The CMA EXPO Scored Big on the Event Floor and in Packed Training Sessions

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TORONTO, CANADA (04.05.23) – From Friday, March 24th, through Sunday, March 26th, over 300 mobile enhancement experts from retailers across Canada assembled in Toronto to attend the first-ever CMA Expo dealer training and networking event. The CMA EXPO was a collaborative effort to connect retailers, distributors and leading top Industry trainers. The team at CMA Networks executed the event which showcased booths and training seminars from the leading Canadian 12v distributors which featured over 80 brands, making it a unique offering in the Mobile Electronics Industry.

What made the event unique was the ability for dealers to work with their sales representatives to place booking orders and kick off the 2023 season with some serious momentum and knowledge. The success of the CMA EXPO can be attributed to the unwavering support of Canadian retailers, the tireless efforts of the industry leading trainers, the incredible participation of the exhibiting distributors and their partnering brands. In addition, each company had access to classroom-style training rooms to provide in-person education sessions on product features and applications.

Attendees waiting for the opening bell
Over 80 brands were featured on the event floor.

Frank Spezzano, the President and Executive Producer of CMA Networks, noted, “being able to provide retailers across Canada with an event that was custom-tailored to our country’s unique business model worked perfectly to launch the 2023 season. The support from all the companies and retailers involved was remarkable.. We are honoured to have been chosen to facilitate this distinguished gathering of professionals.

” Ben Woo, Content Director and Webcast Host for CMA Networks added, “I think the appetite for the Canadian 12V industry to get back to the in-person experience that only a live event can deliver was definitely long overdue. There’s still a buzz about the ‘Delivering the Best Car Audio Systems’ and ‘The A to Z of Car Audio Retailer Marketing’ presentations from Friday and Saturday evening.”

Rick De Sclafani showcased his RDV products in expansive Importel Ltd area.
CMA EXPO training sessions were packed.

Hot on the heels of this event’s success, planning is underway for next years CMA EXPO. Information will be available at www.cmaexpo.ca.

CMA Networks would like to send a special thank you to all our exhibiting partners for making the inaugural CMA EXPO a huge success.

The N&H 2023 Dealer Show on Saturday April 1st Rocked… No Foolin’!

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HATTIESBURG MS (04.03.23) – “The N&H Dealer Show retuned and it was terrific to see members of our dealer family lined up at the door on Saturday morning. We had more dealers signed up for this show than any of our past dealer shows and the dealer turnout was great. Our last show was 3 years ago and connecting with our dealers Saturday was special. Dealers were upbeat and excited to connect with area reps and see new products. They also took advantage of the super specials we offered, many won a prize in dealer drawing. The drawing prizes totaled $6000 and of course all enjoyed the delicious lunch from the Mack’s West Catfish Truck. In fact they served 103 lunches” Ricky Gibson related.

The doors opened at 11AM and dealers registered and went to the aisles to see new products from over 30 top brands with special show prices. A number of factory reps were in the house to cover the product features and connect with dealers from across the territory. The famous catfish truck pulled up in the parking lot and lunch was served beginning at 1PM. The show officially wrapped at 5PM.

Dealers lined up to register for the N&H on Saturday, April 1st.
Dealers filled the aisles and booths soon after the doors opened.

Sunday appointments were scheduled and Gibson related, during a Sunday morning phone call with the 12volt Central Studios, “The N&H crew mentioned how excited dealers were at the show yesterday. Several dealers made appointments and placed orders today. A couple dealers called this morning and added to the orders they placed yesterday at the show. Monday and Tuesday we will be shipping freight orders and our van will be making delivers across Mississippi and Louisiana this week.”

Mark Sealy works with a dealer in the warehouse as a dealer fills his cart.
Jeff Falk making a PowerBass presentation.

Continuing Gibson shared some highlights from Saturday. “Metra showcased new products under the company umbrella with Carlos and Mike traveling from the Metra HQ in Holly Hill Fl. Heise Lighting grabbed attention. PowerBass, with Jeff Falk National Sales Manager, excited dealers with their all inclusive OEM Direct Fit plug and play speakers which are fantastic and reduce dealer install times. PowerBass SoundBars were hot too. His video presentation on the big screen during lunch was well received. KICKER, JVC Mobile, Soundstream, Power Acoustik and Rydeen were covered by Tech Marketing’s Rickie Holtzman in the house. Richie spotlighted the new JVC KWZ1000W with 10.1” screen. Dave Gill, SMS Marketing, was on site and covered the DB Drive and Bazooka brands he reps in the territory. Bob Anderson, N Motion, highlighted the new Massive Audio single DIN with DSP onboard in the booth.”

Mack’s West CatFish Truck pulled into the lot and set up for a delicious hot lunch.
Mike from Advanced Audio is all smiles with his Bazooka drawing prize.

Wayne Holton, Audio Solutions 49, has been attending the N&H Dealer Show for years and headed south from Florence for the 85 miles to attend this years show.

Concluding Gibson stated “It’s tax season time and our super show specials will add profit for dealers who took advantage of the specials. Some dealers took their orders with them for Monday morning sales. The N&H team was excited to see all dealers at our 2023 Dealer Show and look forward the the 2024 N&H Dealer Show.”

The N&H Team as the event wrapper…Ricky Gibson, Van Lee, Josh Long, Scott Rogers, Michael Figemo (LtoR). Seated Debbie Lowery and Mark Sealy. Check out the orders to be shipped in the background.

Visit nandhelectronics.com for more.

ZZ2 Announces a New Addition to the Lexus ZZPLAY Family

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PALM BEACH, FL (04.03.23) – ZZ2 has announced another great addition to the Lexus ZZPLAY family. The new ITZ-GX-A is compatible with Lexus GX460 with factory navigation from 2014-2021.

The ITZ-GX-A provides a wireless CarPlay and Android Auto solution for most Lexus GX460, fully integrated with the factory touchscreen. The new GX kit allows the customer to use the factory mic, Bluetooth (for phone calls), retaining the factory audio quality during phone calls. It also supports Siri and Google assistant, for voice commands, and it provides a front and rear camera input, USB playback and it allows drivers to mirror their smartphone. With the ITZ-GX-A there is a solution for all Lexus models from 2013-2021.

The ITZ-GX-A is now available and it retails for $850. It comes with our standard ZZ2 warranty of 3 years.

Click above to watch the ITZ-GX-A demo video. For more details please check our website for more details about it.

To know about ZZ2 solutions and also to become an authorized dealer please contact our sales team at 929-220-1212 or email us at sales@zz-2.com.

Visit www.zz-2.com for more.

Major League Baseball’s Full 2023 Season Available Nationwide on SiriusXM

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NEW YORK, NY (04.03.23) – SiriusXM will continue to provide the most comprehensive national audio coverage available for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Starting with tomorrow’s Opening Day presented by Chevrolet and all through the Postseason, SiriusXM will provide subscribers access to live play-by-play of every game, as well as 24/7 news, talk and expert analysis on the exclusive MLB Network Radio channel.

MLB Network Radio (channel 89) will broadcast live on Opening Day from Nationals Park, where the Washington Nationals will host their National League East rivals, the Atlanta Braves. Former general managers Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips will host live from the ballpark starting at 10:00 am ET. On April 6 at 1:00 pm ET Phillips and Duquette will head to Baltimore for a live broadcast from Camden Yards, where the Orioles will play their home opener against the New York Yankees. MLB Network Radio is available to subscribers nationwide in the cars (channel 89) and on the SXM App: https://siriusxm.us/2Pdwnu6

The SiriusXM podcast Baseball Bar-B-Cast will also be heading out on the road for a special April 8 broadcast from Camden Yards. The podcast’s hosts, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, will record in front of a live public audience at Section 771 outside of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. With new episodes available three times a week, Baseball Bar-B-Cast gives fans a fun and entertaining perspective on the world of baseball.

Tomorrow’s Opening Day also marks the return of a new season of SiriusXM’s award-winning podcast series Black Diamonds. Hosted by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president and historian Bob Kendrick, the podcast showcases the history of the Negro Leagues, highlighting the players, people, and events that shaped them. In the premiere episode Kendrick talks to Sony Brand Strategist Ramone Russell about bringing the Negro Leagues to life in this year’s edition of the video game MLB: The Show. Episode two, available the following Thursday, will feature a conversation with Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker about becoming the third Black manager to win a World Series, and more.

Listeners get the most in-depth coverage of the league 365 days a year with MLB Network Radio. MLB Network Radio’s roster of expert hosts includes former GMs Jim Bowden, Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips, former players David Aardsma, Kevin Frandsen, Chris Gimenez, Jensen Lewis, Brad Lidge, CJ Nitkowski, Eduardo Perez, Ricky Romero, Xavier Scruggs, Ryan Spilborghs and Mike Stanton, former manager Kevin Kennedy, national baseball writers Tyler Kepner, Scott Miller and Jon Morosi, as well as Robert Brender, Jenny Cavnar, Mike Ferrin, Dan Graca, Jeff Joyce, Jim Memolo, Grant Paulsen, Ed Randall and Dani Wexelman.

Throughout the season, listeners will hear regular one-on-one interviews with several managers including: Alex Cora (Red Sox), AJ Hinch (Tigers), Bob Melvin (Padres), Rocco Baldelli (Twins), Derek Shelton (Pirates), Terry Francona (Guardians), Mark Kotsay (Athletics), Scott Servais (Mariners), Torey Lovullo (Diamondbacks), Dave Roberts (Dodgers), Bud Black (Rockies), and Brandon Hyde (Orioles).

MLB Network Radio also re-airs Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo’s MLB Network show, High Heat with Christopher Russo presented by Liberty Mutual, every weekday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET as well as simulcasts of additional MLB Network television programming, including the flagship studio show MLB Tonight on weeknights at 6:00 pm ET.

The SXM App offers 30 play-by-play channels dedicated to streaming the official radio broadcasts of every MLB team, giving fans the choice between the home and visiting team announcers for every game, all season long. All 30 MLB play-by-play channels are also available on vehicles equipped with SiriusXM with 360L radios.

For a schedule of games and where to find them on SiriusXM go to SiriusXM.com/Sports.

RDV and Importel LTD Connected with Dealers Across Canada at the CMA Expo in Toronto

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TORONTO, CANADA (03.31.23) – RDV Automotive Technology, the go to company for Wireless CarPlay integration, is proud to have attended the CMA Expo with their exclusive partner Importel LTD.

Rich De Sclafani, the owner of RDV Automotive Technology, said about the CMA Expo and the new partnership: “I am immensely happy to have partnered with Importel LTD. The CMA Expo was a huge success for both RDV and Importel LTD. The RDV training was a packed house and the response from all the event attendees was great! It was so nice to see everyone there, many who I have not seen in many, years and many who I met for the first time. Overall it was an amazing event and the CMA crew put together a truly top notch event”.

Rich De Sclafani had the RDV booth in the Importel LTD section set when the CMA Expo floor opened.
Soon after the CMA Expo doors Rich De Sclafani connected with attendees to show the RDV products.

Importel Ltd, as a leader in mobile electronics distribution industry in Canada, is excited to partner with RDV Automotive Technology and bring the industry leading Wireless CarPlay Integration to the market across Canada.

In a networking minute De Sclafani (C) and Importel LTD President Trevor Patrick (R) listen to Paul Trueman-SiriusXM who traveled from the US for the CMA Expo.
De Sclafani conducting a packed RDV Training session.

Trevor Patrick, Imported LTD President, related “It was terrific to have Rich and RDV in the Imported LTD world on the CMA Expo floor. He showcased the RDV product lineup to virtually every attendee at the event. In addition the trailing session he conducted delivered the RDV message to the members of the audience. His training was packed and I wish we could have had an additional training session.”

Importel LTD is now shipping the RDV Automotive Technology products from both their Eastern and Western warehouses.

Please visit RDVFL.com and importel.com for more.

ADi to Be Exclusive Distributor for Eton Audio in US

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VACAVILLE, CA (03.31.23) – Aegis Distribution Incorporated (ADi) has announced its agreement with Eton Car-Audio GmbH of Neu-Ulm, Germany, makers of Eton car audio loudspeakers and amplifiers, to become the exclusive distributor of their car audio products in the USA.

“We have been fans of the Eton products since the 90s,” stated Scott Welch, President of ADi, “but they’ve been hard to get in the US. We consider ourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to change that. Eton produces a wide range of top performing speakers from their middle ranges to their esoteric audiophile separates. In addition to speakers, Eton has developed some remarkable compact amplifiers that are both great sounding and bullet proof, making them ideal for the ride-it-like-you-stole-it American consumer.”

“Not only do we get a great lineup out of the gate with Eton,” Welch continued. “But they have products coming during the year that will take both the esoteric speaker category and DSP/Amplifiers up to a new level. So it’s going to be an exciting 2023 for us.”

Eton Audio, founded in 1983, has long since been known for their quality “Made in Germany” car audio products. Their manufacturing standards, combined with over 40 years of loudspeaker development, make for top tier products that you can both see and hear.

ADi, headquartered in Vacaville, California, was formed in 2022 by a group of manufacturers and investors with the goal of bringing high-end car audio products to the Americas, tailored and fine tuned to fit the unique needs of these regions.

For more information or dealer inquiries, please contact ADi at sales@aegisdis.com or by phone at 707.446.6749.

Last Chance to Participate in the SEMA Show’s Early Booth Space Selection Process

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DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.31.23) – The road to the 2023 SEMA Show begins with the annual Priority Selection Process—where companies choose a Show floor location based on exhibitor seniority. The process literally builds the SEMA Show section by section, booth by booth.

“It is like the order of a pro sports draft; we rank each exhibitor by seniority, determined by how many SEMA Shows an exhibitor has participated in and by Show section,” said Andy Tompkins, SEMA’s trade show director. “To do this, we call every single exhibitor; we speak to brands that are just starting out, all the way to established companies that have been part of the Show for years.”

Every approved exhibitor that submits their Exhibit Space Rental Application (ESRA) and deposit prior to the April 3 deadline has the opportunity to select their booth space. During the exhibitor’s time to pick, a SEMA Show account representative will call the primary SEMA Show contact and help locate and assign the exhibit space that best suits the company’s needs.

“This is a fair and equitable way for companies to select their best possible location—part of our commitment to providing the best exhibit experience possible,” Tompkins said. “We even have tie-breakers built into the system in case companies have the same seniority. The process is never the same, which is one of the ways we keep the SEMA Show so cool, exciting and new each year.”

One of the most important aspects for having a successful Show is pre-Show marketing and promotion. The Priority Selection Process allows exhibitors to understand their Show floor location and how large their exhibit is going to be so they can begin to envision their display design, product presentation, staffing and promote their presence at the Show.

“This process creates the Show floorplan that we publish each year, which buyers, media and other Show attendees preview, helping to promote participating brands to a world of buying power and getting thousands of people ready to attend and work the Show like a pro,” Tompkins said.

To date, nearly 1,500 companies have committed to exhibiting at the 2023 SEMA Show. Organizers expect the number to increase to more than 2,000 by Show time. See who is exhibiting.

There is still time to get involved in this process; submit your ESRA application by April 3! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the world’s most iconic buying organizations, media, manufacturers and influencers.

The 2023 SEMA Show will  be held October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas. For more information about exhibiting, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor or check out the exhibitor brochure.

The N&H 2023 Dealer Show Is This Saturday April 1st… No Foolin’

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HATTIESBURG, MS (03.30.23) – “The N&H Dealer Show is back and we can’t wait to see members of our dealer family lined up at the door this Saturday morning. We have more dealers signed up for this show than any of our past dealer shows. Our last show was 3 years ago and we are excited about seeing our dealers this Saturday.” Ricky Gibson related.

The doors open at 11AM when dealers can fill the aisles to see new products from over 30 top brands with special show special prices. A number of factory reps will be in the house to cover the product features and connect with dealers from across the territory. The famous catfish truck will pull up in the parking lot and lunch will be served at 1PM. The show officially wraps at 5PM. Sunday appointments can be scheduled.

Previous distributor shows this spring have been very well attended with excited dealers being very happy to see new products and connect with reps and other dealers.

Continuing Gibson shared some highlights to come. “Metra will be here showcasing new products under the company umbrella with Mike Demeter traveling from the Metra HQ in Holly Hill Fl. We will show the new JVC 1000z 1with 10.1” screen. PowerBass, with Jeff Falk National Sales Manager, will excite the dealers with their all inclusive OEM plug and play speakers which are fantastic and reduce dealer install times. KICKER will talk about their new products with Tech Marketing’s Rickie Holtzman in the house…also with JVC, Rydeen, PowerBass and Soundstream. DB Drive will hit on their hot motorcycle category lineup. Massive Audio has introduced their new single DIN with DSP onboard with Bob Anderson in the booth. AAMP has a broad lineup and will be displayed across several tables.”

Wayne Horton, Audio Solutions 49, related “I have been attending the N&H Dealer Show for years and am excited about heading south for this years show.”

Members of the N&H Dealer Family just finished a delicious catfish lunch at the 2018 Dealer Show with Ricky Gibson up front.

Concluding Gibson stated “It’s tax season time and our super show specials will add profit for dealers who take advantage of the specials. Dealers can take orders with them and have our specials in stock for Monday morning sales. The N&H team looks forward to seeing all this Saturday, April 1st.”

Visit nandhelectronics.com for more.

​Alpine Hosted a Dealer Training in the Houston, TX

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HOUSTON, TX (03.30.23) – Wednesday, March 22nd, was the date of the latest Alpine Training for Houston TX area dealers. The location was Pappas BBQ in Houston, TX. Alpine invited both Direct Alpine Dealers & Tri-State Enterprises Alpine Dealers to the event.

When dealers arrived at Pappa’s BBQ for the Alpine training they were directed upstairs to the private Party Room.

The training was conducted by Alpine’s Texas based Brand Specialist, Dan Greenwood. Dan also brought the Alpine Toyota Tundra Demo Truck equipped with a completely new system for 2023, featuring Status Series Hi-Res Amps, Speakers, DSP & Head Unit.

The newest addition to the Tundra system is Alpine’s brand-new R Series Shallow Subwoofer Enclosures, which feature the new RS series shallow subwoofers. Dealers were able to come away with valuable information about many new products that Alpine is shipping NOW for 2023!

Dan Greenwood, Alpine’s Texas-based Brand Specialist, set to get the Alpine training meeting started.
Lucky Alpine Turn 1 Bluetooth Speaker winners flank Dan Greenwood. Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Buluc from Stereo Max are both with Houston-based 12volt retailers.

There was a lot of excitement about the new product – especially the new RS Shallow woofers. Jake Jesty, from Sound Evolution in Houston, said “These are the best sounding shallow woofers on the market. They sound just like a standard woofer…but with less than 3.5” of depth needed!”

In addition to tasty hot BBQ from Pappa’s, Alpine also gave away Turn 1 Bluetooth Speakers to two lucky attendees. The winners were Eli Larios from Xochilt Car Audio and Lucas Bulux from Stereo Max. Both stores are located in Houston, TX.

Andy Allen, Alpine Brand Representative in the South Texas, contributed this coverage of the Alpine Houston training.

Visit alpine-usa.com for more

VAIS Technology Releases SiriusXM Add-On Adapter for 2020-23 GM & GMC

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ENGLEWOOD, CO (03.30.23) – VAIS Technology has released new satellite radio integrated solutions specifically designed for 2022-23 GM and GMC vehicles. This solution allows owners of these models to add SiriusXM satellite radio to their existing factory stereo, without compromising factory functionality.

“Since 2003, VAIS Technology have been developing satellite radio adapters for vehicles that aren’t equipped from the factory with SiriusXM tuners,” Dennis Hopper, EVP, says. “While satellite radio is more popular than ever, many new OEM vehicles still don’t come equipped from the factory with satellite tuners. For 2023 several more OEM’s have removed satellite tuners from their platforms. Over the last few years Ford, Honda, Kia, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedes, and other have removed satellite tuners from their base model vehicles. VAIS Technology develops simple, easy to install integrated solutions that add satellite radio, but preserve factory functions.”

The new kits provide coverage for new GM and GMC models. Also, all these models are compatible with the GSR-UV01 (universal unit) which can be flashed using online software. This allows dealers to only stock one unit to do almost all applications. This adapter connects directly to the original factory radio and allows the vehicle owner to listen to satellite radio through the existing factory system. The VAIS integrated solution also allows for full control of satellite radio functions – changing stations, setting presets, steering wheel functions, etc.

GSR-GM05 and GSR-UV01 is available for order now. Retail price is $349.99 with SXV300 tuner included.

Visit vaistech.com for more.