Features
What’s So Smart About Smart Homes?
A look at what consumers expect from their smart homes and how custom installers can expand their views.
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Adventures in 70-Volt
Why more residential integrators are paying attention to this commercial AV staple.
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Modern Smart Lighting Almost Sells Itself (Almost)
The latest smart lighting systems offer major benefits and improvements to home life, and it’s up to custom integrators to make sure their clients...
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Engineering the Ultimate Master Bathroom Experience
Custom installers can transform luxury bathrooms from beautiful to magical.
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Remembering Lisa
Lessons learned from the person who treated everyone in the room like a rock star.
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Tech Integration in the Kitchen and Bath
Forget connected ovens and smart faucets — the kitchen and bath industry needs integrator expertise on a larger scale in these important rooms.
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Paul Starkey vs. Staffing
The legendary serial industry problem-solver turns his attention toward one of today’s biggest residential integrator pain points.
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‘Get Back’…To Better Management
Could the Beatles have stayed together longer if only they had a good project manager?
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Five Things I’ve Learned About Designing for Luxury Clientele
A look inside the mind of an ultra-high-end client.
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Luxury Redux
What’s in a name — true luxury service needs a clear message to separate itself from ‘pop culture’ luxury projects.
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Finishing Luxury Installs in Style
Tech solutions that sync with premium surfaces create new business opportunities for integrators.
Business Book Club
Business Book Club: ‘Hitting For The Cycle’
The godfathers of the CI business, Paul Starkey and Steve Firszt, offer actionable advice in a quick reading guide.
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Zoomification and BYOM
The quest to create the ultimate wireless videoconference setup, including crystal-clear sound.
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Get to Know Nice
The new owners of Nortek Control reveal their plans for the company and what it means for dealers.
Behind the Business
Companies to Watch 2022
Our annual look at the wins of the past year and what it means for the next 12 months.
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The Single-Booth Tradeshow
Savant uses its would’ve-been-seen-at-CEDIA exhibit to take a different approach to virtual tradeshows.
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Top Ten Marketing Mishaps to Avoid
Some funny and not-so-funny slip-ups we’ve noticed over the years.
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Smart Kitchen and Bath Appliances
Is now the time for the CI channel to participate in this market?
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So, How Is the Home Theater Business?
Home theaters are doing well, but they should be doing so much better.
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The State of You
While the State of the Industry may be solid, the State of You may need some care.
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State of the Industry 2021
A bird’s-eye view of how custom installers are handling a very busy year that includes mounting supply issues.
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2021 Fall Product Guide
Keeping track of the many new gear introductions of the past few months.
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Budgeting for Growth
It’s time to plan for 2022. Do you know what your marketing budget should look like?
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Availability Bias: Are You Pulling Your Weight?
How availability bias causes you to overestimate your own contributions, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
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Buckle Up!
With lots of new product introductions and collaboration between major players, it is a good time to be in the custom installation business.
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Influencer Marketing: Is It time?
It’s getting harder and harder to cut through the noise to reach new audiences. Is it time to consider influencer marketing for your brand?
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Commercial Design Quickly Making Its Way Home
Far more than a catchy term, “resimercial” is a multi-faceted trend that’s not just here to stay but one that’s influencing how we approach...
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5 Home Theater Trends Shaping the Industry
Dedicated home theaters are back by popular demand. Here’s what’s causing the revival.
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Seeing Blockbusters in Style
Finding inspiration from home theaters to go back to the commercial ones — but only if it is a Dolby Cinema.
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You Say Pot-ay-to, I Say Pot-ah-to
Vernacular varies wildly from trade to trade. Are you speaking your audience’s language?
Behind the Business
Challenge and Solution: Showroom Location and Type
Two CEDIA Award–winning integration firms offer their advice on where to put a showroom — and how to use it effectively
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Safe Space: Aging-in-Place and Child Monitoring
Research shows that the changes in lifestyle demanded by Covid-19 will have a lasting impact on clients’ behavior.
Behind the Business
Defining Wellness for Custom Installers
Health and wellness is marked as an industry growth category, but what does that really mean, and how can integrators get involved?
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Avoiding Calcification
It is important you keep from becoming complacent in both your business and your personal life.