Blogs
AI Hack #541: The Gap Between Reading and Doing Just Collapsed
AI removes the barriers to activating the business advice you’ve been reading about.
Blogs
Blogs
The Power of Peer Support: A Conversation with Jon Robbins
The HTSA leader talks about the Spring Conference, current market conditions, the sale of Lightapalooza, and why the term “buying group” doesn’t cut it...
Blogs
How Multi-Trade Events Can Deliver Real Value
Great things can happen when education, cross-trade conversation, and a well-supported regional event all share the same ballroom.
Blogs
Tales From the Field – Raving Fan Factory Launch Update
Livewire kicks off its plan to create more passionate clients.
Blogs
What Would You Do for a Raving Fan?
How do you encourage your team to go above and beyond for your clients?
Awards
The CEDIA Smart Home Awards: A First Time Winner’s Perspective
When design and Technology Unite as one.
Awards
The CEDIA Smart Home Awards: A Manufacturer’s Perspective
Why the Best Hardware, Best Software, and Hall of Fame categories are essential for industry growth.
Blogs
AI Hack #683: Learn The Tools
Thanks to AI, ideas that have been on the back burner for years can now see the light of day.
Blogs
Robust and Reliable Cabling for Outdoor Systems
What to look for in cables that can withstand the challenges of outdoor installations.
Awards
The CEDIA Smart Home Awards: An Award-Winning Technician’s Perspective
Chris Brooker of LAVA reflects on changing careers, building confidence in the industry, and why entering the CEDIA Awards is worth it
Blogs
Reflecting on 5 Years of Lightapalooza
A founder looks back on building the custom integration industry’s lighting conference.
Blogs
The CEDIA Smart Home Awards 2026: Expert Advice for Entrants
Guidance on how to create a winning entry from two Integrator category judges.
Awards
The CEDIA Smart Home Awards: The Business of Winning
Insights and advice for entrants of the business categories
Blogs
Don’t Go It Alone
Bringing a trainee on every sales call or project is the ultimate time-optimization hack for any mentor.
Blogs
Lightapalooza 2026: Getting Smart Together
A gathering of lighting professionals shares knowledge and technology solutions in Texas.
Blogs
Epic Wins, Epic Fails
Some programs and ideas deserve development, while others just need to be dropped with lessons learned.
Blogs
10 Things I Learned at Lightapalooza 2026
A quick take on some of the knowledge gleaned at the event.
Blogs
AI Hack #768: SoundVision’s Discerning Customer GPT
Using AI to anticipate a customer’s response to a proposal leaves the sales team better prepared.
Blogs
Resi at ISE 2026
Scouting out some of the latest in custom installation gear at the Barcelona-based event.
Blogs
AI Hack #723: Tell Them It’s Going To Die
The new “Livewire Lifecycle” report, issued with every proposal, talks proactively about the life expectancy of each and every large component in the system.
Blogs
ISE 2026: Why Integrators Must Push Beyond
ISE is where global trends emerge early — sometimes years before they become mainstream in individual markets.
Blogs
Describe vs. Prescribe
Why it is important to let your team figure out the solutions to challenges themselves.
Blogs
Seeing God in the Speakers
A love letter to excellent music played on extraordinary systems at a very high volume.
Blogs
Mind the Gap: The Simplest Way to Be Happier in 2026
How to focus on how far you’ve come as opposed to what you haven’t done.
Blogs
AI Hack #673: Negotiating With ChatGPT Riding Shotgun
When dealing with customer service issues from large corporations, it may be necessary to bring in the big guns.
Blogs
Selling The ‘Cave of Pain’
Don't be afraid to ask clients, “What do you expect from us when things don’t work?”
Blogs
Lightapalooza 2026 Preview
The fifth annual event moves to a new location but continues to provide a wealth of training opportunities.
Blogs
The EDGE Sales Coaching Framework
How to tell when your salesperson-in-training is ready to move on to the next phase.
Blogs
HTSA 2025 Fall Conference: “Elevate” Through AI
Event focuses on using modern solutions to improve custom installation businesses.
Blogs
Battling Operational Drift
When you let the little things slide, big problems can occur. Here are some tips to keep that from happening.
Blogs
The Alternative to Cold Calls
How to redefine cold outreach and build trust while educating potential prospects.
Blogs
Stop Losing Customers Who Don’t Understand Your Pricing
It is time to be more transparent with your pricing and stop treating it as a dirty little secret.
Blogs
John Sciacca’s CEDIA Expo 2025 Highlights
The coolest products and happenings to come out of Denver last week.
Blogs
Here’s Why Your Employees Quit
Give your company the EDGE when it comes to training and retaining staff.
Blogs
CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 Keynote: Integrators Can Build Business through Collaboration
Collaboration is crucial for integrators to build their business, said Chip Wade, a keynote speaker at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 in Denver. Wade shared his...
Blogs
State of the Industry: Integrators Are Optimistic
After a bumpy start to 2025 due to turbulence from tariffs and political instability, integrators are increasingly optimistic about the industry, according to a...
Blogs
CEDIA, NKBA Release Findings from Joint Research
At the 2025 CEDIA Town Hall meeting, held on Tuesday, Sept. 3, Daryl Friedman, global president and CEO of CEDIA, and Bill Darcy, global...
Blogs
CEDIA Expo 2025/CIX Q&A: Training, Expansion, and AI
Jason McGraw offers some insights about what 15,000 attendees should expect this week at the Denver Convention Center.
Blogs
John Sciacca’s 10 Expectations for CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025
Here are the things John is most excited to see in Denver.
Blogs
Competition is Fierce and Fun at the CEDIA Pickleball Meetup
Industry pros compete in the second annual pickleball tournament before they hit the show floor.
Blogs
2025 CEDIA Shares: Sonos
Sonos gives Residential Systems readers a sneak peek at what the company is planning for its CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 exhibit.