HOLLY HILL, FL (12.31.2020) – Metra Electronics has two new dash kits for the new Hyundai Venue and 2020 Ford Transit models. Metra’s 95-7398 dash kit for 2020-up* Hyundai Venue models fits an ISO Double-DIN radio provision and is painted scratch-resistant matte black with silver trim to match the factory look and feel.
The 107-FD1B fits the 2020 Ford Transit, excluding models with the factory radio delete option. This dash kit is designed for Double-DIN radios that have an “L” shaped chassis design with the radio chassis at the bottom of the screen. This includes Pioneer’s 6.8-inch modular receivers and installers should refer to the radio manufacturer for current models. The 107-FD1B is painted scratch-resistant matte black.
STILLWATER, OK (12.30.2020) – KICKER congratulates its recent winners from the 2020 Mobile Electronics Association Industry Awards, announced in December during the virtual KnowledgeFest tradeshow. KICKER long-time authorized dealer Car-Tunes, Inc. (Greenville, Miss.), earned top honor for retailers – 2020 Retailer-of-the-Year, while Justin Kush from Mobile Toys (College Station, Texas) was named the Installer-of-the-Year. Additionally, other KICKER retailers and associates performed well in several categories.
“Kim (Trainer, owner of Car-Tunes) and her team are very motivated, very forward-thinking,” said Lori Boyer, KICKER Southeastern Region Sales Manager. “The standard they hold themselves to is very high on every aspect of their business, whether it’s the customer service, sales or the install side. They are a fantastic shop.”
Justin Kush posing with the Street Outlaws at the KICKER booth during the annual SEMA Show.
Car-Tunes has been a KICKER dealer for more than 15 years. The shop and its four employees pride themselves on attention to detail and their ability to communicate with care and genuine interest, both in-store and online. The company also believes in an active training schedule for every employee, with consistent education for leadership, installers and sales.
“We are so humbled and grateful for this honor, words cannot fully express how very much this means to us,” said Trainer. “We try to stay connected with the industry as a whole. It’s important for all of us to continue to learn from each other. Even after more than 20 years in the industry, sometimes we learn something new that we can apply in our business. It keeps everyone engaged and motivated.”
Kush, from the successful Mobile Toys shop, beat out several talented and well deserving installers to be names the year’s best.
“Justin reflects the definition of what a manufacturer wants out if its retailers – in design, fabrication, and sound,” said Brad Ganz, KICKER Central Region Sales Manager.
“He pushes the limits of imagination to make reality,” said Pete Daley, Marketing Pros (Conroe, Texas) sales representative. “He is a hidden gem in this industry.”
Other KICKER colleagues fared well in the final tally. Mobile Toys earned runner-up in the Retailer category and also won the Customer Choice Award. Dean Beyett of Five Star Car Stereo (Clearwater, Fla.) took runner-up in the Installer category. Top Rep Firm went to Marketing Pros, Inc.
AVON LAKE, OHIO (12.30.2020) – Even in a pandemic, Design Engineering Inc. continues to grow. The heat and sound management products company is entering Phase Two of a long-term, three-phase expansion project that will increase capacity at its Avon Lake headquarters facility.
“This expansion will allow DEI to expand our manufacturing, assembly and warehouse capabilities, and grow our R&D department,” says Dave Ramirez, VP of operations. “With this second addition, the added space will allow us to consolidate remote facilities all under one roof.”
Phase One occurred in 2013, when DEI completed a 12,000-square foot addition that more than doubled its prior warehouse space. Phase two of a three phase plan will add approximately 10,000 square feet to the current facility, bringing the total square footage to 35,000.
The additional space will allow DEI—which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020—to continue to build on its impressive lineup of heat and sound control products for the automotive, racing, powersports, 12-volt audio, industrial, marine and related markets.
Manufacturing and R&D will be enhanced with the addition of a water jet cutter, as well as other new equipment and process improvements.
For more information about Design Engineering, Inc. and its innovative product lineup, visit www.designengineering.com.
DETROIT, MI (12.30.2020) – Tesla’s are aspirational vehicles for many because they can be super fast, drive by themselves with supervision for short periods of time and they’re the first viable daily driver EV that is kind of affordable in the U.S.
However, it’s also the irreverence that CEO Elon Musk continues to infuse the Model S, 3, X and Y with that also makes them appealing. Being able to watch movies, play games or even enjoy a fire (or at least a looped video of one) while you’re in the vehicle is just icing on the cake.
Tesla’s latest update for its vehicles allows some of them to fart at passersby.
Now, the California-based EV leader is looking to share his innate silliness enjoyed by owners with people outside the vehicle with a new feature called “Boombox.” Part of the latest vehicle update package, it allows owners to download up to five sounds that drivers can use to “honk” at passersby — and yes, a fart noise is one of them.
The engineers patch these sounds through a small speaker in the front of the vehicle, which already emits a low whirring sound designed to inform pedestrians that a Tesla EV is nearby. Unfortunately, this speaker only arrived in 2019 or new model year Teslas.
In addition to passing gas at people on the street, you can bah like a goat, applaud, play the song “La Cucaracha” as well as other sounds. Once you load the noises of your choice into the system, drivers only need to hit the horn to brighten people’s day with applause as they walk down the sidewalk.
Using the massive touchscreen, Tesla owners can set up their 2019 or new vehicles to play music outside like the ice cream man or for a tailgate.
There are a few “restrictions.” The sounds are deactivated while the vehicle is in motion so the only sounds coming out of the speaker is the aforementioned whirring noise or the regular horn so the driver to express dismay, alarm, anger or some other necessary warning to others on the road.
However, since there are no rules on what sound must come from the vehicle to warn pedestrians of that an EV is in the area, the system can be set up to play downloaded noises continuously. The siren from a fire truck, ambulance or police car, although appealing, is not an option here. The speaker can also be used to stream music while parked as events like tailgates, picnics, etc.
TEMPE, AZ (12.29.2020) – On Friday December 18, 2020, Mobile Solutions’ founder and CEO Bryan Schmitt along with Sage Weir from Sounds Good Stereo, TN and Tom Miller of Musicar Northwest, OR presented a collaborative, web-based training for ORCA Design and Manufacturing called UP FRONT FAB. The fabrication-themed training was open to all who pre-registered. It turned out to be an incredible success with over 330 attendees from at least eight countries including USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, Holland, South Africa and Australia.
Bryan Schmitt doing last minute setup in the Mobile Solutions Training facility in Tempe AZ for the UP-FRONT FAB Zoom presentation.
“What was originally scheduled for 90 minutes went for about two hours, with plenty of interest from attendees to continue. There was enough content to schedule a complete second session with the topics we had.” explains Bryan Schmitt. The training session focused on speaker placement for premium sound quality builds, including addressing creation of speaker locations and finishing techniques required for custom A-pillars, dash grilles and tweeter pods. Schmitt did live, on-camera routering of a template shape and the actual plastic of an A-pillar to demonstrate how the techniques and steps actually progress. “So many engaged attendees and great questions along the way. This is the kind of audience you want to have” added Schmitt.
This screen shot shows Schmitt during the Zoom presentation.
Examples of the award winning custom fabrication work by the Mobile Solutions Team.
Weir and Miller also shared their own approaches with their clientele as to how they come up with designs and techniques to build great-sounding, front stage-focused car audio systems. Weir talked about some recent vehicle installs where they implement a process for A-pillars that reduces the fabrication time and yields stellar results, thus helping to allocate budgets to higher-end component speakers. Miller also talked about his recent installs, as well as his tools and process of doing renderings to draw concepts before ever cutting any materials or starting the customization work. Altogether, a packed session with highly relevant topics to the attending audience. “Registrations topped 500, suggesting there is an appetite for this training format to continue” said Nalaka Adakari, Sales Director at ORCA Design. Mobile Solutions plans to do more of these training sessions in the future and thanks ORCA for their support.
For more information on future training sessions from Mobile Solutions, visit www.mobilesolutions-usa.com and join the email information list or follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.
PITTSBURG, PA (12.29.2020) – Team Nutz is a very proactive 12volt and automotive aftermarket retailer in Pittsburgh PA.
With the Holiday Season approaching Team Nutz purchased a 22’ tall inflatable, lighted Nutcracker to place in front of the company’s store to grab attention from people driving down the busy street. The Nutcracker was put in place right after Thanksgiving.
This creative Team Nutz post wished all on social media Merry Christmas.
Nina and Ed Nuttall related “It gets dark early this time of the year. People can see the lighted Nutcracker from a couple blocks away. We will leave up until the New Years and then put it away until the Holiday Season 2021.”
The 22’ tall Nutcracker, with alternating red and green lights, grabbed attention from blocks away on the street.
Legend has it the Nutcracker represents power, strength and service like a trusty watch dog guarding a family from evil spirits and danger. The Nutcracker also serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and good will.
Santa Bob Jones is flanked by Nina and Ed Nuttall by the Team Nutz front door.
The Nutcracker, with alternating red and green lights, attracted many families to stop outside and take a family Christmas photo. “It was great to see families stopping for a photo. While taking the photo they certainly had a chance to see all we offer at Team Nutz” Ed Nuttall offered.
This image shows the height of the 22’ Nutcrackers out front at Team Nutz.
On Thursday, the day before Christmas, Santa was in the house. Bob Jones, area sales representative for Davis Distribution, dressed as Santa paid a visit to Team Nutz.
Collen Gregory, Natasha Davis and Doug Macher (LtoR) with masks on are pictured behind the sales counter on the Team Nutz showroom floor.
Jones related “I like putting on the Santa suit and seeing people smile at Christmas time. On Thursday I visited a few dealers and spent some time on their sales floors. Team Nutz is a very good customer and I enjoyed spending time with their team and thanking them for their business.”
The team of Tom Mays, Ben Bjerknes, Chris Adams and Ian Spochacz has been very busy in the install bay at Team Nutz.
Over the past several weeks Team Nutz staff members have redoubled their efforts via social media channels to showcase their products and services. Team Nutz also offers a selection of PPE products as well as services area auto dealerships and construction companies with a variety of services.
DALLAS, TX (12.29.2020) – Nemesis Audio, maker of competition speakers and amplifiers since 2014, is shipping a new 33″ Competition Subwoofer. The subwoofer which falls under the “Team Nemesis”Category Line, packs a whopping 10,000W RMS Power, and comes with a 6” Flat Wire Voice Coil.
The new Nemesis 33” subwoofer tops 100 pounds and is pictured at the company’s Dallas TX HQ.
ERIE, PA (12.28.2020) – Custom Audio in Erie, PA began the company’s annual Holiday themed 6 Weeks ’til Christmas campaign on November 15th. Each week a new ‘Christmas Gift’ was offered. To enter for a chance to win a follower was required to like, comment and share the post. The winner of the previous week was selected each Monday and notified. A post was made of each winner with several weekly winners coming into the store to pick up their winning Christmas Gift. A post of that winner and gift was another opportunity for a post to connect with followers during the 6 Weeks ’til Christmas campaign.
Custom Audio kicked off their 6 Weeks ‘til Christmas campaign on November 15th with this social media post.
Reviewing the 6 Weeks ’til Christmas campaign company owner Sondralee Orengia offered, “The number of people participating in our Holiday campaign this year was definitely better than last year. The fact that more people were likely at home spending time on their phones probably led to the pretty strong increase.”
Week 1 winner was Karin Skalko.
Orengia utilized Random app from the Apple Store to select the weekly winners. Weekly prize offering posts were made on social media to both Instagram and Facebook.
Week 2 prize was a very useful Scosche smartphone cupholder.
Continuing, Orengia stated, “Customers were thrilled to come into the store to pick up their prizes. Custom Audio is a big proponent of “Shop Local” and several winners mentioned how important it is to support local retailers. Some winners had not been in our store before and they commented about our impressive showroom layout and indicated they would return to make a purchase in the future.”
The Week 3 prize provided the winner with a way to get connected.
Concluding, Orengia stated, “There were many comments made by followers during our 6 Weeks ’til Christmas campaign. Again in 2020 this was a very positive campaign which we plan to continue in future Holiday Seasons.”
Week 4 Winner Mike Kobylka in the store with his prizes.
Theresa Fullerton Abbey is pictured picking up her Week 5 WeatherTech prize.
Great job to Sondralee Orengia and the Custom Audio Team. It is terrific to see 12volt retailers reaching out via social media to connect with followers and consumers to drive store traffic and sales.
Gregory Michaels was the Week 6 Winner and had many options with his Custom Audio $100. Gift Card.
To help attendees navigate the unique all-digital experience of CES 2021, a live anchor desk will be part of the show — featuring familiar faces from the tech media world. This central command will help attendees explore the show, hear the latest news and view interviews on critical tech topics.
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