stays committed to the business.
See more on Nortek’s results…and on AVC’s struggles… [Read more…] about With AVC Sales Declining & Losses Increasing, Did Nortek’s CEO Signal a Change?
Sharp to Launch Major, and Painful, Restructuring
Out of Osaka, Japan we learn that Sharp Corp. is about to embark on a major restructuring of its business that will likely change the company in fundamental ways. Plans call for closing domestic factories – a first for Sharp – staff cuts, and a possible exit from a major business segment for the company. Sharp is also seeking to raise capital, something that is not easy for a struggling company.
