Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

You are here: Home / Archives for News

News

Emerald Says Fiscal ’21 Q3 Revenues Up & Losses Down as Live Shows Restart

by 1 Comment

CEDIA Expo 2021 staged by Emerald

But Were Things as Rosy as Its Report Suggests?

Emerald Holding, Inc. [NYSE:EEX] (Emerald), formerly Emerald Expositions and owner of the CEDIA Expo and CE Pro, announced this week that, thanks to the restart of live events in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, they were able to see a substantial reduction in their net losses on a significant revenue gain as compared to the same quarter in 2020 – the year of COVID shutdowns. While the company is still battling its event cancellation insurance providers in a California court for reimbursement for past canceled and impacted events, they say that they see the road to recovery ahead.

See more on the Q3 announcements from Emerald

[Read more…] about Emerald Says Fiscal ’21 Q3 Revenues Up & Losses Down as Live Shows Restart

First-Ever ‘Inside Sound United’ Virtual Event is Next Week; Register Today

by Leave a Comment

Inside Sound United graphic

Major industry player Sound United is on the cusp of launching its first-ever virtual event called, appropriately enough, “Inside Sound United” (ISU). Coming November 9-12, 2021 to a computer near you, this highly immersive 4-day virtual event will be chock full of useful content and allow integrators to experience a side of the company not usually seen.

See more on ‘Inside Sound United’ virtual 4-day event

[Read more…] about First-Ever ‘Inside Sound United’ Virtual Event is Next Week; Register Today

Query: Where is Innovation Happening in America? Hint: Not in the Heartland

by 1 Comment

Identifying America’s Most Entrepreneurial States

In new research from a think tank based in Bentonville, AR called Heartland Forward, we learn that innovation in the U.S. is largely happening on the east and west coasts of the country – not in America’s heartland where entrepreneurship is lagging. And that they hope to change by influencing state policymakers to go on the offensive to launch new entrepreneurial initiatives.

See more on where Innovation is happening in America

[Read more…] about Query: Where is Innovation Happening in America? Hint: Not in the Heartland

CEDIA 2019 IRS Filing Reveals a $3.7M Deficit; Org Dubs It a Transitional Year

by Leave a Comment

A past CEDIA Expo
A past CEDIA Expo, now owned by Emerald Expositions

CEDIA recently filed their Form 990 with the IRS – a required filing by non-profits disclosing key financial data – and for the first time in a while, I found some interesting and somewhat confusing things in there. Yes, I obtain the organization’s 990 filings every year just to get a sense of how things are going. Like all of us, the organization is filing for, at best, the previous year and often they request and receive an extension. Hence, we are just now getting a glimpse of their 2019 results…and it was an eye-opener.

See what the CEDIA interim co-CEOs told me about 2019

[Read more…] about CEDIA 2019 IRS Filing Reveals a $3.7M Deficit; Org Dubs It a Transitional Year

Majority of All Companies Raised Wages in Q3; Will Do It Again This Quarter

by Leave a Comment

Photo of happy employees

In a survey by the National Association of Business Economists, a strong majority of all businesses – fully 58% – reported that they raised the wages they paid to employees in the third quarter, as reported by AXIOS. Nearly the same number say they will raise wages yet again in the coming months. While the news has some positive elements, especially for workers (like the smiling employees above), it definitely has some economists worried.

See more on rising employee wages

[Read more…] about Majority of All Companies Raised Wages in Q3; Will Do It Again This Quarter

New Vanco Introduction Powers Up Your Assortment, Client Satisfaction & Profits

by Leave a Comment

I recently became aware of the fact that Vanco, the Chicago-based manufacturer of a broad range of mostly accessory products had decided to become a master distributor for a product category that we all need, we all use, and yet to which we pay little attention. It is in this reality, Vanco’s President Mark Corbin tells me, that there lies a tremendous opportunity to better serve our customers and to add meaningful profit to our financials.

See this Vanco solution…

[Read more…] about New Vanco Introduction Powers Up Your Assortment, Client Satisfaction & Profits

UEI Earns Wide National News Coverage for All the Wrong Reasons

by 2 Comments

UEI screenshot with logo

Allegations of Conspiring With China’s Gov’t to Use Uyghurs in a Forced Labor Arrangement

In a rare show of bipartisanship, a group of U.S. Senators has sent a strongly worded letter to a leading consumer electronics industry remote control maker Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) launching a probe into the company’s hiring practices in China. Unique to UEI is that they own their own factories in China (most contract with existing China OEM factories) and a recent damning investigation by Reuters alleges the company is working with the Chinese government to utilize a widely persecuted Uyghur minority in a forced labor arrangement, a human rights violation. UEI has denied the accusation but so far has not provided data to back up their denial.

See more on the UEI labor situation in China

[Read more…] about UEI Earns Wide National News Coverage for All the Wrong Reasons

Azione Unlimited Merges with Nationwide Marketing Group

by Leave a Comment

Azione logo

Azione Unlimited announced today that it has partnered with Nationwide Marketing Group, a group representing more than 14,000 storefronts made up largely of appliance, furniture, and electronics retailers. While Nationwide may not be an immediately obvious choice as a partner for Azione, the custom integration specialist group maintains that it makes perfect sense as they say integrators must be able “to address all of their clients’ needs, no matter the room in the home.”

See more on the merger of Azione Unlimited and Nationwide Marketing Group

[Read more…] about Azione Unlimited Merges with Nationwide Marketing Group

CEDIA Names Daryl Friedman as New CEO; Has Extensive Association Experience

by 4 Comments

Photo of Daryl Friedman

New CEDIA CEO Tells Strata-gee, ‘I Promise You Transparency’

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) announced today that it has named Daryl Friedman as its new Global President & CEO. Friedman’s appointment is effective as of November 27, 2021. Don’t know that name? I’m not surprised as Friedman, an experienced Association executive, comes from the Recording Academy…the folks who bring you the Grammy awards. In an interview this week, Friedman told me that he’s close to the engineers and producers – the highly technical folks in his current association – so he brings a clear technology appreciation to his new role.

Learn more about CEDIA selecting Daryl Friedman as CEO

[Read more…] about CEDIA Names Daryl Friedman as New CEO; Has Extensive Association Experience

Crestron Brings the Trade Show to You via the Crestron NEXT Road Trip

by Leave a Comment

Crestron NEXT logo

BREAKING NEWS Event Kicks Off in November, Starting in Boston & Chicago; More to Follow

I have just learned that Crestron is planning to launch a monster series of regional dealer shows, called the Crestron NEXT Road Trip, that sounds as though they’re going to be spectacular – with new product launches, full product displays & demos, and in-depth educational courses offered. The multi-day event will include huge displays from both the company’s commercial and residential business units in what promises to be quite a show.

See what we know so far about the Crestron NEXT Road Trip

[Read more…] about Crestron Brings the Trade Show to You via the Crestron NEXT Road Trip