GoldenEar Technology, co-founder Sandy Gross’s latest entry into the specialty audio/video speaker marketplace, has hired industry veteran Jack Shafton to serve as VP of sales and marketing.
Jack Shafton, an industry veteran from Paradigm Electronics, will serve as VP of sales and marketing for GoldenEar Technology.
For the last 15 years Shafton has been with Paradigm Electronics, serving for last five years as VP of sales and marketing for the Paradigm and Anthem brands.
Gross, who was co-founder of Polk Audio and Definitive Technology, announced the launch of GoldenEar Technology, a new loudspeaker company based in Owings Mills, Maryland, on June 9. His partner in the new venture is Don Givogue, who was also a founder and principal of Definitive Technology.
“We are thrilled to have Jack joining our team,” Gross said. “His industry experience and background are unparalleled, while his career-long dedication to quality products sold through quality specialty dealers is a perfect fit to achieve GoldenEar’s goals. Jack’s success in establishing trusted and profitable brands will help secure GoldenEar’s position as a highly desirable world-class vendor partner.”
Shafton noted that the product-focused passion and enthusiasm of GoldenEar Technology’s co-founders are what attracted him to the audio business 35 years ago. “Products with real performance and value, and the audio specialty dealers that can sell them, are what brought me in and made me an enthusiast,” he said. “Passion for incredible sound is what has always driven this business and helped to create all the great audio companies of the past, and it’s what will make GoldenEar one of the great companies of the future.”
He also added that recent developments in the distribution of specialty loudspeaker brands have helped to create a critical need for GoldenEar. “We are launching a vital new brand clearly positioned in the specialty arena, which will grow and become a tremendous asset for our dealers,” he said. “Nobody knows how to do this better than Sandy and I.”
GoldenEar, Shafton said, plans to offer the best products, sold through the best dealers, with a real focus on marketing and dealer support, to create a highly profitable line which will draw customers into its dealers’ stores.
Sandy Gross recently returned to the audio business to co-found GoldenEar Technology.
“Our initial product offerings embody significant engineering breakthroughs and will adhere to the highest standards of superb sonic performance, elegant, sophisticated styling, and exceptional value that the founders have always used as their personal benchmarks,” Shafton said.
According to Shafton, the line will debut with a limited number of SKUs to make it as easy as possible for dealers to add GoldenEar Technology to their mix.
“Sandy and I are looking for the best specialty retailers and custom integrators, those who share our enthusiasm for great sound and great business, to come join the fun,” Shafton said.
GoldenEar Technology’s official debut will be in September in Atlanta, at CEDIA Expo 2010. Those interested in becoming charter dealers for the line may contact Sandy Gross (410.998.9134) or Jack Shafton (630.403.8536).
