Help Lightning, a new support solution the company likes to call “virtual expertise,” not only offers a new potential benefit for integrators to increase the amount of safe in-home support for their clients in these COVID-19 times – they also offer CEDIA members a free 60-day try-before-you-buy experience to test it out in your market with your clients. And in the middle of the pandemic, there has never been a better time to look at offering clients a new support solution that adheres to strict safety standards by limiting person-to-person exposure.
News
Housing Starts Split Again in September for Good News/Bad News Result
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce released their latest report on residential construction for the month of September 2020. Like last month, the results on housing starts were mixed, with both good news for custom integrators and bad news for the overall industry – suggesting again that housing growth, while robust, is beginning to moderate.
See housing starts results for September…
[Read more…] about Housing Starts Split Again in September for Good News/Bad News ResultHarman’s Mark Levinson Brand Launches Lower Cost 5000 Series; Seeks Expansion into Broader Market
Last week, in dramatic fashion, Harman (part of Samsung) brand Mark Levinson announced the launch of an entirely new 5000 series family of products, whose lower price tag is designed to appeal to an expanded share of the market of audio enthusiasts. In a combination of well-produced video segments, coupled with live presentations to the industry media, Harman executives laid out their vision for the brand and presented the details of the engineering and craftsmanship behind their new line of electronics and sources that included a preamp, power amp, turntable and streaming SACD player
Learn more about the new Mark Levinson 5000 Series…
[Read more…] about Harman’s Mark Levinson Brand Launches Lower Cost 5000 Series; Seeks Expansion into Broader MarketSuspicious Changes at CEDIA; CEO O’Connor is Out With No Explanation
This News Follows Other Prominent Departures
The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) announced at the end of last week that Global President and CEO Tabatha O’Connor will “depart” the organization at the end of her contract period in January. The news caught many by surprise and the organization’s announcement gives no clue as to any of the reasons behind this leadership change.
See more on O’Connor’s departure from CEDIA
[Read more…] about Suspicious Changes at CEDIA; CEO O’Connor is Out With No ExplanationChange of Strategy: Emerald Board Tells Company Managers to Buy Stock…Theirs
Emerald Holding, Inc. (Formerly Emerald Expositions Events, Inc.) [NYSE: EEX], the company that owns the CEDIA Expo show and CE Pro, announced last week that its Board of Directors has authorized company managers to purchase up to $20 Million of Emerald’s stock in a share buyback program. As Strata-gee noted back in May in a report on the company’s large fiscal first quarter loss, this program had previously been suspended when cash had tightened up after the cancellation of their events due to COVID-19.
Now the company has been recapitalized, thanks to help from sugar daddy Onex who now owns more than 80% of the company, and – gosh – the stock is so darn cheap. Maybe now is the time to buy…
See more on this stock purchase by Emerald
[Read more…] about Change of Strategy: Emerald Board Tells Company Managers to Buy Stock…TheirsSnapAV Unleashes a Broad Array of New Products at Snap Pro Live
Kicking off their first ever virtual dealer event called Snap Pro Live, SnapAV unleashes a broad array of new products covering their wide gamut of product and service segments. Snap Pro Live runs for three days and kicked off today (Tuesday) afternoon with a keynote from CEO John Heyman – and this major product launch.
See what new products SnapAV launched at Snap Pro Live…
[Read more…] about SnapAV Unleashes a Broad Array of New Products at Snap Pro LiveSnapAV Kicks Off Snap Pro Live; CEO Says They are ‘Stronger Than Ever’
New Product Platforms & Business Platforms to Drive Future Growth
SnapAV kicked off their first major three-day virtual event called Snap Pro Live Tuesday afternoon. In a keynote presentation, SnapAV CEO John Heyman hailed the work of the integrator in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the dealer “took on the role of a courageous warrior.” And with that, Snap Pro Live was launched offering three full days packed with useful content. (See more details on Snap Pro Live here…)
Learn more about Snap Pro Live…
[Read more…] about SnapAV Kicks Off Snap Pro Live; CEO Says They are ‘Stronger Than Ever’Sound United Deal to Acquire Bowers & Wilkins Closes
The Band’s Back Together – B&W Reunited with Classé Under Sound United
Sound United announced today that it has closed on its acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), as expected. With this deal, B&W is rejoined with Classé – a high-end electronics manufacturer that itself was once part of B&W but then was acquired by Sound United back in Jaunuary 2018.
See more on Sound United acquiring Bowers & Wilkins
[Read more…] about Sound United Deal to Acquire Bowers & Wilkins ClosesSonos Stock Slammed on News Apple Stores Drop the Line
Lost 7% of Value in After-Hours Trading
Bloomberg News reported late on Monday that Apple is dropping Sonos [NASDAQ: SONO] and other non-Apple branded products from their stores. The news of Sonos losing such a major customer caused their stock to derail in after hours trading, down almost 7% in value at one point. On Tuesday, Sonos stock price closed down 3.2% as Wall Street digested the news.
See why Apple stores are dropping Sonos…
[Read more…] about Sonos Stock Slammed on News Apple Stores Drop the LineEmerald Expo Says CEDIA Expo Virtual Registers 7,600; Claims Virtual Success
Emerald Expositions announced today that CEDIA Expo Virtual drew 7,600 trade professional registrations for their three day run from September 15-17, 2020. Although this figure is less than half the attendance at the live, in-person version, Emerald considers it a great success as an all-virtual event.