Essential Install September 2017 | Page 12

Essential Install | News Klipsch Adds Global CI Distribution Partners Pulse and QualiFi Klipsch with new CI partners Pulse at CEDIA 2017 Klipsch, a tech-driven audio company and wholly-owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation, has added two global distribution partners for its premium custom installation speaker solutions; Pulse Cinemas in the UK and QualiFi in Australia. They will act as official representatives of the Klipsch brand by developing new relationships and market share among integrators in their respective markets. Pulse Cinemas offers a portfolio of brands that focus on home cinema and custom install products for their ease of use, reliability, quality, value and compatibility. The company has built a reputation for developing and growing brands, as well as offering a hands on service, education programs, and customer support. Pulse Cinemas is also a marketing firm that works to raise the profile of high-end home cinema and the brands they represent. “We are convinced that offering Klipsch high-performance speaker solutions to integrators in the UK will give them protected distribution, achievable margins, and unrivalled sound,” said Kapes Patel, technical sales director for Pulse Cinemas. QualiFi is one of Australia’s leading importers and distributors of premium home entertainment systems. They incorporate sales, warehousing, and were one of the first CEDIA members in Australia. Klipsch recently introduced more than 50 new premium custom speaker solutions featuring installation systems at CEDIA Expo 2017. Patent-pending Sky Hook and SecureFit technologies are designed for reliable and ultra-fast installation, saving time and money for integrators. Pulse +44 (0)1279 647039, pulsecinemas.com Harman Announces Redundancies, 650 Employees Laid Off REGIONAL SALES MANAGER - SOUTH HOME /FIELD BASED Attractive salary and bonus package including additional benefits The residential technology market continues to expand, creating momentum and business opportunities like never before. Invision is the UK’s fastest growing distributor of market-leading systems and integrated solutions for today’s smart home. Our trade customers are at the forefront of custom-installed technology that’s bringing automation, security, energy management and high-end entertainment into homes. To support our planned expansion in the UK in 2018, we have an opportunity for an ambitious and self-motivated individual to join our technical sales team. As a Regional Sales Manager, your responsibility is to drive revenue and profit growth. You will be working with existing customers as well as developing new business opportunities within a specified territory. Full product training will be given. With relevant industry experience, either in a technical sales role or as a professional installer, the ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate a successful track record in sales and possess excellent communication and presentation skills. Closing date for applications is 31st October 2017. To apply, please email your CV to [email protected] T: 01359 270280 W: www.invisionuk.com E: [email protected] Harman Professional Solutions – which includes brands such as AKG, AMX, Crown, JBL Professional, Lexicon and SVSI – is in the midst of a major restructuring, and as such 650 positions are set to be made redundant, representing around 2.5% of current employees. This move is not entirely unexpected, with Harman having been acquired by Samsung in late 2016, the firm was bound to undergo some staffing changes. The layoffs were announced to Harman employees with plenty of notice, according to Harman Professional Solutions’ public relations director, David Glaubke. The company has notified all staff members of the changes that it needs to make over the next year to assist with its transition, and to mitigate the impact on its employees and their families. Since the acquisition by Samsung of Harman, there has been a lot of speculation on the future of Harman’s brands. In the integration market, many wondered about the future of SVSi (video distribution) and AMX (automation). David maintains that all Harman Professional Solutions brands will continue to exist, adding that “there will be continued investment in the portfolio, including AMX.” Meanwhile, Harman has been transparent about its focus on restructuring to better serve the evolving integration market. That transformation has been in process “over the last two years to better serve our customers, increase our competitiveness and accelerate new product innovations,” David notes. David adds: “We are now consolidating certain locations acquired through acquisitions over the years to leverage the R&D, engineering, design and manufacturing operations of our other divisions and speed up our time to market.” “We also are investing in a stronger IT infrastructure, supply chain and software-driven NPIs (new product introductions) that will improve high-demand product availability and processes and resources for our customers, sales teams and distributors.” Harman pro.harman.com 10 | September 2017