Patrick Industries, Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Rockford Corporation and the Rockford Fosgate Brand

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ELKHART, IN (02.25.22) – Patrick Industries, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement under which Arizona-based Rockford Corporation (“Rockford”) will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Patrick by merger. Rockford, through its brand Rockford Fosgate®, is a global leader in the design and distribution of premier, high-performance audio systems and components, primarily serving the powersports, marine, and automotive markets and aftermarkets. Rockford’s full-year 2021 revenues were approximately $155 million, and the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to net income per share. The Company anticipates completing the acquisition on or around March 7, 2022.

“Rockford’s innovative designs, marketing, brand recognition and performance have afforded it the opportunity to be a favored supplier with both OEM customers and consumers,” said Andy Nemeth, Chief Executive Officer of Patrick. “We are excited to partner with Bill Jackson and the creative team at Rockford as we expand our presence in the audio solutions markets.

“In addition, Rockford’s proven track record of consistently and creatively adapting to changing market dynamics, with its extensive in-house design, engineering, and marketing resources, provides us with an excellent opportunity to leverage our combined distribution capabilities and geographic footprint to bring synergies to our markets and continue to expand our aftermarket product platform. As with previous acquisitions, we will support Rockford with a financial and operational foundation that will allow it to continue to capitalize on its core competencies.”

Bill Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rockford, said, “The Rockford team and I are delighted to join the Patrick family, whose vision aligns with our goal of providing the highest quality, innovative solutions to our customers. We look forward to the next phase of executing the many strategic initiatives and opportunities in front of us. Patrick’s core values, competencies, relationships and strong focus on customer service mirror the mission that has been a cornerstone of the Rockford brand since its inception more than 40 years ago. We are committed to growing our capacity and capabilities as we strive to be the best partner for our customers.”

Following closing, Rockford will continue its operations as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Patrick under the Rockford Fosgate® name in its existing facilities.

Visit patrickind.com, rockfordcorp.com, and rockfordfosgate.com for more.

This article was provided by Patrick Industries, Inc via prnewswire.com

Massive Hires Vice President of Sales & Marketing / MAP Enforcement

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COMMERCE, CA (02.25.22) – Massive Audio is pleased to announce the addition of Hernando (JR) Mares as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. With over thirty years of experience in ODM/OEM and branded sales at ACTC/ Hollywood Sound Labs, SJA/Atomic, US AMPS/ RE audio and Deccon/H&N Brothers, JR Mares is an ideal candidate to improve Massive Audio’s positioning to meet increasing demand. He will be instrumental in leading Massive Audio’s development activities, and marketing while ensuring distributors, representatives and retailers have access to actionable new insights.

JR Mares in the well-stocked Massive Audio warehouse in Commerce, CA.

“I am thrilled to be part of the ‘Massive Audio Revolution’, lead business efforts and extend the team to better serve our representatives, distributors, and customers.” I had previously served customers and competed against Massive Audio for many years. I noticed the product do very well in the competition lanes. Their designs had noteworthy features, although like many OEM/ODM companies, they were focused on manufacturing instead of marketing and lacked emphasize on product intricacies or properly explaining innovative characteristics. After having heard many good things about the products, people and that the company was embracing change, I was delighted to join the team.

Corey Hyler shows a selection of new Massive Audio products.

Massive Audio has many new and exciting changes happening starting in March. Serial number tracking, new call to action ads, and the hiring of Map Cops to better control and enforce pricing on the web which will ensure our brick-and-mortar customers are profitable with the Massive Audio line. We will also launch Free giveaway programs each month to increase brand awareness and allow us to gather and send leads to our retailers. Also, by promoting the additional 9-Month Pro Install warranty and 30-day over the counter exchange that dealers can offer to customers, we will show our dedication to being all-in on driving business to our brick and mortar partners.

“Shipments are arriving regularly; we are almost at capacity so now more than ever is a great time to Get Massive!”

Visit www.massiveaudio.com for more.

GHC Automotive Received an Extra Special Highlight at KnowledgeFest in Vegas

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CORONA, CA (02.25.22) – Greg Delgado and Khody Carter of GCH Automotive recently attended KnowledgeFest 2022 in Las Vegas and were greeted with open arms… LITERALLY!

Greg Delgado (L)-GCH and George Smith, Mobileworks owner,  in an aisle at KFest in Vegas. Smith smiles and holds the $100. he signed for Delgado to Give to Santiago Serrano for doing such a great job at GCH.

“Not only was the show a fantastic experience with a collection of 12 volt specialists focused on knowledge expansion and getting to experience the latest and greatest in technology for cars, but it was a perfect forum to step out into the open with our new line of products core focused on the specialist in mind,” Greg Delgado related.

Santiago Serrano (L) is a happy camper as he receives the $100. that George Smith signed. Greg Delgado, disguised as George Smith, handing over the $100 in the GCH Corona, CA office.

Delgado continued, “As we began the first day, we were greeted immediately by George Smith, Owner of Mobileworks Santa Maria. Mobileworks has been a valued GCH dealer for years. He was elated to see us and proceeded to tell me of his TOP LINE experience with Santiago Serrano, who is head of technical support for GCH and Lead Project Manager. In fact, his satisfaction was so strong that he proceeded to reach into his wallet and pull out a CRISP $100 dollar bill. He then signed it and asked me to make sure Santiago received it as a small token of appreciation for all of the hard work and commitment to his products and serving dealers like George Smith at Mobileworks.”

“It’s really great to do something special for a dedicated employee of a valued vendor partner. GCH is on top of their game and Santiago Serrano goes the extra mile to deliver TOP LINE service” George Smith related outside his Mobileworks location in Santa Maria, CA.

Concluding, Delgado stated, “The above is proof positive that good things happen in our industry all the time and an occasional thank you goes a long way. But when it is topped with a SWEET HUNDO, well that is a very special thanks I’m sure any one of us would like to receive! An extra big Thanks George!!

Visit gchauto.com for more.

GCH Automotive Systems
Corona, CA 92878
951-847-6299

GoFast Solutions Announces the 2022 Mobile Expo

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MIDDLETOWN, CT (02.24.22) – GoFast Solutions is excited to announce the official date for the 2022 Mobile Expo… April 6th at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA from 9 AM-6 PM.

“The Mobile Expo is the traditional kick-off to the season,” said David Prinz CEO of GoFast Solutions. “As the weather starts to turn and the days get longer, consumers are anxious to break out recreational vehicles (cars, ATVs, boats, motorcycles, etc.) that were stored for the winter.”

Last year, GoFast held the Mobile Expo virtually… this year, it’s back Live and in-person and bigger than ever! GoFast, together with the Mobile Expo Platinum Sponsors, is offering attendees the opportunity to win nearly $2 Million. Three Grand Prizes are sponsored by some of the biggest names in the Mobile Electronics industry. Sony ES is sponsoring the $1 Million Challenge, Boss Audio is sponsoring the $500k Challenge, and Diamond Audio is sponsoring the $250k Challenge.

David expounds, “These are potentially Life-Changing prizes, but the truth is that simply attending Mobile Expo 2022 and investing the time into your business, meeting with 40+ vendors, and getting specialized training & product knowledge is guaranteed to impact your business exponentially.”

This One-Day Only Live Show will Feature:

  • Keynote Speaker Chris Cook from the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA)
  • Live Training & Presentations
  • New Product Launches
  • Catered Breakfast & Lunch
  • Cocktail Hour
  • Prizes & Giveaways
  • Networking Opportunities

The 2022 GoFast Solutions Mobile Expo is being held LIVE & In-Person at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 6th, from 9 am – 6 pm.

Click here to register for the 2022 GoFast Mobile Expo

Visit expo.gofst.com for more.

DEI Sponsorship Program Now Accepting Applications

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AVON LAKE, OH (02.24.22) – Be part of a proven winning lineup by applying to the Design Engineering Inc. 2022 Sponsorship Program.

Offering heat and sound control products and support to all corners of the automotive aftermarket, the sponsorship program is looking to partner with quality builders, race teams and exciting vehicles.

“You use the best heat and sound control products in your build or race car, and we let the world know about it,” said Will Farkas, Sponsorship Coordinator for DEI. “Team DEI isn’t just a sponsorship—it is an elite group of the best of the best.”

DEI-sponsored racers and projects over the years have included Street Machine and Hot Rod of the Year honorees, Barrett-Jackson Cup winners, national and international driver and rider champions, and world-renowned builders.

A Team DEI Sponsorship includes:

  • The highest-quality products for improved performance
  • High-profile coverage through DEI’s social media & marketing outlets
  • Elite partnership opportunities, with full product & technical support

In return, sponsored partners will be expected to showcase the performance and quality of DEI products including through a profile on CarBuffNetwork.com, help increase brand awareness and loyalty, and provide high-quality content for the company’s marketing initiatives.

To get started, simply head to the Sponsorship page on the DEI site at designengineering.com/sponsorships/. Click on “Fill out an application,” follow the steps and send it in.

Design Engineering Intros Miata Door Vibration Kit

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AVON LAKE, OH (02.24.22) – Close the door on annoying rattles, squeaks and vibrations in your Mazda Miata with the new Door Vibration Damping Kit (#50296) from Design Engineering, Inc.

Suitable for use on all Miata years and models, the door-specific kits include four 6″x12″ pre-cut Boom Mat® material pieces and two 2″x24″ tape strips for complete coverage.

“This Door Kit reduces noise and vibrations from the metal body, and keeps interiors quiet, with improved interior acoustics,” stated Mike Buca of DEI.

Boom Mat easily forms to bends and curves, and is thin and pliable enough to fit into tight spaces. An easy-to-peel self-adhesive backing makes the attractive black material simple to install.

The new Door Kit joins two other offerings for total Miata coverage. DEI’s 1990-2005 Miata Vibration Damping Kit (#50600) is a nine-piece complete interior solution for the Mazda’s metal floor, firewall, rear bulkhead and rear deck.

The next step is to add ultra-level comfort by installing DEI’s Mazda Miata Pre-Cut Insulation Kit (#50295) that replaces existing padding and insulation with the company’s engineered UC Lite material.

For more information about the new Miata Door Kit, related Miata products, and DEI’s complete line of performance heat and sound control products, visit www.DesignEngineering.com.

Team Nutz at the 2022 Pittsburgh International Auto Show with a 7,000 Square Foot Booth

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PITTSBURGH, PA (02.23.22) – The Pittsburgh International Auto Show was back at the David L Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh February 18th-21st. The 4-Day show, that included President’s Day, brought exciting new vehicles, displays, products and fun for the whole family. In all the show featured 21 makes and models of vehicles from around the world.

This image shows just part of the Team Nutz 7000 square-foot booth.

Team Nutz, proactive 12volt and automotive aftermarket retailer, was once again on site. This year, the Team Nutz occupied a 7000 square foot booth in the Convention Center. Team Nutz has been exhibiting at the Pittsburg Auto Show for over 15 years. During the show at times there were 16 members of the Team Nutz crew engaged with show attendees in meaningful one-on-one conversations.

The wheel display saw a lot of action and drove Monday in-store sales.

For Team Nutz Ed Nuttall stated “Our booth was filled with demo vehicles, a big selection of wheels, OEM Display, a Marine display, a wide variety of product displays plus live installations of vehicle wraps, bed liner jobs, paint protection polishing, window tinting, leather Katzkin seat installations and DSP audio demos. One of the wrap demos projects was a full wrap of our new 24’ Team Nutz Trailer. With bed liner we are actually coating the bodies of pickups and cars. A Mustang in our booth was an example that drew a lot of attention.”

The on-site wrap of the new Team Nutz was a live demo that lasted throughout the event.

Nuttall Continued  “Standouts for demo vehicles was the International All Ways Safe truck loaded with Memphis Audio that debuted at SEMA 2021. Vince Murray’s Gladiator highlighting a wide range of Metra products grabbed attention throughout the show…along with the Corvette C8 with Lambo doors. Our Auto Magic delivery truck also helped get the word out about all our car care products.”

There was plenty for show goers to see in the huge Team Nutz area.

On Monday following the Auto Show the phone at the store was ringing off the hook. One of the first customers at the store picked up a $2500. set of wheels he saw at the show. All of this while Team Nutz was still manning the booth on President’s day.

This Mustang demo in the booth featured a body painted with bed liner.

“With the large crowd at the event over the 4 days I know we had probably more than 5000 direct conversations with attendees. We also passed out a ton of lanyards, stickers and koozies. We had 2500 business cards and ran out. With all that interaction we anticipate a considerable amount of business from the event. We definitely look forward to being back at the Pittsburg International Auto Show in 2023” Nuttall concluded.

Visit teamnutztechnology.com for more.

Real Performance Marketing Team Members Connect During a 4-Day Retreat

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BUFORD, GA (02.23.22) – “Real Performance Marketing had its first in-person retreat and meeting in Chattanooga TN the weekend of January 28th through the 31st. We gathered together our seven team members that live in six different states for the first time. The long weekend included a very productive 3-hour roundtable discussion on a variety of topics and time to get out and explore the vibrant Chattanooga area” firm Principal Scott Hochmuth related.

L to R: Scott Hochmuth, Marta Coplen, Todd Newell, Rebecca McLaurin, Jay McLaurin, John Gray, Jason Upchurch

For the firm’s retreat they secured a large residence to maximize the time and relaxed setting team members had together. Like many companies in the 12volt industry 2021 was a very strong year and the firm registered an increase in sales that topped 40% over the preceding year. “Growth in the Powersports category definitely was a driver in the 2021 sales increase” Hochmuth related.

RPM represents lines like Wetsounds, Arc Audio, Audiofrog, Aunex, MB Quart, MTX, and Carbine – as well as several well-known Powersports lines in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic areas.”

As February draws to a close sales for the first 2 months of 2022 remain strong at Real Performance Marketing.

Visit realperformancemarketing.net for more.

HKI USA Introduces Ground Zero Iridium Line

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DANIA BEACH, FL & EGMATING, GERMANY (02.23.22) – HKI USA is excited to announce a new product to excite car audio dealers to the concept of Pro SQ, while maintaining simple installation and without breaking the bank.

The GZIC 165.2SPL is the newest creation from Ground Zero Car Audio in the Iridium line, that bridges the gap between Pro Audio and Entry Level car audio. This kit allows for a pro style car build with components that are a lot more familiar and traditional. Taking advantage of the new GZCT 25M Competition Line 25mm tweeter, and pairing it with an all new Pro based 6.5” mid bass driver designed around the improved Iridium cone, this kit helps dealers and customers obtain a little more than a standard style kit, without stepping over to the need for custom fabrication with larger pro style componentry.

“This addition to our line up is just another step in helping our car audio retailers be able to offer their clients the complete solution under the Ground Zero brand” says Jacob Brown of HKI USA.

For more information or to become an authorized HKI USA retailer, contact your local sales representative or email HKI USA at info@hki-usa.com

Mobile Electronics Association Presents 2022 Industry Award Winners

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LAS VEGAS, NV (02.22.22) – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) announced the winners of the 2022 Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. The awards were presented Sunday evening at the conclusion of a successful KnowledgeFest Las Vegas event. The awards recognize and honor professionals in the mobile electronics industry that exhibit outstanding service, business ethics, professionalism, and expertise in their field.

Chris Cook, President of MEA, hosted the event which was attended in person and viewed online by thousands of industry professionals, including family and friends, from the United States and around the globe. Top honors for Installer of the Year went to Marty Adamschek of Andres Electronics – Courtenay, BC. Retailer of the Year was awarded to Titan Motoring – Nashville, TN. Sales Pro of the Year went to Robert Kowatch – Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security – Anchorage, AK. and Trusted Tech of the Year went to Adam Devine – Devine Concepts – Naples, FL. Vendor of the Year went to HKI USA and Distributor of the Year went to DOW Electronics.

Click to view the full list of winners

“Congratulations to all the nominees, finalist, award winners”, stated Chris Cook, MEA President. “Their accomplishments set a high standard for the Mobile Electronics Industry.” Going forward, MEA will continue to hold the Industry Awards at KnowledgeFest Las Vegas.

Visit https://meindustryawards.com/2022-winners for more.