LONG BEACH, CA (04.26.24) – After years of dedicated service and invaluable contributions to JVC Mobile Electronics, Ron Trout’s has announced his retirement from his position as Director of Sales. Trout’s departure marks the end of an era for the company, as he leaves behind a legacy of leadership, innovation, and unmatched commitment to excellence.

Trout’s journey with JVC Mobile Electronics began 14 years ago, when he joined the company, bringing over 30 years of industry experience with him at the time. Throughout his tenure, Trout played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s sales strategies, driving growth! Under Trout’s leadership, JVC experienced significant expansion and success, with the company consistently delivering cutting-edge products and solutions to consumers.

Throughout his career, Trout’s earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor, both within the company and across the industry. His passion for excellence and his ability to inspire and motivate others have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with him.

In a statement regarding his retirement, Trout’s expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Director of Sales at JVC Mobile Electronics. He said, “It has been an incredible journey working with such a talented team and being part of the JVC family. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, and I am confident that the company will continue to thrive in the years to come.”

Trout’s retirement comes at a time of transition for JVC Mobile Electronics, but his legacy will undoubtedly endure. As the company bids farewell to a visionary leader, it also looks forward to building upon the foundation that Trout’s helped establish.

The team at JVC extends its heartfelt thanks to Ron Trout’s for his years of dedicated service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His contributions will be remembered and celebrated as the company continues its journey into the future.

As previously reported, industry veteran Steve Cote advanced to Director of Sales for JVC Mobile Electronics.

Visit www.us.jvc.com/car for more.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (04.19.24) – Specialty Marketing Veteran Dennis Hopper is hitting the road across Florida to inform dealers throughout the state that Specialty Marketing is on the ground to work face to face with 12volt retailers.

“The dealer meetings I had the week of April 8th were terrific. As an industry veteran of 36 years I knew many of the dealers and they were happy to see me and welcomed me into their stores. We talked about Pioneer, Diamond Audio and new brands like THINKWARE.” Hopper related.

The Specialty Jacksonville warehouse is scheduled to be open and shipping on May 1st to allow next day shipping to all of Florida and Georgia.

Hopper’s time on the road continued the week of April 15th with dealer stops. A stop at Soundcrafters in South Daytona was super as the two 12volt industry veterans caught up on the many years passed. “Paul was excited to know the warehouse in Jacksonville will be on shipping on the 1st of May. In our discussions the Diamond Audio bikes products came up and Paul not aware of some new models for Harleys. He had a very nice THINKWARE display in his showroom and is doing well with the dash cam category” Hopper added.

Concluding Hopper commented “One prominent dealer related… with Bryan Mongiovi and Dennis Hopper at the helm, I’ll support them 100%, because they have known for years exactly how to service my account.”

For more see SpecialtyMarketing.com

JASPER, IN (04.19.24) – Meyer Distributing, Inc. has announced that they have substantially acquired the assets of Frank’s Supply, a regional distributor serving the southern states of TX, OK, LA, and NM.

Meyer Distributing is a complete wholesale distributor. With 100 locations nationwide and over 3,500,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, Meyer Distributing has a huge inventory of parts to service their customers. With strategically positioned warehouse facilities, Meyer Distributing is able to provide next day delivery to most locations using Meyer Logistics direct ship.

All customer orders placed with Frank’s Supply that have not yet been shipped by Frank’s will still be fulfilled as they were placed by Meyer. These orders will transfer over to the online.meyerdistributing.com portal. While many Frank’s customers already have a Meyer login, for those that do not, account managers will be reaching out to you asap to provide this information. You can continue to call 800.392.4513 and use the same Frank’s phone number or you may also call 800.639.3787 (800.MEYERUSA).

To our vendor partners, all inventory received and posted by Frank’s and sold to Meyer will be paid directly to the vendor by Frank’s from Meyer proceeds. All inventory received by Frank’s that is in the building but has not been posted to Frank’s inventory will be paid directly by Meyer to the vendor. All open unshipped purchase orders placed by Frank’s will need to be audited by Meyer for accuracy and to have shipping addresses updated to a respective Meyer warehouse location. Purchasing agents will be reaching out to each vendor to discuss an audit of open orders placed by Frank’s and any other relevant concerns.

Customers: To Pay final Frank’s Supply A/R balances, please call 713-668-9484.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (04.19.24) – Delivering LOUD AUDIO with unparalleled detail in a smaller size, Hifonics Colossus Mini amplifiers infuse sound with PRO POWER while staying flexible enough to fit anywhere your customer’s audio install calls for.

Have your customers experience Colossus performance through even the smallest of sizes with the ALL-NEW Hifonics Colossus Mini amplifier line!

Taking audio to new thrills of Colossus performance and sound – Hifonics Colossus Mini amplifiers signify ULTIMATE POWER in a smaller heat sink. Get ready for your customer’s songs to transform within deeper details and cleaner clarity, and have them obtain Colossus levels of audio performance!

The entire line of Colossus Mini models features monoblock and 4-channel amplifiers (like the PRO Series of amplifiers). Including the HCM-3000.1D Colossus Mini amplifier that creates 3000 watts of PRO POWER sound and the HCM-400.4D that makes 400 watts of clean Colossus Mini audio —
every Colossus Mini amplifier is fueled with Colossus innovation that pushes audio to the peak of performance.

Incorporating full-range Class-D chipsets (including the mono models) – all Colossus Mini amplifiers are compatible with a wide range of drivers, especially pro-style speakers. Colossus Mini amplifiers incorporate a smaller footprint design that enables them to be placed in motorcycles, UTVs, and other automotive vehicles – all while still creating Colossus sound.

Hifonics Colossus Mini sound takes audio to the Colossus level of performance. Have your customers embrace PRO SOUND and POWER with Colossus Mini AMPLIFIERS FROM THE GODS TODAY!

Learn complete Hifonics Colossus Mini amplifier line details HERE from the Hifonics website and CONTACT your Maxxsonics sales representative NOW to place your Hifonics Colossus Mini order.

Visit hifonics.com for more.

STILLWATER, OK (04.15.24) – A host of KICKER employees judged the 2024 Oklahoma State SkillsUSA Mobile Electronics contest at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater OK on Thursday April 11. Three of KICKER’s Tech Force training team joined members of the company’s Special Projects Team, R&D, and Marketing departments to judge the effectiveness of 48 Oklahoma student competitors, each attempting to solve the challenges presented by eight independent mobile-electronics workstations. The winning competitors earned awards from the brand and qualify for the SkillsUSA Finals in Atlanta later this year.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America continues to have a skilled workforce, according to SkillsUSA.org. Students who excel in the program are prepared to shine in the exciting 12-volt industry.

The mobile-electronics category tests competitors’ abilities to perform standard installation practices used by certified, professional mobile-electronics installers. In the industry, these skills have been established through the certification objectives and items created for basic MECP certification by the Consumer Electronics Association.

“We hear from retailers regularly that they cannot find qualified people to hire,” said Aaron Malin, KICKER Tech Force/Global Training Manager. “This challenge stresses various aspects of the real-world workplace. When they complete the SkillsUSA challenge, they are positioned to enter a job and immediately contribute.”

“I would like to encourage other 12-volt industry leaders and manufacturers to get involved with SkillsUSA; we need those young men and women to join us in this quickly evolving industry” Malin added.

In addition to the challenges presented at Meridian Technology Center, each competitor must take and pass the MECP Basic Certification program before competing. A professional interview and hands-on applications are all required, including the demonstration of several core 12-volt installation skill sets like taking electrical measurements, installing consumer-electronics equipment, soldering, working with relay circuits, and troubleshooting electronic circuitry.

“SkillsUSA is definitely growing,” says Tech Force trainer Jacob Luckey. “Last year we had 10 competitors; this year we had 45. It speaks to the importance of getting the right training, and then using those skills on the job. Being prepared makes all the difference, and these competitors recognize that.”

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc., are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized retailers worldwide.

For more visit www.kicker.com.

STAMFORD, CN (04.12.24) – HARMAN International Industries, the premier connected technologies
company for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, announced today the launch of the
JBL JAM5000N and the JBL JAM3000, two brand-new head units that leverage JBL’s industryleading
technology to provide a high-value solution for audio-enthusiast boaters.

The two head units are designed for multi-element environments, able to meet the demands of
extreme conditions. Built to be accessible, the JAM5000N and the JAM3000 head units are
engineered to satisfy the performance requirements for marine audio consumers in their price
range. The design allows them to integrate seamlessly into any boat design with an elegant and
brand-specific look and feel that is capable of being mounted either in the traditional front
mounted or can be back mounted for a cleaner smooth dash finish.

Both head units boast 2.8-inch screens with easy-to-use controls and an intuitive user interface.
Robust and offering unprecedented value, both the JAM3000 and the JAM5000N support multiple
audio sources. The JAM3000 allows for use of Bluetooth and AM/FM radio, while the JAM5000N
supports even more options, including USB, WB and radio. In addition, the JAM5000N has a
sunlight viewable color TFT display, and features three zones with each zone including three
channels of right, left and subwoofer output, NMEA 2000, and an input for a rear camera which no
other radio at this price has. Both compact IP66 source units provide four channels of RMS power
output at 25Wrms.

The JAM5000N and JAM3000 are available for $399.95 and $229.95, respectively. For more
information on Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL or their full lines of marine audio products, please visit
www.harman.com, www.jbl.com or contact them at HarmanMarine@harman.com.

BOCA RATON, FL (02.29.24) – Inc. magazine today revealed that Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has been named to the fourth annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Southeast list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Southeast private companies, based in South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Southeast economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent small businesses.

“This ranking reflects our commitment to supporting the growth and success of our franchisees,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO and President of Tint World. “Our proven systems and comprehensive range of premium services and products empower Tint World franchise owners to deliver a world-class experience, and that is driving our reputation as a market leader and our continuing rapid growth throughout the world.”

The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Southeast region. Between 2020 and 2022, these 223 private companies had an average growth rate of 166.43 percent; by 2023, they’d also added 20,496 jobs and $8.8 billion to the region’s economy.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Southeast, including company profiles, can be found at inc.com/Southeast starting Feb. 27, 2024. You’ll also find an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria.

“The honorees in our Inc. 5000 network are the Who’s Who of private companies. They’re energizing regional economies as they engineer the future of their industries. Learn who they are and what they do — they’ll be impacting things for a while,” said Eric Hagerman, Special Projects Editor at Inc. Media.

The 2024 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2020 and 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of Dec. 31, 2022. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2020 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

Visit inc.com and tintworld.com for more.

HAZLET, NJ (01.09.24) – Interstate Electronics has been the go-to electronics store in Hazlet since opening in 1968. The company serves area consumers with a wide variety of car audio, home electronics plus accessories and parts from the 10,000 St Ft location. To create more excitement in their car audio showroom they worked with Kenwood to cover one entire wall with a display showcasing eXcelon, Reference, Motorcycle, MotorSports and Marine categories. Each category is live in a 5-Axis Innovations display spotlighted with LED lighting.

Fred Orpen, Interstate Electronics GM, related “We were looking to create an outstanding display that would grab immediate attention when customers entered our store. The car audio showroom is directly to the right as people enter and the floor is raised. With the new Kenwood display wall the immediate reaction is WOW. Even if the customer is looking for a television they will walk up the steps to checkout the Kenwood wall. They also tell their friends about the Kenwood display and they will come check it out. Needless to say our Kenwood sales have increased.”

The company started to think about the showroom upgrade last May and June. They contacted their area representative, Morris Hartman with Team Progressive, and the ball started rolling. Soon the decision was made and the project was completed just before this past Holiday season.

“Since completing the Kenwood displays our customers are so much more engaged. We have customer families stretching 3 generations and they are talking about the Kenwood display with family. Our customer’s engagement led us to rearrange other parts of our store. We have placed boxed products on shelves where parts and antenna were. Now a customer will walk up to the counter with a Kenwood box of speakers to ask specific questions and make the purchase. We also sell camera so security is covered on the showroom floor too” Orpen stated.

Hartman commented “The Interstate Electronics Inc team is one of the most professional, up-to-date and knowledgeable teams there is. They really support their vendor partners with carrying complete categories and promoting their business.”

Continuing Hartman offered “Dealers should be investing in their in-store experience. This creates excitement for the end user and allows them to see what we offer not only in car audio but marine, motorsports, motorcycle and safety. The in-store experience is an entry point to let the public know what we do and offer.”

Seth Halstead began his career at Kenwood and JVC as an on the road product trainer. Halstead, now JVC KENWOOD Sr Content & Digital Marketing Manager, added “The Interstate Electronics team was always on top of their game and totally engaged with learning the sales process when I conducted trainings with them many years ago.”

Orpen recalled Halstead’s trainings and related Seth was a great trainer/communicator and helped their staff in a big way.

The Interstate Electronics amazing In-Store Kenwood Experience is an example of a vehicle to drive in-store traffic and sales for 12volt brick and mortar retailers. A consumer can not experience the highs or feel the bass in their chest on a smartphone or laptop. The total in-store experience is the key to the future for the brick and mortar 12volt industry retailers.

Watch for much more to come from the 12volt Central Studios.

For more, visit interstateelectronics.com

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO (01.09.24) – The Vogler Family has been associated with the mobile electronics industry for decades and now is focused on driving the company’s SolarFX window films business.

Shawn Vogler stated “Our window films business continues to grow year over year and we are excited for the 2024 season as the summer’s heat is just around the corner. We have a ton of marketing POP to grab attention in a dealer’s market and drive business into their stores. Light up outside signs and flag banners plus a wide selection of in the showroom items including neon wall clocks, wall vinyl stickers, stand up banners, welcome door mats and bar stools are available. For the dealer’s customers we offer key chains, koozies, lanyards, wrist bands, sunglasses and the very popular rubber ducks.”

SolarFX also has a dealer buy-in for a 16” X 43” acrylic sign with 4 stand-off brackets. The Product Code is SFX-1643.

SolarFX Window Films are manufactured with the most advanced technologies in the industry. By utilizing these leading-edge technologies the company is able to produce some of the world’s best performing Automotive Window Films, Architectural/Residential Films, Paint Protection Films and Security/Safety Films available on the market today. The Dragon Distributing 27,000 sq ft warehouse is well stocked and ready to ship.

Concluding, “We have a window film to match every budget and performance need. SolarFX Window Films is one of the fastest growing window films companies in the US and we invite all to… Feel the FX of SolarFX Window Films.”

For more see dragondistributing.com or call 816-630-6011 or 800-825-3746.