TULSA OK (12.30.22) The Car Toys Tulsa Sony Mobile ES Build is already getting action in front of the store in Tulsa. Mark Adams, Car Toys Tulsa store manager’s 2023 Prius, was the retailer’s contest entry. “This was a 2-month project to complete. We finished just a day prior to the contest deadline. Already the Sony ES build is getting attention out front of the store…even in very chilly weather.”

The Car Toys Tulsa store is a free standing building across the street from a Walmart Super Center. Talk about possibilities for visibility for Sony ES Mobile products.

Contestants were tasked with building an effective Sony Mobile ES demo vehicle to show installation creativity highlighting Sony Mobile ES benefits to consumers. Spotlighting the Mobile ES name and outlining how contestants would utilize the vehicle in practical ways to sell Sony Mobile ES systems were added requirements to enter the contest.

Car Toys Tulsa was selected as a Top 10 entry in the ES Mobile Build contest but did not place in the Top 3.

Car Toys owner Charles Stewart related “When our Sony rep Richard Wong told us about the ES Mobile build contest we saw the possibilities and started making plans. An employee’s personal car could be the build vehicle and Mark jumped at the opportunity to make the installation in his Prius. He and I have worked together for probably 20 years and I knew he would give the build his all.”

“I worked on the build in the Car Toys Tulsa installation bay on Sundays as we are closed. Also, Tuesday is an off day for me, so I could work in the bay too. Charles and Chance, along with techs Frank and Gabe, were right there when I asked for input or needed a few extra hands” Adams offered.

Continuing Adams stated “We did a lot of planning to design the system. We wanted the Prius interior to look stock and demonstrate the sound quality of the Sony ES Mobile System. In addition we wanted to highlight in-vehicle LED lighting which we did in a couple ways. There is chasing LED’s around the top trunk interior plus under Mobile ES products installed in the trunk. One of the LED light patterns showcases the ES Mobile theme color. I was able to show the many aspects of the build in a video which I included with our contest entry. All in all we are very pleased with the Car Toys Tulsa Sony Mobile ES build.”

Stewart concluded “We thank Sony for creating the Mobile ES build program and the opportunity to participate. The program shows a lot of thought and in the end equips many dealers across the U.S. to showcase the Sony ES Mobile brand and possibilities in their area. We will definitely plan store activities around the build plus have the Prius on site at many local offsite events we do each year. Ultimately the build program will drive business for all ES Mobile retailers.”

FLORENCE MS (12.29.22) As the Christmas Holidays approached weather forecasts called for record low temperatures in much of the south. In Shreveport LA the temperature dropped to a very chilly 8 degrees.

In Florence MS, close to Jackson, those record low temperatures were also forecast. Wayne Holton, Audio Solutions owner, decided to let followers know that a remote car starter would be a great item for Christmas gift giving. He put a social media plan in place to drive sales.

Holton related “We had a good inventory Viper products and got together with my graphics contact and put together an ad that we posted a few days before Christmas. On yes, it got some good action.”

Once customers came into the store the Audio Solutions team let all know there were more benefits to a remote starter than just keeping their vehicle warm in the winter. We informed customers about heated seats, security and convenience feature benefits in addition to keeping their vehicles cool when the summer heat arrives.

Continuing Holton related “Across the board there are so many products available in the mobile electronics category that consumers are not aware of today. Professionally created social media posts can get the message across for proactive 12volt retailers. An example is window tinting for farm tractors as agriculture is big in our area. We made a post of a completed job which led to more tinting jobs, cameras and audio jobs too.”

In the past year Audio Solutions completed construction of a large new facility in Florence that is definitely driving business for the company throughout the area.

See @audiosolutions49 on Instagram.

12-27-2022 – Sony Car Audio has announced the winners from the Sony Mobile ES demo car build contest, which were chosen from the pool of Top 10 candidates by industry veteran judges Bryan Schmitt (Mobile Solutions), Gary Bell (Define Concepts), Paul Trueman (SiriusXM), and Chris Cook (MEA).

The winners are:

• First Place: Xtreme Auto Sound – Louisville, KY. They receive a $5,000 credit for Sony gear at their distributor (Davis Distribution), a customized plaque, shirts and wireless noise-canceling headphones for the entire crew, and a staff dinner with their Sony Field Account Manager Mike Rundel.
• Second Place: Absolute Electronix, Rockville, MD. They receive a $2,500 credit for Sony gear at their distributor (DAS Companies, Inc.), a customized plaque, and shirts for the entire crew.
• Third Place: Kartele Mobile Electronics – Waterbury, CT. They receive a $2,500 credit for Sony gear at their distributor (GoFast Solutions) and a customized plaque
   

“We were overwhelmed with the high number of retailers that stepped up to be part of this contest. Each had a great example of a vehicle they can use to sell Sony Mobile ES successfully,” said Anthony Tozzi, Sony Car Audio Distribution Accounts Manager. “Our impartial, outside group of judges spent a lot of time reviewing the Top 10 candidates to make great selections with our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. We’re very proud of our retailers and the work they are capable of.”
 
Sony plans to keep retailers engaged in 2023 with new contests, some of which may be tied to new car audio products that will debut throughout the next calendar year.
 
Contact Anthony Tozzi at Anthony.Tozzi@Sony.com for more information about Sony, the Mobile ES line, or how to connect with an authorized distributor.

SHREVEPORT LA (12.26.22) In less than a week we will say goodbye to the Year 2022. No doubt 2022 has been another year filled with continuing challenges including COVID-19 and related variants plus inflation that has impacted brick and mortar traffic. This past week, at the peak of the Christmas season, weather impacted in-store traffic and crippled holiday travel in many parts of the U.S.

The 12volt Central Studios continues to showcase positive news across the 12volt industry. Toys for Tots events during December definitely put smiles on the faces on many children. The 9th Annual Audio Concept Toys for Tots was a terrific example. During the event at the company’s Fresno location nearly 500 toys were donated during the December 17th event that was attended by 144 competitors from BassWars, IASCA, USACi and EMMA. On December 24th and Christmas Day Ray Aragon and his wife Maria visited a number of area organizations to personally deliver toys donated at the Audio Concepts Toys for Tots event.

The weather in Pittsburgh, as in many areas across the country, has been a real challenge for 12volt retailers. Team Nutz in Pittsburgh continued to charge forward with positive activities and social media posts right up to Christmas Day. Snow covered the city and roads. Ed Nuttall, and the crew, charged forward. The installation bay was packed and techs were on the cold floor making installs on vehicles with ice on the hoods and lights.

Companies also took time to have Christmas parties and dinners. Charles Stewart, Car Toys Tulsa, made a social media post with the crew after dinner at a local Japanese restaurant.

As we move into 2023, in a few short days, let’s all think about highlighting positives in our day-to-day business activities. The 12voltSTP Tool certainly makes that possible. Just Snap an image and Txt it to 318 465 0844. Presto…your positive news can be in the 12volt News.

2023 will certainly begin differently for many across the 12volt industry who in the past have planned to travel to Las Vegas. CES 2023 is set for January 5-8 but definitely will not look like previous CES events from the 12volt industry perspective.

The Year 2022 marked the 55th Christmas Holiday Anniversary in the 12volt industry for this old guy. Let’s finish 2022 on a high note.

SHREVEPORT, LA (12.23.2022) – We truly wish all across the 12volt industry a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Season.

During this time of the year we wanted to take time to thank all across the 12volt industry for their support, encouragement and business in 2022 as we continue to work each day to showcase positives across the 12volt industry.

The year 2022 continued to be an uncertain time in the world and 12volt industry with so many changing factors at play. In many cases inventory supply issues were solved in 2022 but high inflation and gas prices impacted consumer spending on non-essentials. Many brick and mortar retailers are well stocked but are not seeing the 2021 sales spike from stimulus checks. Increases in online spending continues impact the brick and mortar 12volt marketplace as well.

Work is now underway on the grounds of the LVCC in Vegas for CES 2023. The presence of 12volt companies planning to exhibit seems to reach a new low each CES as auto manufactures have taken so much space in the North Hall with huge booths. Travel concerns also continue with recurring COVID-19 spikes and other transmittable health issues.

The above narrative is a harsh reality that each business is facing.

From the 12volt Central Studios, we encourage all to evaluate their situation and play to their strengths. Build on your company’s strengths and highlight the positives in your every day activities…Manufacturers, Distributors, Rep Firms and Retailers alike. Let’s all work to make a bigger pie for all to share across the 12volt industry.

We look forward to continuing to showcase positives from companies across the 12volt industry in 2023.