AWE announces Arcam distribution deal

AWE’s 2009 Expo was a great success, with attendees coming away fully informed about the CEDIA Award-winning distributor’s current range of products - including the latest Philips Pronto Polar Bear (training pictured). At the two-day event, AWE announced that it will act as the exclusive distributor in the residential installation sector for award-winning hi-fi and home cinema manufacturer, Arcam.

“This is brilliant news for AWE customers and for the CI market as a whole,” Stuart Tickle, Managing Director at AWE, comments on the deal.

HCD’s very own CI guru Martyn Williams, who attended the event, commented on the Expo: “This is just the sort of event the trade needs, particularly in these tricky times. We all need as much info as we can get about new kit, as the more info we have the easier it is to make a sale.”

Running from 22-23 April, the Expo provided a platform for AWE and its suppliers to showcase the latest CI products, and featured the following highlights:
• First UK showing of the exciting Philips 21:9 - a 56 inch LCD with the height of a 42 inch panel
• First UK showing of the new Philips Pronto TSU-9300 and custom-finished Pronto TSU-9600
• The new Panasonic TH-50VX100e and TH-65EX100e Custom Home Theatre plasmas
• The new 10 series of Panasonic Viera plasmas and LCDs
• European launch of the new Cineversum BlackWing One
• First UK showing of the upgraded Xantech MRC88M multiroom controller and HD88 video switcher
• The Xantech Digi-5 - a “ground-breaking” digital multi-zone multi-room audio
• The latest IR KIT from Xantech

The Arcam distribution deal is great news for the CI sector, and a “good fit”, according to Tickle.

“Arcam is a terrific, premium brand which stands for high quality design, performance and value. That’s why this brand is a perfect fit within the AWE portfolio,” he says. “This new relationship allows the CI sector better, wider access to the Arcam range, supported by a solid market strategy, ensuring first class technical support and a good margin for installers.”

“I am delighted to have agreed this new and exclusive distribution agreement,” adds Charlie Brennan, Managing Director of Arcam.

“Our performance led products are ideally suited to the AWE portfolio of premium solutions for the CI industry and we are particularly impressed by the high standard of technical support and customer care that AWE offers the CI dealer. We look forward to working closely with AWE over the years to come.”

Effective from 1 May 2009 and revealed to the industry at the recent AWE Spring Expo, the AWE/Arcam distribution agreement covers the new CI range and existing solo products, all of which have RS-232 control. AWE will stock the Arcam MZ8 and MZ12 8 and 12 channel multi-zone power amplifiers, the FMJ T32 DAB tuner and the complete SOLO range of music and movie systems, loudspeakers, iPod docks and accessories.
www.awe-europe.com
www.arcam.co.uk

BMB expands its European team

BMB Electronics has announced that Dave Ball (pictured), Darren Kightley and Yvette Kroon have joined its growing European team.

Dave Ball joins as UK sales representative, will be driving sales in The Midlands, the North of England and Scotland, and will be based at the head office in Stanton.

“Dave has an impressive background in the business and we are very pleased to have him on our sales team to look after our existing customers, develop new business and to be part of our growing international team”, says Gijsbert van Helden, General Manager for BMB Electronics BV.

New Technical Manager Darren Kightley will provide UK and European technical support and training for the BMB range of products whilst specializing in Niles Audio and URC remotes.

Willem Bok, founder of BMB Electronics BV comments: “We are delighted to add Darren as our technical manager in this market. With his technical background at Niles Audio, Darren has a great deal of experience in our industry and we are enthusiastic to have him join us to help out in the technical department”.

Finally, Yvette Kroon is the new order processor working from the Netherlands office, and will handle all orders outside the UK.
www.bmbelectronics.eu

CSE and DUET merge to form CSECUSTOM

CSE and DUET, the well known UK distribution companies that have for many years operated as CSE Distribution Ltd have merged to form a single operation, CSECUSTOM.

Continuing to trade as CSE Distribution Ltd, the new business and its customers will benefit from the consolidation of sales, service and accounts departments, eliminating duplication while strengthening
support for custom installers and retailers.

“We decided on CSECUSTOM because it best describes the business we’ve always been in, which is the supply of high performance AV systems for custom design in the home,” comments CSE’s Ian Severs.

Former Duet director Mark Hungate added: “I’m delighted at the merger and the chance to join Ian at CSE. In pooling our resources we can unite all the potential of our fantastic brands with the experience of our dedicated personnel at a time when many distributors are in retreat.”

Symbolising the merger is a new URL: www.csecustom.com, a new logo (pictured), a refreshed website and a regular E-Shot campaign, which will showcase new products, training events, product offers and reviews.

CSECUSTOM will distribute the following brands in the UK: Audio Pro, AV Racks, DVDO, Emphasys, Geneva Labs, Image Audio, InFocus, Lexicon, Liberty, Living Control, Mirage, Onkyo, Primare, Proficient, Projecta, Rako, Revel and SpeakerCraft.

CSECustom trade contacts will be: 01423 359054, Fax 01423 359058, info@csecustom.com, www.csecustom.com

BBG to distribute Peerless

BBG Distribution Ltd has announced an exclusive partnership with Peerless Industries Inc., manufacturer of professional-grade AV mounting solutions for the US. The partnership enhances BBG’s product portfolio and introduces a full range of both consumer and professional products to UK retailers and installers.

“This agreement is the result of a perfect alignment between our two companies,” comments Gordon Dutch, BBG’s CEO.

“We are thrilled with the newly created partnership and feel that Peerless’ mounting solutions will be an asset to our business and the UK market. With such innovative and world-beating products, this range is going to give forward thinking retailers a wonderful opportunity to maximise their bracket sales in the remainder of 2009 and beyond.”

Mike Campagna, president, Peerless Industries Inc, adds: “The synergy between our two companies specifically around commitment to quality, innovative products, training and customer care is perfectly matched, and we’re very excited to expand our reach into the UK and add to BBG’s outstanding product offering.”

The distribution agreement gives BBG Distribution Ltd. exclusive rights to distribute Peerless products throughout UK and enables the company to offer all independent retailers and custom installers a complete range of high margin products.

For further sales information contact the BBG Sales Office on +44(0)1923 205610