Archive

Efficiency is everything when working with the production home builder market.

AMX president Bob Carroll explains his company's recent acquisition by Duchossois Industries.

Up until recently I was the owner and lead salesperson for my company, but now that my company is growing, I think it’s time...

How manufacturers and custom installers are growing the home lighting control business.

So you’ve finally got your back against the wall and can’t find any way out of running a fiber optic strand or two to...

Recognizing the importance of forging relationships with cabinetmakers.

Pacific Media Associates reports that NEC is gaining market share.

Microdisplays are eating up marketshare of rear-projection category.

There are several rep firms in my territory who practice a form of brand extortion. If Im interested in bringing in one of the...

One of the areas that can really get out of control in any systems integration business is programming. We are in the custom business,...

Last month, I ranted about how fiber optics has yet to take hold in the custom audio/video world. OK, so be it. I know...

The future of the custom market depends on how well we learn to streamline our system choices.

Even a custom GUI must follow a clear design path.

Adoption of digital content, combined with broadband services and home networks, drives interest in networked storage solutions.

Residential Systems hosted an industry forum at its New York City headquarters to discuss current challenges and future opportunities of the home integration market.

I see a lot of new companies providing subcontracted Crestron and AMX programming to CI dealers. We currently do our programming in-house, but have...

I am encouraged to see more and more residential systems integrators including at least some form of acoustical design and treatment in their projects....

A lot has been said about the esoteric capabilities of using a fiber optic toslink connection to provide multi-channel sound from some audio/video source...

In the "tech home of the future," sleek terabit-sized central media storage will surpass bulky mainframes of the past.

New data reveals significant growth in the LCD market.

Only eight percent of MP3 owners are interested in a portable music service.

Issues & Questions that catch my attention Theres a part of me that really likes our industrys trade shows, and I try to attend...

Proactive custom integrators should seize the opportunity to simplify technology for homeowners.

The eSommelier Wine Management Server lets collectors access their entire wine library at the touch of a button.

Service calls are troubling, because they unbundle the very thing that you have worked so hard to glue together: your sale of fully-engineered systems.

StJohn Group's brands are international dcor-first lines with natural synergy and high style.

There are only three things to trade off in software development: schedule, features and quality.

PMA has ascertained that there are clear differences in how consumers perceive popular alternatives for large-screen TV.

Creative Home Theater Cuts No Corners with Las Vegas Demo Facility Design

Selling a custom installation business is tough, especially when you are an integral part of the company. You are right to see the sale...

The premier issue of Residential Systems was exactly four years ago, as of next months issue. In my article for that issue I addressed...

Cash flow: the greatest managerial challenge in the custom installation business.

Staying efficient and organized is the key to success.

Crestrons Isys i/O Reinforces its Total Home Technology Commitment

New Phone System Options Create Opportunities for Custom Installers

Total sales for flat televisions have skyrocketed to $3.3B.

It is time to explore the story behind Phast technology, to insure that the proper lessons had been learned and so that history would...

71 percent of households willing to purchase a digital media adapters do not have a home network.

As flat-panel video displays continue to evolve, so too has the need for versatile TV mounts.

So youre itching to know what the new technology design trend will be? Well forget about silver. Nano is the new black.

Most of the home theater systems that my company designs and installs are much more modest than the full-blown, industry-standard screening rooms that some...

There are three ways to approach this problem. You can find higher margin plasmas to sell. You can think of plasmas as a piece...