Elite Audio

Elite Audio Custom T’s Have Been Spotted Around The Globe

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SPARTANBURG, SC (07.21.23) – Elite Audio has served the Spartanburg area since the early 1990’s and recently celebrated the company’s 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion a custom 30 Year T-shirt was developed by owner Joe Zelano just over a year ago.

“It has been a fun journey to reach the now 30 years plus and we thought a custom high quality T-shirt would be popular our customers and it has been really popular. We have made posts on Instagram about the T-Shirt and the response has been very strong with followers coming into the store to get one.”

The son of a good customer took his Elite Audio T to Rome and made this post from the Coliseum.

Continuing “Our customers have taken their Elite Audio T’s on vacation trips around the globe and made social media posts while on their trips. Recently the son of a very good customer made a post with his Elite Audio T while in the Coliseum in Rome Italy. Earlier this year a dealer made a post with his Elite Audio T at the Mayan Ruins in Mexico. It is so special when we see those posts from around the globe. Great to know we connect with people in Spartanburg and far, far away.”

An Elite Audio T at the Mayan Ruins in Mexico.

The Elite Audio staff includes 7 full time professionals plus 2 part time employees. The product mix includes car audio, video, remote start, safety, convenience, connectivity, wheels, tires, suspension, lighting and accessories. The Powersports, bike and marines categories have become strong categories in recent years.

Visit eliteaudioonline.com for more

Elite Audio Utilizes Social Media to Connect with Followers and Consumers

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SPARTENBURG, SC (05.30.23) – Elite Audio, with Joe Zelano behind the wheel, has served the community and surrounding area for over 30 years.

“It’s been a fun journey and we have certainly seen tremendous changes across the 12volt industry. Not only in products and vehicles but how to reach and connect with consumers in today’s internet driven marketplace,” Zelano stated.

The XL-1250 grille was removed to show the speakers for the social media post.

To stay in front of consumers Elite Audio makes frequent social media posts. “Today consumers spend hours a day on their mobile devices. Social media posts, like a recent PowerBass SoundBar post, is an example. The new XL-1250 SoundBar has 12 speakers powered by a 500 watt amp and sounds great. It also has many applications. The post we made was right before the Memorial Day holiday as many in our area might be on the lake, trail or golf course. Letting them know planted a seed for them to rock over the holiday. Our post showed the SoundBar on display in our showroom and invited all in for a demo. We also included separate images with the grille removed so people could see the speakers. Being able to deliver that message directly to a consumer is powerful,” Zelano added.

The PowerBass XL-1250 Soundbar prominently displayed in the showroom.

Elite Audio was on site at the recent K’Fest in Orlando. “Staying ahead of the curve because we care about our cars and customer’s future enjoyment was high on our list in Orlando for our staff members. The training sessions were very informative and there were super vehicles on the event floor… our hats off to the shops that did the builds. We also made social media posts spotlighting those builds,” Zelano concluded.

The Elite staff includes 6 full time professionals plus 2 part time employees. The company’s product mix include car audio, video, remote start, safety, remote start, wheels tires, suspension, lighting and accessories. The Powersports, bike and marine categories have added to the company’s 12volt side category offerings. Home AV is also included in Elite Audio’s offerings for area consumers.

See more @eliteaudiosc

Elite Audio Celebrates 30 Years

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SPARTANBURG, SC (06.03.22) – Elite Audio has served the Spartanburg area since the early 1990’s and is celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion a custom 30 Year T-shirt was developed by owner Joe Zelano.

“It has been a fun journey to reach 30 years and we thought a custom T-shirt would spotlight the 3 decades. The limited edition T-shirt is a USA made cotton blend with our logo on the left chest and full on the back. Our 30-Year logo is on the left sleeve. We made a post on Instagram about the T-Shirt and the response has been very strong with followers wanting to get one.”

Joe Zelano proudly holds an Elite Audio 30-Year T-Shirt in his office area. Various magazine and newspaper articles plus awards are framed in the background.

Zelano added “Knowing how we do things it’s a high quality T-shirt. And customers who picked one up have commented on the high quality.”

Boxes of the T-shirts displayed. Supply issues actually delayed the arrival of the T-shirts.

Through the years Elite Audio has expanded the product mix far beyond car stereo. “We had to diversity what we offer to stay on top of the scene. Without automotive aftermarket products car stereo would only go so far. It’s not like the ’90’s when there were 10 plus car audio only shops in an area. The shops that did not diversity are pretty much gone today. Retailers must stay up with the trends and stay active with all categories in the automotive industry-not just car audio” Zelano related.

Social media posts like this showcase exciting work Elite Audio is doing plus highlights the company storefront.
Social media posts highlight the PowerSports category which drives awareness and sales for Elite Audio.

To stay in front of followers and consumers Elite Audio makes frequent social media posts. On Instagram over 2200 followers can see posts that feature various installation and vehicles. Frequently posts feature a vehicle out front with the company’s signage in the background.

The Elite Audio staff includes 7 full time professionals plus 2 part time employees. The product mix includes car audio, video, remote start, safety, convenience, connectivity, wheels, tires, suspension, lighting and accessories. The Powersports, bike and marines categories have added to the company’s offerings.

Visit eliteaudioonline.com for more.

Elite Electronics Named KICKER 2021 Dealer Of The Year South Central Region

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MILWAUKEE, WI (01.24.22) – Elite Electronics, based in Milwaukee, recently was named KICKER 2021Dealer of the Year for the South Central Region. Area representative Tom Ebeling, Tree Associates, presented owner Muhammad Choudhry with the award certificate at a dinner recently.

Tom Ebeling and Muhammad Choudhry (R) with the Elite Electronics KICKER 2021 Dealer of the Year South Central Region certificate. Mohammad Armand behind the lens.

“Elite Electronics has received the KICKER Dealer of the Year for this territory multiple times. He and his staff operate a very proactive store in Milwaukee that draws from across the surrounding area. They have been a very supportive KICKER dealer for well over a decade and put customer satisfaction at the top of their daily objectives,” Tom Ebeling related.

Choudhry commented to The 12volt Central Studios, “The KICKER brand supports our company with products that provide the features and performance consumers are looking for today. We have been a KICKER dealer for well over a decade. KICKER is working very hard to supply inventory in this current challenging marketplace. Additionally, they back everything up with excellent service and Tom at Tree is definitely very supportive. We look forward to a very strong 2022 with an eye to receiving the next KICKER of the Year Award for this region.”

Tom Ebeling, Tree Associates,  is flanked at dinner by Muhammad Choudhry (R) from Elite Electronics and Mohammad from Armando Sounds. At the dinner Elite Electronics received the KICKER 2021 Dealer of the Year Certificate.

Ebeling, based in Chicago, works very closely with dealers across his territory. At the dinner where he presented Elite with the KICKER award they were joined by Mohammad Armand. His 12volt store, Armando Sounds in Chicago, has also received a KICKER Dealer of the Year award.

Concluding, Ebeling offered, “Armando Sounds will soon be relocating to a new location three times the size of their current store. Both of these dealers are great retailers that represent the future of our business. Elite Electronics represents the best in Milwaukee and Armando Sounds represents the best in ChicagoLand.”

Visit kicker.com for more.

Elite Audio Hosted a Very Successful MECA Event

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ATHENS, TN (06.22.2020) – Long-time MECA Retail Member, Elite Audio in Athens TN, hosted a MECA event at the Sweetwater Flea Market on Sunday May 31st. Elite Audio has hosted numerous events at this venue through the years.

MECA Members pitch in to help a fellow competitor get a big number on the meter.

Oran Barkley, Elite Audio owner and MECA 2018 SPL Street 5 World Champion stated “The Sweetwater Flea Market is just up the road from our store a few miles. We had a great event. Over 60 competition vehicles were in the lanes for MECA Show & Shine, SQL and SPL runs. In addition there were NSPL and Bass Outlaw competitors plus about 20 friends that just came to demo their rides. There was a lot of enthusiasm among competitors who were very happy to be back at a MECA event. We had competitors from Ohio, North Carolina and Georgia plus many from Tennessee.”

Oran Barkley was happy to see friends and competitors at the Sweetwater Flea Market.

Steve Stern, MECA Commish, offered “This was the first show for the East Tennessee/Virginia area and spectator turnout was especially good, and lots of enthusiasm. People were genuinely grateful to be back at a MECA event, able to see friends, show new builds, and lots of car audio gear.”

This amazing Chevy pickup was one of the ultra tricked rides on site at the event.

Continuing, Stern stated “Oran is a believer in hosting cost-effective, fun events that highlight his store plus the products and services he provides. He understands the sound-off competitors since he has been one for many years. Team O.S.C. is a testimony to the relationships he builds with his customers, who turn into friends as they travel and socialize at the events. This makes for loyal customers, and that’s really important to speciality car audio shops.”

The Odd Squad Custom Team was founded in 1995 as a low rider club.

Barkley started Team O.S.C. (Odd Squad Custom) in 1995 as a Low Rider Club for car shows. Through the years the marketplace has changed and now club members focus on car audio competitions and car shows.

Barkley related business has been strong during the COVID-19 pandemic with strong sales across the board in car audio, marine and side-by-side categories.

Concluding, Stern offered “Starting Monday, June 22nd, we will make daily posts on Facebook highlighting MECA Retail Members. The first post will be last year’s Team Of The Year, Team O.S.C. owned by Oran Barkley-Elite Audio and featured above.

Visit mecacaraudio.com for more.