<February 29, 2012> Multiple sources are telling the BEACON that D&M Holdings has consolidated their sales representative network, unifying their Denon, Boston Acoustics, and Marantz brands under one representative firm in each territory. Prior to this move, each territory had a Denon/Boston Acoustics representative, and a Marantz representative. So this move effectively cuts their force in half. [Read more…] about D&M Consolidates Sales Force; Some Long-Time Reps Lose Key Lines
News
Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
<February 29, 2012> New court documents filed late last week as part of the ongoing lawsuit 
between Soul by Ludacris and SOL Republic appear to more deeply entangle one of our industry’s most prominent national retail buying organizations, the Pro Group. Court filings from both sides have ignited a controversy in which certain Pro Group members appear to make a claim that is contradictory to one by the Pro Group Executive Director David Workman. [Read more…] about Pro Group Pulled into Lawsuit
Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out
<February 22, 2012> Dealerscope reported on its website today that Signeo, the company that markets primarily headphone products under the brand Soul by Ludacris or “Soul,” has filed a trademark lawsuit against Sol Republic, Inc. who markets primarily headphone products under the brand “Sol.” At the root of the case is consumer confusion over the marketing of competing products that are similar in design and price containing one word brands…that are pronounced phonetically to sound identical. [Read more…] about Can a Court Decide Who Has Soul…or Sol? We’re Going to Find Out
S&P Cuts Panasonic’s Long-Term Debt Rating…Again
<February 22, 2012> Standard & Poors, the credit rating agency, today cut Panasonic Corp.’s long-term debt rating for the second time in only four months suggesting it continues to expect a rough road ahead for some of Japan’s most prestigious brands, according to a report in the Nikkei. [Read more…] about S&P Cuts Panasonic’s Long-Term Debt Rating…Again
Home Building Pro’s Reveal Changing Design Trends, With Disturbing Tech News
<February 15, 2012> CBS MarketWatch reported today on the changing trends in home design based on
research by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Based on a survey of industry professionals, the NAHB shared with CBS how the taste and desire of the typical home buyer has changed radically over the last few years…including, and perhaps especially, relative to the inclusion of technologies in the home.
NPD Says Consumer Electronics Sales in 2011 at $144 Billion Are Down
<February 15, 2012> The NPD Group, a Port Washington, New York-based market research company said on Monday that total consumer electronics sales including both hardware and consumables, fell .5% to come in at a total of almost $144 billion. NPD’s data represents retail sales that the organization collects from retailers and totals. [Read more…] about NPD Says Consumer Electronics Sales in 2011 at $144 Billion Are Down
TV War Won, Samsung Considers Spinning Off its Money-Losing LCD TV Business
<February 15, 2012> Samsung Electronics Co. surprised many in the industry today when it revealed that it is considering spinning-off its LCD flat-panel television business which is losing money amid a worldwide slowdown in consumer demand according to a report by Reuters. The company says letting the LCD business go will allow it to focus on what it believes will be the next wave in television technology – OLED which it hopes will stimulate consumer demand …and company profits. [Read more…] about TV War Won, Samsung Considers Spinning Off its Money-Losing LCD TV Business
The Apple Report – Ripe or Rotten?
<February 15, 2012> While Wall Street has been oooing and aaahhhhhing over Apple, Inc.’s stock breaching a significant price of $500 per share earlier this week…only to drop below it again in trading today (closing at $497.67)…there has been a slew of significant Apple-related stories in today’s news on several major fronts. We offer below a summary of these significant stories from today’s press: [Read more…] about The Apple Report – Ripe or Rotten?
New Wave of Apple iTV Rumors Circulate as Industry Remains on Edge Waiting for Launch
<February 8, 2012> Several reports of new iTV “sightings” have emerged around the Internet with many coming out of Canada as Apple is said to have submitted samples of its latest innovation – a revolutionary new television design – to various testing agencies for approval. [Read more…] about New Wave of Apple iTV Rumors Circulate as Industry Remains on Edge Waiting for Launch
Samsung & LG Outline Aggressive TV Biz Growth Plans
<February 8, 2012> Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics, Inc. plan to launch aggressive expansion of their flat panel television divisions in 2012, according to a new report in the Nikkei. And these aggressive plans contrast sharply with those of Japanese television manufacturers, who are looking for ways to cut their overhead in a search for profitability. [Read more…] about Samsung & LG Outline Aggressive TV Biz Growth Plans
