HTA Update - 06/17/2009 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Builders and Electronic Systems Contractors: Overcoming Challenges to Working Together
Creating Solutions Together: Custom Builder Symposium + Design Institute
NAHB to Pilot a New Home Integration Course at Custom Builder Symposium/Design Institute
HTA Spring Meeting Brings Changes, New Faces
CEDIA Member Highlight: Ambleside Logic
Save 15% on NAHB Safety Products at BuilderBooks During National Safety Month
Building Green Provides Unanticipated Benefits
Here's Your Chance to Make a Difference: Sign Up to Serve on NAHB Committees
Homing in on Home Technology
CEDIA Courses Offered as NAHB Continuing Education
New Horizons: Trends in Home Technology
Keeping Up with Technology

Keeping Up with Technology

Home technology trends change very quickly. There is always someone out there trying to make an existing product better, make it easier to use or more ergonomic. Yet, there are also people who are designing new products that do the same thing albeit more efficiently and easily. That’s what has brought us to the present situation: people love and want the newest technology but aren’t sure what is the “latest and greatest” or how to get it. So how do you help them? How do you guarantee that your customer will be happy? Where do you start? Here are a few things to consider:

Qualify your customer — Do they want to be able to turn off all of the lights in the house from the TV when they are ready to go to bed? Would they like to see the hot tub temperature and be able to adjust it from a computer? Do they like to entertain people and if so, where? These are all questions that should be answered before construction starts. You wouldn’t put in kitchen cabinets without having the client picking them out first.
Do your research — Know about the products that the customer wants. Information can be obtained from one of your trusted trade associates or even from the internet. This will insure that you not only know what the customer wants, but that it is possible.
Plan Ahead with an ESC and Your Contractors — Convene your trade partners, including your electronics systems contractor (ESC), so that everyone is on the same page. Almost every single part of the building process now involves an ESC. Your ESC may need a conduit run from one side of the driveway to the other which would involve the concrete company. This meeting can set the tone for the entire building process and will generally eliminate the shortfalls in communication that seem to occur regularly. Your ESC may know of a new technology that they would like to implement into the house which involves the HVAC company, or you may find the opposite to be true. The plumber may bring up some great new technology that they saw at the last trade show they attended and need the ESC’s help in researching and implementing it.

It’s critical to your future projects’ success that you pay attention to how this process develops and is implemented. It will create a knowledge base that will end up helping you, your business and your customers.

New technology is fun and exciting if you know about it and can implement it. It positions your business differently than your competitors. Stay a step ahead of those around you and your business will always stay ahead too.

Barrie McCorkle is the current Director of Membership for Specialty Electronics Nationwide (SEN). Specialty Electronics Nationwide is the specialty consumer electronics buying group under the Nationwide Marketing Group umbrella. McCorkle is also the current Chair for CEDIA’s Registered Outreach Instructor (ROI) Action Team. He comes to SEN from Design Audio/Video, a two store CI Retailer in Colorado, where he spent a majority of his CE career since 1993. Over the years Barrie held the position of Owner, VP, General Manager, Store Manager, Project Manager and Audio Video Buyer. He has been in the Consumer Electronics Industry for over 20 years and is a respected CE industry partner. If you would like to contact Barrie McCorkle he can be reached at bmnationwide@gmail.com or by phone at 970-379-4342. If you would like more information on Specialty Electronics Nationwide please visit www.specialtyelectronics.com.