From our boy-that-was-fast department, Gibson Brands announced it has booked a deal to sell its Memphis factory/showroom. This facility, which is located in the heart of Memphis’ downtown right near the main entertainment district, had just been put on the market as we told you in our post of November 2nd.
News
Portal Adds Origin Acoustics; Gains Exclusive on Valet Amp
Portal announced today that it has secured a deal with Origin Acoustics which will allow dealers to select and purchase Origin products through its unique, brand-agnostic, proposal and purchasing web portal for integrators. The deal includes not only Origin products, but iRoom brand models as well. And Portal says it will be offering “exclusive access to the award winning Valet Amplifier system.”
See more on this new line being offered through Portal… [Read more…] about Portal Adds Origin Acoustics; Gains Exclusive on Valet Amp
More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?
Significant Staff Terminations Drop Headcount
We are hearing from multiple sources both public and private that Thiel Audio has ceased operations, effective November 30, 2017. If true, the news would be a sad punctuation to the end of the story of a once proud high-end audio brand that since 2012 has endured multiple CEO’s and their changing business plans. Current CEO Elyse McKenna is, by our count, the fifth CEO at Thiel since the end of 2012 – a year which started with co-founder Kathy Gornik as the CEO who then sold the company to David B. Griffin, a wealthy farmer and landowner according to our sources.
But, apparently, the answer to the question posed in our headline is that it depends on who you ask. CEO Elyse McKenna, in a telephone interview this afternoon, denied that Thiel is closed and tells us the company remains open for business.
See more on this confusing news on Thiel… [Read more…] about More Thiel Turmoil – Is It Closed? Is It Open?
Samsung’s Graphene Ball Battery Breakthrough
Fully Recharge Batteries in Just 12 Minutes
Korean media is touting a major breakthrough in battery technology from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) called graphene ball. Said to dramatically improve both charging capacity and charging speed, the breakthrough could have a real impact on consumers who have come to rely on their battery driven mobile devices. And there are implications as well for electric automobiles and other applications.
See more on the Samsung graphene ball… [Read more…] about Samsung’s Graphene Ball Battery Breakthrough
Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk
Acquired in 2013, Cakewalk was Killed for Philips, Gibson Says
In what many in the industry are suggesting is yet another indicator of struggles at Gibson Brands, the company announced a little over a week ago that it would wind down operations at Cakewalk Inc., a popular music creation software company it owns. Music industry-centric websites around the internet exploded with largely critical coverage of the move, and comments on Cakewalk’s website are decidedly negative – both sad and angry – as customers seek to process the shocking news.
See more on yet another move by struggling Gibson…
[Read more…] about Gibson Stuns the Music World, Shuts Down Cakewalk
Toshiba: Beginning to Slip From View
Company Pulls Monster LED Display from Times Square
Struggling Toshiba Corp. has made what is undoubtedly a difficult decision and a big blow to their corporate ego – they will abandon their giant LED display overseeing Times Square. The huge lighted billboard was a prominent showing of the Toshiba logo all year-round, but especially during the dropping of the ball on New Years Eve, when it served as the countdown shown on network TVs as cameras broadcast the ball drop around the world. The Toshiba logo has literally lit up Times Square for ten years, having been first erected there in December 2007.
See more on Toshiba’s decision to vacate Times Square… [Read more…] about Toshiba: Beginning to Slip From View
Klipsch Gets It On…On-Wall, That Is
Klipsch announced today it has launched an entirely new line of on-wall speakers, designed to augment on-wall flat panel TV installations with richer, more dynamic audio. This new series of products, called the Reference Premiere Designer On-Wall speakers take up minimal space, while delivering maximum sound.
See more on Klipsch Reference Premiere Designer On-Wall speakers… [Read more…] about Klipsch Gets It On…On-Wall, That Is
Quirky Shinola Launches New Headphone Line, Made in Detroit
Quirky Shinola, the scrappy Detroit, MI-based manufacturer of an eclectic collection of disconnected product lines, including watches, bicycles, leather goods, jewelry and, now, audio, has introduced a line of headphones, including over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear models. The company, which is owned by Bedrock Manufacturing Company, LLC, is as much an experiment in bringing manufacturing back to bankrupt Detroit, as it is a power brand.
See more on this new headphone line from Shinola… [Read more…] about Quirky Shinola Launches New Headphone Line, Made in Detroit
Gibson Brands: Putting Its Assets On the Line
Sells Warehouse & Property for $6 Million
Gibson Brands, Inc. has reached an agreement to sell its property on a half-acre in the North Gulch area of Nashville, TN to a private equity group for $6.38 million, according to a report by the Tennessean. The property includes an unused Gibson warehouse. The purchase was by Somera Road Inc., who worked in partnership with Tricera Capital, a Miami, FL private equity company.
See more on this Gibson Brands deal, which may not be done yet…
[Read more…] about Gibson Brands: Putting Its Assets On the Line
CEDIA’s Big Dig in Fishers, IN Begins
Association Breaks Ground on $14 Million HQ Building
CEDIA announced today it has broken ground on its previously revealed new $13.7 million headquarters building being built in Fishers, Indiana. The project is expected to take about a year to complete, with the organization taking residence in November 2018.
