Screen Research announces restructuring
Screen Research (distributed in the UK by Pulse Marketing) has announced a restructuring program in response to changing market conditions and to focus on new product development and introductions. Following an extensive investment program during 2007 and 2008 (including a new manufacturing facility in Nantes, France, and the recruitment of senior staff), the Screen Research group - with sales of $5.5million - has successfully strengthened many aspects of its business. These include product portfolio development, enhanced technical support and marketing tools.
These investments were planned when looking at a healthy market showing high growth potential. However, the knock-on effect of the recent global economic downturn has seen a couple of business quarters performing below expectation. The company had previously experienced a growth rate of 30% year-on-year, but has seen this slow to 2% within its Systems Integration business.
Taking a realistic view of a continuation of this stabilisation of sales levels, the company has considered how to meet the challenges of the prevailing market conditions. Screen Research’s strategy is to adapt to this situation and re-organise the company in order to secure its long-term stability within an increasingly competitive market.
Under French regulations, any re-organisation generates a significant short-term impact on the company’s cash-flow. By seeking the protection of the government during this period, the company is able to focus on cash-flow and on market and product development issues rather than on any intrinsic re-structuring costs.
As with many manufacturing businesses, the restructuring is targeted toward the production facility and to a much lesser extent to the operational services based at the headquarters in Nantes.
The US subsidiary office in Atlanta and Asia/Pacific office (based in Bangkok, Thailand) are not affected by this procedure in both financial and legal terms. To the contrary, the company anticipates that it will be able to reinforce its US operation in the short term by bringing additional team members to support the US market. The performance of the recently established Atlanta office has been extremely encouraging.
Yves Trélohan, C.E.O and Founder, comments: “We feel very positive about the timing of this program as we recently introduced our new Classic 2 product line and successfully launched our new ISF(r)-certified MultiPix(tm) range of screen fabrics at the CEDIA Expo 2009, indicating a promising business quarter ahead.
“Mike Beatty of Pulse Marketing: “We at Pulse are delighted to hear the recent news regarding Screen Research’s restructuring. It allows Pulse to continue supplying UK dealers with the world’s finest selection of projection screens.”
With 6 patents and unique product solutions such as the award winning LeWing(tm), Screen Research has been recognized as a innovative company. Trélohan continues: “R&D efforts are our short and mid-term priorities as we are involved in a constantly evolving market requiring new solutions to match rapid developments in the video projector technology, pricing and application. We plan to introduce more new products a the ISE show in Amsterdam, in February 2010.”
The company communicated its plans to its distribution network recently and has been pleased with the support it has received. The current revenue trend is fully in line with its expectations. Screen Research is convinced that this action had to be taken in order to secure its financial position and has a strongly belief in the ability of the company and its distribution network to be able to successfully introduce a comprehensive new product and fabric program and implement an IP protection strategy.
www.pulsemarketing.com
www.screenresearchuk.com
Freeview hi-def set for pre-Xmas switch-on
High definition is about to go mainstream with the launch of Freeview HD services on 2 December. The Granada region in England’s North-West - including Manchester and Liverpool - will be the first area in the UK to receive BBC HD, ITV HD and Channel 4HD when the Winter Hill transmitter starts to broadcast in MPEG-4.
London’s Crystal Palace transmitter will follow in late December, while Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Leeds should be covered well before June 2010.
That’s a magical date for consumers, because that month’s World Cup in South Africa will be broadcast in high definition on both BBC HD and ITV HD.
By the end of 2010 the BBC is hoping that Freeview HD will be available to 16 million people, though it’s the world Cup that could put a spike in sales of new Freeview HD set-top boxes and integrated TVs.
The likes of Humax, LG and Panasonic are expected to sell Freeview HD set-top boxes early in 2010, though Sony demoed a Freeview HD-equipped LCD TV at September’s IFA.
With the BBC keen to introduce iPlayer to the Freeview service, the new generation of Freeview HD set-top boxes are likely to feature an Ethernet port.
Freeview HD is scheduled to take around three years to rollout to the whole of the UK, and broadly follow digital switchover - only transmitters that have gone digital-only can broadcast HD channels. 2012 should also see the arrival of the Five HD channel.
Retailers could have a tough time explaining the ‘HD switchover’ process to consumers, especially in the early days; with no Freeview HD set-top boxes currently on sale, Freeview HD is likely to have a very soft launch in December.
September’s ‘big retune’ helped clear Multiplex B - the spectrum reserved for high definition DVB-T2 broadcasts across the whole of the UK - of all SD streams, though that’s meant sacrificing a video stream on the BBC’s Red Button service and the BBC News Multiscreen stream.
www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Services/Freeview-HD
CEDIA rebrands 2010 Expo event
Following “extensive consultation with the industry”, CEDIA recently announced that its annual Expo will be re-branded ‘The Home Technology Event 2010 in association with CEDIA’ as of 2010. This follows CEDIA Expo Committee recommendation and full Board agreement.
CEDIA Expo 2010 will continue at ExCeL London , with the exhibition taking place 15-17 June 2010 and training scheduled for 14-17 June.
“In engaging with the industry it became clear that the future success of CEDIA Expo is about much more than simply its location,” Matt Nimmons, CEDIA Region 1 Operations Director, told HCD.
“This feedback showed that the CEDIA Expo must evolve if we are to build on the success of 2009 and make sure that the event stays fresh, relevant and as valuable as possible to the industry,” Matt added.
CEDIA is keen to communicate the Expo’s “meaning and relevance” to a wider audience, with Interior Designers, Architects and other specifiers firmly in the organisation’s sights. It is thought that re-branding the event to broaden its appeal to new custom installation and design professional audiences is an “obvious way” for the show to move forward.
www.cedia.co.uk
Viewsmart voted Accessory of the Year
Alphason has won the ERT magazine Accessory Product of the Year Award for its Viewsmart programme.
Viewsmart, which was launched at the Euronics Show in 2008 exclusively for independent retailers, is now stocked by more than half of Alphason’s retailer customers.
“To receive such recognition from Industry experts is a tremendous accolade and endorsement for our Viewsmart programme,” Alphason’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Emerson commented.
“It gives us even greater satisfaction knowing that our continuing investment in the independent sector, for whom the Viewsmart programme was conceived, has paid off not only for us in winning this Award but in the increasing number of attachment sales our customers are making on the back of Viewsmart.”
The ERT magazine Awards, now in their second year and aimed at raising standards among retailers and rewarding efforts from manufacturers, were presented at a special Awards luncheon at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London.
Look out for news of HCD’s very own annual awards soon…
Peerless launches premium furniture
Wall-mount supremo Peerless has launched a new range of premium TV stands, in three designs, at three ‘designer’ price-points: Manhattan (Best), Broadway (Better) and Hudson (Good).
Intended as a premium solution, the range includes the Manhattan corner unit, one of only a few designer corner units currently available.
“The days of cheap and not-so-cheerful TV stands is over, and today’s consumers recognise that they need to buy great-looking, well-built furniture to support and complement their flatscreen TV,” Gordon Dutch, Managing Director of BBG/Peerless commented.
“Our new range of furniture provides consumers with three premium options, all beautifully designed, and all built to the highest specifications.”
Manhattan comes in three sizes: 1200, 1000 Corner and 800mm, supporting screen sizes up to 60, 42 and 32inches respectively. Side panels are finished in five-times painted and polished, multi-layered lacquer, whilst a UV-bonded top glass shelf and cable tidy provide additional elegance.
There are two Broadway sizes - 900 and 1100mm, intended for up to 37inch and 50inch screens – finished in durable black and supplied with a choice of colour inserts - black, red, white and silver.
Hudson is available in four sizes - 1200, 1000, 800 and 650mm - and utilises space-saving D-shaped glass and integrated cable management throughout.
www.bbg.eu.com
HCD goes widescreen
The latest edition of HCD boasts an exciting new ‘widescreen’ front cover. Showcasing a Philips Cinema 21:9 TV, the landscape design is the first in a series of super-impact front covers from the HCD team - click the cover, left, to see a bigger, hi-res version.
Featuring this year’s EISA awards, the issue also includes a special on touchscreens, report from IFA, a preview of the first Manchester Sound & Vision Show, interviews with Alphason’s Chris Emerson and AWE’s James Drummie - plus columns from the countries leading hi-fi, AV and CI commentators and our news and product news sections. Digital editions will be emailed to subscribers on September 29, with the paper version hitting desks before the end of the month.
The new issue also sees Editor Jamie Carter step up to Editor/Publisher and Linda Dorling to Associate Publisher, Promotions. CI expert and ‘roving reporter’ Martyn Williams takes on the role of Contributing Editor.
Click here to view the digital version of the new edition – which boasts both ‘widescreen’ and portrait versions of the cover.
IFA: special extended report
The stands may have been a little less exuberant than in previous years, but this year’s International Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin once again proved its worth as Europe’s best consumer AV event.
It was smaller than in 2008, but only by 1,000 square metres - barely noticeable for the many international dealers and journalists tasked with tramping around the entire show in an effort not to miss anything new.
With the recession pressing on R&D budgets, this year’s IFA was always going to lack the usual spate of new technology previews. There was scant mention of OLED, and very little news on the coming era of 3DTV. No, IFA in 2009 was more about refinement; perfecting existing technology, and making it smaller, sleeker, eco-friendlier - and more appealing to consumers. The pre-IFA conference circuit was thus quieter than usual, though the Presidents of Panasonic, Samsung and Sony all spoke.
For our extended IFA 2009 special report please click here
Niko UK appoints Habitech as sub-distributor
Niko UK has announced that it has appointed Habitech as a sub-distributor to supply the wide range of Niko home automation and lighting systems to high-end specialist installation companies.
“We are delighted to be working with Habitech,” Niko UK’s Steve Calder said. “Niko is fast building a strong market for its home automation and lighting solutions with the trade, interior designers, architects and home-owners. Working with Habitech will ensure that we can offer the same high standard of support and service to all our customers, no matter how big or small… With Habitech, we can be sure that our systems are more widely available throughout the UK.”
Based in Wrecclesham near Farnham Surrey Habitech has a large training, demonstration and workshop facility, with representatives that cover the whole of the UK.
Niko (UK) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Belgian manufacturing company, Niko nv and its UK headquarters in Toddington, Bedfordshire are equipped with a fully fitted Showroom and Training facility.
To find out more about Niko, email: info@nikouk.com. Habitech can be contacted on: sales@habitech.co.uk
CEDIA Expo 2010 set for return to ExCeL
Following a complete review, CEDIA has announced that its annual CEDIA Expo training and product showcase event will return to ExCeL London in 2010. Key dates are 15-17 June for the exhibition; 14-17 June for the training.
CEDIA consulted extensively with more than 100 companies and individuals from across the industry. These included exhibitors who had either attended the 2009 CEDIA Expo or previously supported the event. Visitors were also invited to complete a survey to identify where and how the Expo experience could be improved whilst members who do not visit were asked to contribute their feedback and ideas to the debate. ExCeL London emerged as the preferred location for a clear majority of those canvassed in the review. In view of these findings, the CEDIA Board has endorsed the selection of ExCeL London as the venue for the 2010 CEDIA Expo.
According to review findings 68% of present and past exhibitors wanted the CEDIA Expo to be a single event in one location, and 75% of those exhibitors wanted the event to remain at ExCeL London. 63% of CEDIA Expo visitors chose London as the preferred location with 84% of those wanting it to remain at ExCeL London. Finally, 79% of exhibitors and 80% of visitors rated CEDIA Expo 2009 as good or excellent.
“This extensive review has confirmed the choice of ExCeL London as the right location for the annual Expo moving forward,” says Wendy Griffiths, CEDIA’s Executive Director. “Although smaller in size and in spite of the economic climate, the 2009 show proved a huge success. Following this achievement, we have major plans to ensure that the CEDIA Expo continues to stay fresh, relevant and valuable as the premier annual event for the residential custom installation for exhibitors and visitors in 2010 and beyond.”
CEDIA aims to build on the success of new initiatives, such as the “Designing Interiors with Technology” conference and the showfloor theatre which were well-supported at this year’s show. Outline plans include the addition of a half day seminar programme tailored to electrical contractors, plus dedicated conference style events for architects and building services consultants.
In another initiative CEDIA is considering the option of a special VIP evening, working with major institutions and banks based in Canary Wharf to attract high net-worth consumers to the event. The CEDIA Board is also exploring the possibility of a re-branding for the event to broaden its appeal to custom installation and design professional audiences. In all its efforts CEDIA is committed to ensuring that the CEDIA Expo remains representative of the industry’s needs as a platform for education and doing business.
LG overtakes Sony in LCD sales
LG has announced that it outstripped Sony to become the world’s second largest manufacturer of LCD TVs in the first half of 2009.
LG says it sold 6.74 million LCD units globally during the January-June 2009 period, including 3.55 million units in the second quarter. Second-quarter LCD TV sales soared 48 percent from a year earlier.
Sony had previously announced that it sold 3.2 million units in the April-June period, with its first half sales reaching 6.54 million units. LG held a 12.6 percent market share in the second quarter, trailing market leader Samsung with 19.9 percent. Sony was in third place with 11.4 percent.
www.lge.com/uk
