Strategy

Emerald Expo Pulls Off CEDIA Expo Virtual, Or Rather, CEproDIA Expo

September 17, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

CEDIA Expo Virtual was almost exclusively an online media event…rather than a real, in-person trade show. I know…duh! Yes, I knew this logically, but it hadn’t really hit me viscerally until I actually attended the event. But what that means for Emerald Exposition is that their expertise in fielding large scale, B2B, in-person events really doesn’t apply here. And that fact forced them to rely exclusively on CE Pro for almost the entire event, including content strategy, seminar production, and show performance.

See more of my thoughts on this CEproDIA Expo Virtual overview…

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Crestron NEXT: A Deep Dive into What’s Here & What’s Coming

September 16, 2020 by Ted 1 Comment

I don’t know about you, but at this point in our pandemic-impacted new normal, I’m getting a little Zoomed out. Do you know what I mean? So when I learned that there would be two big virtual events in one week (CEDIA Expo Virtual and Crestron NEXT), it didn’t exactly extract a big WOO-HOO from me.

So how do virtual event promoters rise above the morass of brain-addled ambivalence from the many industry denizens overloaded by Zoom meetings? They deliver truly motivating content that shakes the attendees out of their Zoom-induced comas. I’m pleased to report that Crestron NEXT has delivered on the promise of offering truly interesting and impactful content for integrators, at their first ever online, virtual integrator conference.

See my overview of Crestron NEXT…

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Crestron Invites You to Leave the Now, and Head to What’s Next: Crestron NEXT

September 10, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Creston, one of the industry’s largest and most respected brands of control and automation solutions for the residential and commercial channels, is holding their Crestron NEXT virtual event next week – and it looks extremely interesting. Taking place over two days – September 15 & 16 (yes, during CEDIA’s virtual show), there are two versions: residential and commercial.

See more on why you should plan on attending Crestron NEXT…

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Long the Star of the Company, Sony Elects to Shift to a Supporting Role

September 9, 2020 by Ted 2 Comments

According to a new report out of Japan last week, analysts say that Sony’s business is shifting towards more services and events – and away from the electronics business, the division that built the company. For decades, the brand Sony was practically synonymous with electronics…but that identity may be shifting as growth in other company divisions surpass electronics.

See more on Sony’s shifting categories…

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Audio Research: Alone Again (Naturally)

September 3, 2020 by Ted 5 Comments

A Guest Post on the Saga of an American Brand

Of all the success stories of the ‘70s high end audio boom, none was more unlikely than that of Audio Research Corporation (ARC). Based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, historically a fly-over region for hi-fi, led by a balding, bearlike founder, and offering electronics based around vacuum tubes – considered obsolete for a decade – ARC somehow survived and thrived.

Learn more on the saga of Audio Research…

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B&W Shows Signs of Its Resurgence as an Innovative Audio Leader

September 2, 2020 by Ted 2 Comments

New 600 Series Anniversary Edition from B&W — *New B&W 600 Series Anniversary Edition*

In probably one of the most meaningful media presentations I’ve attended, executives at B&W presented the industry media with their forward-looking product roadmap for the remainder of 2020 – most of it under embargo. So while I can’t tell you much about the products they revealed, what I can say is that they made a strong case for the resurgence of B&W as a leading audio power.

Learn more about my thoughts on the B&W presentation…

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Creditor of EVA Automation Files Court Action to Force Them Into Bankruptcy

September 1, 2020 by Ted 1 Comment

Says EVA Automation Owes Them $30 Million

Last week, several sharp-eyed Strata-gee readers forwarded the news that was initially erroneously reported that EVA Automation had filed for bankruptcy in Northern California. Actually, a search of court records revealed that a creditor of EVA Automation – Top Victory Investments Limited – has filed an action with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Northern California seeking to force EVA Automation into bankruptcy. EVA Automation, as most Strata-gee readers well know, is a former majority owner of Bowers & Wilkins (B&W).

See more on the action against EVA Automation…

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Best Buy Blows Away Fiscal 2nd Quarter Estimates – Yet Its Stock Drops; Why?

August 26, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) had what appeared to be a big win this week, generating financial results that handily beat its fiscal second quarter estimates, driven largely by a huge 242.2% increase in ecommerce sales. Their fiscal second quarter, the 13-week period that ended August 1, 2020 was big, coming in at $9.910 billion – even in a COVID-19 ravaged quarter – fully 4% higher than the $9.536 billion in the same quarter in 2019.

And yet, the company’s stock value DROPPED on the announcement of their quarterly results. And in after-hours trading, Best Buy stock lost as much as 5% of its value. Why did that happen?

See why Best Buy stock got hit, on good news…

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Sonos Adds Top Microsoft Executive to Its Board of Directors

August 20, 2020 by Ted Leave a Comment

Sonos, Inc. (NASDAQ: SONO) announced this week that they are adding a new member to their Board of Directors. In fact, they even increased the size of the Board to make room for this new addition. The news surprised – and impressed – many market observers, as the person they are adding is Panos Panay, a top Microsoft Corp. executive. You see, if you are not familiar with Panay, there is something special about his background that makes him an intriguing addition to the Sonos Board.

Learn more about this Sonos recruitment…

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Onkyo Closes US Subsidiary, Terminates Dealers, and Outsources Distribution to Klipsch

August 19, 2020 by Ted 8 Comments

A Strangely Retroactive Notification

Last week, a letter was sent to all Onkyo dealers in the United States notifying them that their dealer agreements were being terminated. The reason for this termination? Onkyo USA Corporation no longer exists and therefore can no longer serve them. Don’t miss the significance of this historic moment – for the first time in 45-years there is no Onkyo subsidiary in the U.S., once the largest market for parent Onkyo Pioneer Corporation (OPC) of Osaka, Japan.

See more about this turn of events at Onkyo…

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Strategy

Emerald Expo Pulls Off CEDIA Expo Virtual, Or Rather, CEproDIA Expo

See more of my thoughts on this CEproDIA Expo Virtual overview…