Strategy in TECH...
On Wednesday, the Trump Administration unveiled its long-anticipated tariff policy, the details of which showed tariff rates turned out to be much higher than expected and a rollout plan that turned out to be much faster than expected. Overseas markets dropped as investors feared the onset of a trade war was brewing. Thursday morning, U.S. markets followed the rest of the world and saw stock values collapse in the wake of the announcement.
Redwood Marketing, Inc. announced the dates and plans for this year’s CI Expo 2025, taking place at a new, expanded venue at the Doubletree Hotel at the Club in Pleasanton, CA. The Expo is scheduled for May 29, 2025, and will offer new upgraded features such as multiple upscale outdoor vignettes, an expanded exhibit space, a new program, and more participating brands.
On Monday, March 31, 2025, Voxx International Corp. held a special meeting of stockholders who voted “overwhelmingly” in favor of the final closing of its acquisition by auto parts maker Gentex. According to an announcement by the company, “With all regulatory and stockholder approval obtained and all closing conditions met” the transaction is now closed and Gentex now owns Voxx lock, stock, and barrel.
Sonance has introduced an expansion to its very popular VX or Visual Experience line of architectural loudspeakers with a new Thin-Line Series. An ultra-thin option, the Thin-Line Series opens up even more installation opportunities for integrators, especially in space-challenged locations.
Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX), the parent company of Emerald Expositions, CEDIA Expo, and publications CEPro and Commercial Integrator, announced the financial results of its fourth quarter and full year of Fiscal 2024 earlier this month. Results showed modest revenue growth and a return to profitability as the COVID years continued to disappear in the rearview mirror. The company has acquired more shows in the first quarter and is feeling good about 2025.
Still, its reorganized Content segment continues to be troubled.
The latest reading on the current mood of consumers – the Consumer Confidence Index produced by The Conference Board – dropped by 7.2 points in March to a reading of 92.9. This is the fourth consecutive month of decline. The Expectations Index, consumers’ expectations for conditions within the next six months, dropped a startling 9.6 points to 65.2…the lowest level in 12 years.
Carrollton, TX-based commercial solutions provider SAVI Controls and South Jordan, UT-based residential smart home-as-a-service (SHaaS) provider Oliver IQ announced today they were entering into a “strategic merger.” The merged entity will now be known as SAVI iQ and seeks to be the “first AI-driven, cloud-based automation and support platform for commercial and residential markets, engineered to accelerate growth for integrators and service providers.”
Surprising news out of South Korea reported just today – Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee died on Tuesday morning of cardiac arrest, the company confirmed. He was just 63 years old.
Recent developments and reporting within the last week seem to suggest that Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) is adrift and directionless as its new Interim CEO tries to right the ship. It has even canceled its next big product introduction. Is the company flailing? Or is it finally getting its act together?
Well…AVPro Global is at it again. No, they didn’t acquire another company. No, they didn’t launch some insanely great new product series. This time, the company has introduced a seriously advanced educational program series – and in order to facilitate that, they built a brand new, state-of-the-art “Audio/Video Laboratory.”
Clearly, over-achievers…the company is as dedicated to providing innovative and upgraded support solutions to the channel as they are innovative, problem-solving products that integrators rely on every day.
