CEDIA Report
October 2008
CustomRetailer talked to several industry insiders from the show floor at EXPO. The following is their thoughts on the show and our industry as we approach 2009:
Bill Anderson, President of Genesis Audio & Video in Irvine, CA and Mike Kavanaugh, Principal of KA Marketing of Irvine, CA:
Said Bill: What was really apparent at this year’s show, more so than at any other CEDIA EXPO, was that the industry has evolved into an art form. We’ve developed the tools and the products to perform and now with the level of design, documentation and creativity that we bring to the table, custom intgeration has migrated upwards to an unparallelled level.
“We are on the cusp of an entirely new way to do business with all of the green product that manufacturers are now producing. If you want specifics, The new architectural Series of in-wall speakers from Sonance with no flanges, the graphic user interfaces that are allowing us to bring art treatments into people’s homes, the thin and gorgeous displays from manufacturers like Hitachi. I can’t wait to get home and introduce this new level of design and what I am calling ‘custom integration art’ to my clients.”
Added Mike Kavanaugh: “I thought what SpeakerCraft did this year was very innovative. I like the focus being on training and sales at their booth. They understand their sales guys are going through a tough time and I thought it was refreshing that they weere willing to do something constructive and educational to get them gong. I also enjoyed the booth itself, the entire green, recycleable experience.
“Other highlights for me were Renovia powerline multiroom audio system. Its easy to install and affordable, it’s great for the retrofit market. Also everything that Savant is doing is very exciting, their booth is hopping; it’s really a company on the move!”
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Andy Himmer, President of Audio Video Experience of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire and Charles Papachristos of rep firm, Roberts Associates, of Burlington, MA, told CustomRetailer from the show floor of EXPO 2008:
Andy: “We’ve been CEDIA members since 2002 and we’ve seen EXPO change for the better over the last couple of years. We particularly appreciate the education push.
“Of course at this year’s show, we’ve seen lots of IP based systems, more advanced control and media servers are everywhere. We work with Niveus and are also anxious to see what Crestron is doing. We’re hearing great noises from them.
Bill Anderson, President of Genesis Audio & Video in Irvine, CA and Mike Kavanaugh, Principal of KA Marketing of Irvine, CA:
Said Bill: What was really apparent at this year’s show, more so than at any other CEDIA EXPO, was that the industry has evolved into an art form. We’ve developed the tools and the products to perform and now with the level of design, documentation and creativity that we bring to the table, custom intgeration has migrated upwards to an unparallelled level.
“We are on the cusp of an entirely new way to do business with all of the green product that manufacturers are now producing. If you want specifics, The new architectural Series of in-wall speakers from Sonance with no flanges, the graphic user interfaces that are allowing us to bring art treatments into people’s homes, the thin and gorgeous displays from manufacturers like Hitachi. I can’t wait to get home and introduce this new level of design and what I am calling ‘custom integration art’ to my clients.”
Added Mike Kavanaugh: “I thought what SpeakerCraft did this year was very innovative. I like the focus being on training and sales at their booth. They understand their sales guys are going through a tough time and I thought it was refreshing that they weere willing to do something constructive and educational to get them gong. I also enjoyed the booth itself, the entire green, recycleable experience.
“Other highlights for me were Renovia powerline multiroom audio system. Its easy to install and affordable, it’s great for the retrofit market. Also everything that Savant is doing is very exciting, their booth is hopping; it’s really a company on the move!”
+++++++
Andy Himmer, President of Audio Video Experience of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire and Charles Papachristos of rep firm, Roberts Associates, of Burlington, MA, told CustomRetailer from the show floor of EXPO 2008:
Andy: “We’ve been CEDIA members since 2002 and we’ve seen EXPO change for the better over the last couple of years. We particularly appreciate the education push.
“Of course at this year’s show, we’ve seen lots of IP based systems, more advanced control and media servers are everywhere. We work with Niveus and are also anxious to see what Crestron is doing. We’re hearing great noises from them.
