HAMILTON, OH (12.19.2019) – Dynamic Control and Celsus UK are celebrating a 10-year partnership. Celsus UK distributes Dynamat products across Europe.

Dynamat’s Scott Whitaker stated “Dynamic Control is very fortunate to have partners like Celsus who is our sales force, marketing arm and distribution point in Europe. No one could ask for a more knowledgeable, capable and enthusiastic group as a partner in business.”

Mark Baker, commenting for Celsus UK, “Good business is built on solid relationships, people buy from people. We think this is equally important in the digital age as it ever has been in our industry. Celsus UK is proud to have been representing Dynamat, the Ohio-based noise and heat control brand, for 10 years in Europe. Celsus UK’s enthusiasm for the Dynamat product line, and people behind it, has meant we have steadily grown the brand across different sectors. Working together we have developed a passionate and knowledgeable network of distributors, retailers and installers across many countries this side of the pond.”

Continuing Baker added “2019 saw the 10 year anniversary of Celsus representing Dynamat and we are very fortunate to have the best product in the industry as part of our range. Scott, Beth and their team are fantastic people to work with and the product’s reputation and performance is second to none. As a distributor you certainly can not ask for much more.”

In recent years, Celsus UK has seen great growth in the classic car and marine segments. In the European marketplace Dynamat continues to be the go to solution for audio specialists.

Whitaker added “Celsus UK services the auto, home and marine audio segments as well as the OE and industrial markets. They do everything in their territory that we do here in the US minus manufacture of the product. We couldn’t be more proud and happy with Paul, Mark, Mike and their team.”

Visit dynamat.com celsusice.co.uk for more.

TORONTO, CANADA (12.18.2019) – A date and venue have been announced for the inaugural 2020 Canadian Mobile Audio Expo. Car Audio and 12-Volt accessory manufacturers, distributors and retailers from across Canada are invited to congregate in Toronto at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre on April 5, 6, and 7, 2020.

The event will serve three key functions for the 12V industry. First, retailers will get hands-on experience and training on the latest products and solutions for the 2020 season. Second, we have arranged educational seminars featuring many of the top fabricators and trainers in the industry to teach new installation, sales and management skills. Finally, and most importantly, the Canadian Mobile Audio Expo is an opportunity for retailers to network with their peers from around the country.

“It’s been inspiring to watch how manufacturers and distributors from coast to coast have rallied to make this event a reality. A project of this magnitude is only possible because every 12V distributor agrees that proper education and training for specialty retailers is essential to growing and improving the Canadian mobile enhancement market,” said CMA Expo Event Director, Frank Spezzano.

Dave MacKinnon, Education Director, went on to add, “Manufacturers and distributors exhibiting at the event have demonstrated a vested interest in supporting specialist retailers across the country. As automotive enhancement services have become exponentially more complicated, training and manufacturer support are mandatory not only to succeed; but to survive in this industry. I’m in awe of the support we’ve seen, and am looking forward to working with some of the most talented experts in the industry to raise the bar for the Canadian market. We plan to kick the event off with a keynote presentation on how the digital world has evolved retail sales and the customer experience.” Details of the manufacturer and education seminars will be posted on the event website as the final schedule is confirmed.

Registration for the event will be available on the website starting on December 27th, 2019.

For more information on the Canadian Mobile Audio Expo, please visit www.cmaexpo.ca. For information about exhibiting at the show, contact Frank Spezzano at frank@cmaexpo.ca.

Visit facebook.com/MobileAudioExpo for more.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (12.17.2019) – Many SEMA-member manufacturers, distributors and retailers have been impacted by the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court Wayfair decision that allows states to require sales tax collections based solely on the volume of sales into that state (economic nexus).

The Court overturned its 1992 Quill decision, which previously required a company to have a physical presence before it could be compelled to collect sales tax.

SEMA has compiled resources to help companies understand whether Wayfair impacts their business and provide additional information to help them respond if necessary.

Cash-strapped states have quickly implemented their new authority to require tax collection. Nearly all 45 states that collect sales tax have updated their regulations accordingly. There is no one national standard. Rather, each state is setting minimum dollar thresholds that trigger collection. In some states, that threshold may also be tied to the number of sales transactions—for example, $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions annually into that state.

Visit sema.org for more.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (12.16.2019) – The lead graphic on the Exotic Sounds’ 3-panel Friday the 13th Instagram post was an attention grabber. The shiny Porsche 911 front quarter panel, highlighting the extra clean wheel, invited a look from the company’s followers. In the background was the company’s signage on the building reading “Car Stereo & Custom Automotive by Exotic Sounds & Wheel Company. A follower would certainly associate Exotic Sounds as a top quality shop for Car Stereo and Custom Automotive products along with Wheels.

Panel 2 of the 3-panel Instagram post spotlighted a Pioneer In-Dash receiver the company installed in the extra clean Porsche ’06 convertible. On the screen of the Pioneer AVN-2500NEX was the image from the backup camera. German Mastrodomenico, Exotic Sounds owner, stated “Our customer knew what we wanted to upgrade his prize ride…top quality sound with a backup camera. The Pioneer AVN-2500NEX fit the bill perfectly with the large screen, impressive audio specs, Bluetooth connectivity and input for a backup camera. We added a Rydeen backup camera system”.

Panel 3 of the 3-panel Instagram post showed the small Rydeen camera mounted just above the rear license plate. The camera delivered a high quality image, with trajectory lines, to the Pioneer receiver screen.

Exotic Sounds Instagram followers could easily see the company is a quality automotive shop. The Pioneer in-dash receiver highlighted car stereo for followers. The backup camera panel let followers know about the option to add a backup camera for safety.

This Exotic Sounds post is really a very understated ad for the company’s products. No PRICE, PRICE, PRICE… but a strong visibility statement.

Great job German…Keep up the great work you started at Exotic Sounds in 2006.

Exotic Sounds was the winner of the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel Number 3 almost a year ago. German is enjoying his Kicker CushBT Headphones he won when the wheel landed on the Kicker space. “I listen to cool tunes on the Kicker CushBT headphones around the shop and office all the time. They rock” German told 12volt News.

Multiple posts can be made on Instagram. Followers will see a graphic in the upper right corner and blue dots below the post image.

Visit instagram.com/exoticsounds and instagram.com/12voltnews for more.

TAMPA, FL (12.12.2019) – Kicker Marine Audio had a major presence at the Marine Retailers Association of America Dealer Week at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa FL December 8th-11th. The MRAA Dealer week is 4 days of education, networking, business solutions and celebration for marine industry professionals. The MRAA is in its 43rd year of producing dealer-focused educational programming.

Jeremy Bale-Marine Audio Brand Manager, Lori Boyer and Colin Wilson traveled from Kicker World HQ in Stillwater OK to work with marine dealers from across the US. Kicker Marine Audio displayed the latest products in the lineup on the show floor and sponsored the evening industry celebration on Tuesday evening along with the band. Over 600 dealers and staff members benefitted from checking out the latest products, taking advantage of the educational platform and enjoyed an entertainment event on Tuesday evening.

During the Kicker sponsored Tuesday evening activities Kicker offered a free text-based earbud promotion. Over 200 members of the audience participated and will soon be “Livin Loud” with Kicker earbuds.

Marilyn DeMartini and Wanda Kenton Smith, with PR Power, were also on site working to showcase Kicker Marine Audio to the MRAA attendees.

Visit mraa.com and kicker.com for more.

LONG BEACH, CA (12.11.2019) – KENWOOD USA is shipping a refreshed line of 3 double-DIN (2 DIN) and 2 single-DIN (1 DIN) sized audio receivers.  The receivers include the KENWOOD eXcelon DPX594BT (MSRP $219.95) 2 DIN CD Receiver and the KENWOOD eXcelon KDC-X704 (MSRP $209.95) 1 DIN CD Receiver, both with a 2 Year Warranty.  Also included with this release is the KENWOOD DPX504BT (MSRP $219.95) 2 DIN CD Receiver, the KENWOOD KDC-BT778HD (MSRP $199.95) 1 DIN CD Receiver, and the KENWOOD DPX304MBT (MSRP $189.95) 2 DIN non-CD Digital Media Receiver, of which feature value priced KENWOOD quality with a 1 year warranty.

All 5 receivers get a major tech upgrade with the addition of Alexa Built-in! With a connected smartphone and a simple push of the Alexa button on the receiver, drivers can easily access and interact with Alexa – all while keeping their eyes on the road ahead. This completely changes the game for smartphone users, now able to speak to Alexa using simple voice commands to enjoy their favorite music and content from streaming services like the SiriusXM and Pandora mobile apps, get directions to  destinations like the nearest gas station, control smart home devices, and access tens of thousands of Alexa skills. 

The KENWOOD eXcelon KDC-X704 and KENWOOD KDC-BT778HD both feature built-in HD Radio tuners, offering users the convenience of up to three extra HD stations from each frequency that’s being broadcast in digital sound, all with no monthly fees.  All 5 receivers are also SiriusXM-Ready (SiriusXM Connect SXV300 satellite radio tuner required; sold separately), enabling access to hundreds of channels of music, news, sports, talk, and more.

 As always, KENWOOD includes an extensive amount of sound quality features and controls on all receivers, touting a 13 Band EQ, Digital Time Alignment, and dedicated Front/Rear/Sub RCA pre-outs, with enhanced 5-volt pre-outs on eXcelon models.  Technicians will also enjoy the ease of installation when it comes to the new KENWOOD DPX304MBT, offering a Shallow Chassis mounting depth of under 4”, which allows plenty of clearance for some of the more challenging vehicles when mounting depth is a limiting factor.   All 2 DIN models also include a 3-line text display for enhanced visibility and user customization.  Other noteworthy improvements include the latest in Bluetooth sound quality, screen visibility and brightness.   

“In a time where multimedia receivers are seeing the biggest growth in the receiver category, we feel that it’s still important to focus on performance and technology upgrades for our non-multimedia receivers, as there is still a huge opportunity for these products,” said Mike Roberts, VP of Sales and Marketing.  “With enhancements such as Alexa, we can reach a new group of users who may have had no other reason to replace their factory stereo, until now.” 

For detailed information on specific features for each receiver, please view their respective product pages at www.kenwood.com/usa/car

PROSPER, TX (12.10.2019) – The week of December 2nd Momentum Marketing and AudioControl hit the road in North Texas and Oklahoma with a series of dealer sales calls and two training sessions. Momentum Marketing’s area sales representative Gary Biggs and AudioControl’s National Trainer Matt Palumbo traveled several hundred miles as they made 10 sales calls highlighting the Audio Control lineup. Two scheduled evening AudioControl training meetings added to the very productive swing through Wichita Falls, TX along with Lawton, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK.

Dealer stops included Audio Connections, Audio Source and NET Audio in Wichita Falls. Oklahoma stops included Mobile Phonix and High Volume in Lawton followed by 405 Car Audio, Intense Audio Audio and Wheels, Intense Audio and Audio Extreme in Oklahoma City. Car Toys in Tulsa was the final stop.

Biggs offered “We covered a lot of ground and were very well received at each dealer stop as retailers are very excited about AudioControl’s product lineup. At each stop Matt gave an overview of all the Audio Control products and went into depth on how dealers can utilize the new DMRTA. At the trainings at Mobile Phonix in Lawton and Tulsa Matt was able to really go in depth on the DMRTA” for dealers who attended.”

The Tulsa AudioControl training was held at Car Toys in Tulsa the evening of December 5th . Owner Charles Stewart and the crew cleared out the installation bay. They set up tables and chairs for the well attended product training. Area dealers attending included the Car Toys staff along with staff members from Audio Advice, Boomers Audio, The Audio Shop and Sallisaw Car Audio.

Stewart stated “It was a super meeting. Matt was on point and did a great job covering the AudioControl products. Car Toys recently came back on board with AudioControl and are very happy we did. The meeting lasted over 3 hours and it was very productive for all. We brought in eats and there were raffles for AudioControl prizes. Gary did a great job getting all together for the training at our store.”

Biggs added “The meeting at Car Toys was packed with area dealers around Oklahoma and Arkansas. In the training Matt covered the line and was able to go more in depth on how to utilize all the features on the DMRTA.”

Visit audiocontrol.com and momentumsales.net for more.