Volume 2, Issue 3 — March 20, 2013

Volume 2, Issue 3 — March 20, 2013

How of Worship Trends Church Redux Anthony Coppedge : House of Worship Technology Consultant The Future of H.O.W. Industry Trade Shows: The Golden Ticket Anthony Coppedge : House of Worship Technology Consultant

Headline News Digital Projection’s HIGHlite 330-3D Ships SI Ships FlexGlass Flexible Rear-Projection Screen Material Middle Atlantic Intros Mobile Videoconferencing Cart Panasonic Ships New Solid Shine Series of LED/Laser Projectors NEC Adds 46-Inch and 52-Inch to Super-Slim Line Extron Announces SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI Input Capabilities for Quantum Series Videowall Processors NEC Display Adds LED-Backlit V463 LCD to V Series Almo A/V Opens Registration for 2013 E4 Tour

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Church Redux By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant

I’ve written about growth churches and mega churches in the past because they offer a lot of sales potential for Audio/Video/Lighting manufacturers and systems integrators. Fast growth = frequent sales opportunities. I’d put the majority of my marketing and sales resources there, no doubt. However, there’s something to be said for the other 90 percent-plus of the churches in North America. That’s right: The vast majority of churches are either in slow growth, have plateaued or may even be in decline. While that doesn’t sound like a sexy, ripe market, the sheer numbers can’t (and shouldn’t) be ignored. Of the roughly 300,000+ churches in the U.S. alone, roughly 270,000+ are an underserved market. A huge market. So the question lingers: Is your marketing ignoring focusing on targeting this massive market? Focusing on the Majority While churches are, in fact, churches, the many articles I’ve written have focused primarily on reaching the top 10 percent (or even less). This time, I’m saying that tapping into this staggeringly large, virtually untouched market needs a focused approach. Because the average size of a church is right around 90 people, the opportunities for sales are both limited in quantity and revenue more often than not. I contend that there are two simple approaches to making the most of marketing and sales efforts into this numerically significant church space. The first is a shotgun approach to provide low-cost, box sale opportunities that are time sensitive (the deals expire) to pick up the easy sales. The second is to further subdivide the market from those churches that are simply getting by with technology to turn-around churches — a category of churches actively engaged in becoming growth churches again. Sell Once to Many With greater than a quarter-million unique churches fitting into the small-church category, targeting the senior pastor or worship leader is not only smart, it’s likely the only staff members you’ll need to reach. The idea of speaking to felt needs is important, as these churches will spend money, but they’ll do so far less frequently. With Easter coming in just a few weeks of the publication of this article, the last-minute marketing push to this demographic is prudent. From easy, self-installation product sales for replacing aging gear to reminding these non-technical staff of swapping out expendables with fresh replacements, the quick sale is easy and helpful for churches. For many churches, there are a couple of budget numbers that are helpful in staying under to expedite sales. The first is the sub-$500 sale. Far and away, churches often place no restrictions on processing a purchase order that’s under $500 without the additional step of added authorization. Make a sale in this price point, and you’ll likely have a credit card transaction happening nearly instantly. The second price point is sub-$2,000. It’s a safe number for many churches to allow senior managers/leaders to spend up to this $2k tipping point when important repair/replace decision need to be made quickly. Though less common than the $500 P.O. limit, it’s still a nice way to market products that make an immediate, notable difference for church services. Of course, capturing these sales contacts is helpful, but I’d further recommend adding a custom field to your CRM database for Typical Weekend Attendance (TWA). This lets your marketing and sales teams know the size of a church prospect/client; helpful for targeted marketing and sales campaigns. <100; 100-500; 500-1,000; 1,000-2,000; 2,000-5,000; 5,000+ are standard TWA ranges to use. Targeting Turn-Around Churches A subset within the 90 percent of churches described above are a group called turn-around churches. These are churches that often have new, young leadership actively campaigning to take a church that is either in decline or has stagnated in growth to a new level of community reach and growth. Here the tact is slightly different. Instead of only focusing on low-cost, fast sales, the felt need is both short- and long-term. Because these are quite typically young pastors, they’re attuned to the value of technology and are interested in leveraging electronic tools to both revamp their image to their community and as a way to be more efficient and effective with a small volunteer-only team of techies. The short-term sales opportunities are similar to their counterparts in this 90 percent of the demographic; they have repair/replace issues that need solving, too. But because they’re more future-focused in their turn-around efforts, they’re also open to low-cost solutions that get them down the road towards more significant technology purchases once the growth curve has brought in additional revenue. The tweak to the marketing and sales efforts here helps value their self-described turn-around philosophy, applauding them taking the harder, more courageous road towards effective change. Speaking to their short- and longer-term mindset helps them identify with your brand as a potential partner on this journey; something not lost on the lonely who walk this path. Value Proposition and Value Budgets, Together As I continually remind our readers, the value proposition is more important than the features and benefits. This is a market where meeting felt needs is the way to more sales and long-term, loyal purchasing. At the same time, the reality of a smaller church requires acknowledging the smaller budgets that are a reality for this demographic. Those sub-$500 sales are important to all churches — all of them. Yet it is important to identify which portion of the market a marketing campaign is targeting because stopping at the quick, low-cost sale is too short-sighted and leaves money on the table for those churches interested in leveraging technology as part of their roadmap for more effective growth. Is it too much to ask manufacturers, rep firms and systems integrators to put the minimal effort into subdividing this vertical market into the very real categories that exist? Getting the right message to the right people in the right way at the right time is the crux of good marketing. The house of worship market deserves this kind of attention and deliberate, focused effort if this industry wants to see the revenue opportunities that are available right under the surface. A former staff member at three mega churches and church technology consultant, Anthony Coppedge has developed a respected reputation as a leader in technical and communications circles within the church marketplace. Reach him at anthony@anthonycoppedge.com or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/anthonycoppedge Leave a Comment

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Industry Trade Shows: The Golden Ticket By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant

Manufacturers, rep firms, consultants, integration firms and freelancers all attend the same shows, year after year with the differences between exhibit floors all a similar blur. Orlando. Las Vegas. Long Beach. Dallas. Atlanta. The cities change, but the conferences begin to take on a one-ness to those who regularly attend either as an exhibitor or out of some unwritten industry obligation as an attendee. “Familiarity breeds contempt” is the trite phrase that can so aptly describe the regularity and similarity of the conference and expo scene. Yet industry insiders are not the target audience. Tens of thousands of attendees flock to see, hear and learn about how new technologies, systems and processes can help them in their context. Almost hidden amongst this mass of humanity are attendee name badges hung limply on sponsored lanyards with names like “Church of God,” “First Baptist,” “New Life,” “Fellowship” and “Community Church.” Dressed more or less the same as their corporate, government and education counterparts, these church delegates are standing in the same lines, watching the same demos, listening to the latest pitch and occasionally piping up to ask the same kind of questions that one would hear from a touring group’s seasoned experience. Golden Tickets Instead of reading every name badge looking for a needle in a stack of needles, these church representatives should be invited to the same conference after-parties, private demo suites and early morning breakfast meetings that the industry regulars attend. They’re people, too. They’re also influencers, decision-makers and buyers attending these shows with the same end-goal as their secular counterparts. I can’t tell you the number of times I’d bring a small group of church friends along for a private demo suite viewing of products not quite ready for the expo floor. You’d think they thought I had some sort of magic wand to gain them access to these behind-closed-door meetings and demos. No one else had thought to invite them! On more than one occasion, I’d introduce a church leader to one of my manufacturer rep friends and help make the connection that these guys get the church’s needs and not only have great products, but they’ll help your church make the most of it, too. A quick chat with a regional rep, a product owner or the CEO of a company, and suddenly these churches were being allowed, for the first time, into the world that industry veterans attended without a second thought. What’s mundane to a manufacturer employee is a privilege to these church envoys. A few manufacturers have figured this out, as I’ve begun to see excited church attendees use the free registration mailed them by one a manufacturer or rep firm to pick up their lanyard and badge. You and I know those free registrations are no big deal (to us), but to the church market, they’re like the Golden Tickets to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Invite Churches to Be Your Guest For next-level experiences, invite churches that have expressed serious interest and have engaged with a rep to attend invitation-only events, including after-parties. Yeah, even the ones with open bars. Look, some of these guys and gals won’t drink the alcohol at all, while the remainder will only drink in moderation. But don’t feel that they’d be offended, because they won’t. If you really want to woo some church prospects, create a VIP lanyard that you can mail to them ahead of time or have them pick up at your booth. The experience here is what matters. Dudes like free swag and being added to the behind-the-scenes stuff, church staff or corporate employee. People, as they say, are people. I’ll never forget an InfoComm event I attended as a young church staffer where I was invited to be the “guest” of the product manager for a large display company. They sent a limo to pick me up from the airport to drop my bags off at the hotel and then whisked me to the convention center. It was just a Town Car cab, really, but to a church staff guy, it was like being in the President’s motorcade. I’d bought before and they knew I had more projects in the works, so it was worth the small investment to make a big impression. People Buy From People, Not Just Brands Later, when I worked for large systems integrators as a regional sales manager, I observed a trend: Our sales reps sold more product from the reps that serviced them frequently. What they were selling was the rep, not the brand. My sales team knew that they’d get a demo unit if their client needed it and that they’d have a fast-track into a customer service issue should a product problem come up. I can attest to the fact that most of my reps sold more product — regardless of spiffs — when they had a personal relationship with the rep (manufacturer or rep firm). There should be a lesson in this for our readers: People buy from people, not just brands. Since this is true from the manufacturer to the systems integrator, it’s also true from the integrator to the church client. Qualify Church Clients The “Sales Funnel” is true across the board; the more qualified leads at the top of the funnel, the more deals you’ll have come through the bottom of the funnel. Simple, right? When it comes to church leads, this principle still applies. Qualifying church prospects includes understanding their felt needs. The terminology is slightly different than from most secular clients, but the result is the same: The right technology solutions solve today’s problems and help prevent future issues. As I’ve written about extensively here at rAVe, understanding the buying terms, timelines and personnel at churches isn’t all that complex. Solution-oriented, value-proposition based selling is, was, and will be the way to land more church clients. Period. Feature/benefit selling is something that happens much later in the sales process, once the value of the solution and the unique value benefit of the brand for the church has been established. While I do actually recommend sending free passes for attendance at multiple conferences and expos to your entire church prospect/client database, I would recommend creating a simple gated content (one-step) process for having those who plan on attending to give you more information via an online registration form to help qualify their needs and budgets. This group can then be targeted for follow-up communication (targeted email list, social media contact list, sales rep lead assignment, etc.) that includes those high-value invitations to after-parties, special events and private suite demonstrations. The hot leads can then be given the VIP treatment, which I promise will pay dividends. Pay for a hotel. Send a limo to pick them up from the airport. Treat them to a private breakfast or dinner. In short, treat a great church prospect like you’d treat any great prospect. They’ll value it, Tweet and Facebook about it and share their positive experience with your brand to their network. You can’t buy advertising that targeted or that good! Send Them Back With Something, Too Everyone loves swag, so why not have special swag reserved specifically for churches that meet with your people or visit your booth? Of course, this idea extends to any vertical market, but I know that because churches attend less conferences than most other vertical markets, this small extra effort is a big deal to many church attendees. For those high-value prospects, make sure you’re loading them up with t-shirts, hoodies and gadgets for them to take back in their bags. I can’t begin to describe how often I see a church tech director sporting a logo’d t-shirt or hoodie for years after an event. In fact, I’d actually recommend adding the name and date of the conference on the t-shirts, as these are worn like prized concert t-shirts until they’re worn out. Are there costs in this? Yes, of course. What I’m submitting to our readers is that when church market prospects are valued like they are in other markets, the revenue will follow. People – even church people – are still people. Go ahead. Give them a Golden Ticket to experience something magical – a regular trade show. A former staff member at three mega churches and church technology consultant, Anthony Coppedge has developed a respected reputation as a leader in technical and communications circles within the church marketplace. Reach him at anthony@anthonycoppedge.com Leave a Comment

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Digital Projection’s HIGHlite 330-3D Ships

Digital Projection International is shipping its HIGHlite Cine 330-3D projectors. These new 3-chip DLPs are available in two models: the high contrast HIGHlite Cine 330-3D-HC (spec’d at 3,000 lumens and greater than 20,000:1 contrast) and the high brightness HIGHlite Cine 330-3D (spec’d at 5,500 lumens). Listing at $29,995, the new HIGHlite Cine 330-3D includes HDMI 1.4a compatibility and 10-bit color to home theaters and higher ed theater rooms.

Both models include a lens shift range of 120 percent vertical and 30 percent horizontal, and have two HDMI inputs, as well as RGB via D-15, component, composite and S-Video inputs. They have multiple lens options, including 0.77 and 1.16:1 fixed lenses, as well as zoom lenses with throw ratios ranging from 1.45 – 6.76:1. The 330-3D-HC can be found here, while the 330-3D is found here. Leave a Comment

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SI Ships FlexGlass Flexible Rear-Projection Screen Material

Screen Innovations’ new FlexGlass is a flexible rear-projection screen material that claims to offer all of the benefits of the best rigid optical panels with the benefit of custom and curve capabilities that can only be achieved with a flexible screen material. With edge-blend capability and claiming a zero hotspot with infinite viewing angles (and the ability to be rolled on a two-foot core) FlexGlass is aimed at multiple-projector, edge blending, and short throw projector applications.

See how FlexGlass works here: http://www.screeninnovations.com/screen-materials/flexglass-rear-pro/ Leave a Comment

Middle Atlantic Intros Mobile Videoconferencing Cart

Middle Atlantic Products has announced its new VTC Series Mobile Videoconferencing & Presentation Cart System. Designed with generous equipment mounting space, the VTC Series is a versatile mobile cart system for videoconferencing and presentation applications. The VTC Series supports single screens up to 80” or dual large screens up to 70”, and can support up to 250 pounds in screen weight. Its welded steel frame is UL Listed, tip and weight tested. The VTC Series was designed with up to 15 total rackspaces. It also offers the company’s patent-pending Lever Lock tool-free mounting system. The Lever Lock plate, ideal for Codecs, media extenders, power supplies and other small devices, is easy to install and service, according to Middle Atlantic. The VTC cart’s base features rackmount space for heavier components, such as UPS systems that offer point of use protection. The lower frame provides four rackspaces that are ideal mounting for switchers and processors, and can accommodate tower-style PCs. A removable 12-space rack frame option is available, and allows for easy pre-staging, integration and maintenance access. Also available are storage drawer, work surface and speaker shelf options. For more information about the VTC Series, click here: http://www.middleatlantic.com/sec/VTC_Products_Page.htm Leave a Comment

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Panasonic Ships New Solid Shine Series of LED/Laser Projectors

Panasonic told rAVe today that its new SOLID SHINE Series of lamp-free projectors with DIGITAL LINK technology are already shipping. The LED/laser light source in the SOLID SHINE Series of one-chip DLP projectors is specified with a 20,000 hours light-source life span. All models in the series are spec’d to deliver 3,500 lumens of brightness. Integrated with a DIGITAL LINK terminal, and by combining an optional interface box with its HDMI and other input terminals, a user can transmit uncompressed HD digital video, audio and control signals (Ethernet, RS-232C) for up to 100 meters (328 feet) through a single CAT5e cable. DIGITAL LINK is an original function added to technology based on the transmission standards used in Crestron’s DigitalMedia 8G+ and Extron’s XTP Systems, as well as others. Signals from the ET-YFB100G Digital Interface Box can also be relayed to a non-DIGITAL LINK-ready projector by using another manufacturer’s equipment based on the same technology. The PT-RZ470/RZ370 Series projectors offer installation flexibility, with a 2x zoom, wide lens shift capability, HDMI/DVI digital inputs and Crestron RoomView compatibility. The PT-RZ470 Series offers additional flexibility with portrait mode projection capability, as well as edge blending, color matching and 3D. The PT-RZ370 Series, which includes the PT-RZ370U (1920×1080) and PT-RW330U (1280×800), are available immediately and list for $5,899 and $4,599, respectively. The PT-RZ470 Series, which includes the PT-RZ470UK/UW (1920×1080) and PT-RW430UK/UW (1280×800) will be available in March and will list for $6,799 and $5,499, respectively. Here are all the specs: http://panasonic.com/business/projectors/ Leave a Comment

NEC Adds 46-Inch and 52-Inch to Super-Slim Line

NEC Display added two super-slim displays to its specialty X Series portfolio in the form of the 46-inch X462S and 55-inch X552S. NEC is calling these “industrial-strength.” Using LED backlighting and a mere 1.8 inches deep, the X462S and X552S are not only super-slim and ultra light, but they also deliver a brightness of 700 cd/m². In addition, these super-slim displays include the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) slot, a standardization designed to simplify installations, use and maintenance of digital signage. Users receive full connectivity, including DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D, as well as remote management through the Network Control and Communication tools. The X462S and X552S displays include the following features:

LED backlighting technology, which reduces power consumption and contributes to a lightweight design with minimal 1.8-inch depth
Commercial-grade LCD panel and components, which enable extended run times
1920×1080 native resolution, which provides stunning image clarity
500/700 cd/m² brightness (typical/maximum) and 3,000:1 contrast ratio delivering brilliant imagery
DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D (in/out), which enable connectivity to a wide range of peripherals
RS-232C, LAN and DDC/CI for external control
TileMatrix, which facilitates video walls up to 100 displays in 10×10 configurations
Optional color-calibration solution, which enables color uniformity and fidelity across individual and multiple screens
Real-time clock, which has the ability to set schedules for on/off times 24/7 and can be set to warm up 30 minutes before use for optimum color representation
Built-in ATSC digital tuner

The X462S and X552S are available at minimum advertised prices of $1,999 and $3,099, respectively and are here: http://www.necdisplay.com/category/large-screen-displays Leave a Comment

Extron Announces SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI Input Capabilities for Quantum Series Videowall Processors

Extron’s new two input 3G-SDI Card for the Quantum Elite videowall processing system accepts SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI signals. The new 3G-SDI input card features Extron high performance scaling technology, motion adaptive deinterlacing and film mode cadence detection to ensure high quality image presentation on videowall displays. Automatic source format detection captures 480i and 576i SDI sources, HD-SDI sources up to 1080i/60 Hz and 3G-SDI sources up to 1080p/60 Hz, complying with SMPTE 259M, 292M and 424M digital video standards. SDI, HD-SDI and 3G-SDI input support is also available for the Quantum Connect videowall processing system. Extron says that Extron Quantum Series videowall processing systems deliver reliable multi-image presentations intended for demanding, mission-critical environments. They feature high performance graphics and video processing and a dedicated high-speed video bus that maintains real-time performance under heavy input loads. Quantum Series processors can simultaneously display hundreds of windows of high quality graphics and video, making them ideal for medium to large videowall systems in environments including public spaces, corporate buildings, surveillance, visualization and command and control. To view a product video and for more information, please visit http://www.extron.com/quantumsdipr Leave a Comment

NEC Display Adds LED-Backlit V463 LCD to V Series

NEC Display announced today its latest addition to its commercial-grade V Series, the V463 display, which offers an LED-backlight, slimmer cabinet depth and an OPS-compliant expansion slot. The V463 includes the following features:

LED backlighting technology for reduced power consumption
Commercial-grade LCD panel and components, which enable extended run times
1920 x 1080 full HD native resolution, which provides stunning clarity
350/500 cd/m² brightness (typical/maximum) and 4000:1 contrast ratio for vivid imagery
DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D (in/out), VGA 15 pin D-sub (Composite, Component, S-Video), which enable connectivity to a wide range of peripherals
RS-232C, Ethernet (RJ45), IR Remote, DDC/CI for external control
Built-in, 10-watt speakers enhance the experience with superior sound
TileMatrix, which facilitates video walls up to 10×10
Built-in ATSC digital tuner, which allows for high-definition broadcast capabilities (V463-AVT model only)
Bundled solution, which includes a V463 display and single board computer (OPS-PCAF-WS) for simple digital signage (V463-PC model only)
Optional accessories, including speakers, stand, a variety of internal and external computers, digital tuner, calibration kit and wall mount

The V463 display is available at a minimum advertised price of $1,199. The V463-AVT and V463-PC models are priced at $1,399 and $1,949, respectively. Click below to learn more about each model. V463: http://www.necdisplay.com/p/v463 V463-AVT: http://www.necdisplay.com/p/v463-avt V463-PC: http://www.necdisplay.com/p/product-bundles/v463-pc Leave a Comment

Almo A/V Opens Registration for 2013 E4 Tour

Almo Professional A/V, in partnership with InfoComm International, announced recently that all 12 of its educational courses on the 2013 E4 AV training and networking tour are now worth InfoComm CTS Renewal Units (RUs). Registration is open for the first two E4 events of the year, taking place in Chicago on March 28 and San Francisco on April 25. “As we enter our fourth year of traveling around the country for the E4 AV tour, our mission remains the same: to offer our partner community local access to free educational training so they may get the business, technical and practical knowledge they need to lead their companies in the right direction,” said Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing for Almo Professional A/V. “We are reaffirming this mission and taking it a step further by making every one of our courses worth CTS renewal units. With a keynote and classes running on three different tracks throughout the day, attendees will walk away from any session at this influential event with new information as well as professional AV credit.” The events will feature hundreds of products from more than 30 carefully selected manufacturers, including AMX, Canon, Chief, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, NEC, LG, Panasonic, Planar, Premier Mounts, Samsung, ZeeVee and more. The spring E4 tour will provide a rare opportunity for attendees to have a sneak peek at new products that will be officially unveiled at the InfoComm show in Orlando in June. E4 Chicago will include hourly 30-minute demos of the new Samsung Smart School Solution, a fully integrated, interactive learning platform that empowers educators and helps re-engage K12 students with Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 tablets and interactive whiteboard displays. The Smart School Solution provides teachers with the ability to lead interactive lessons and real-time group activities through its convenient screen and content sharing features while delivering learning management tools that enable students to access course materials and information, as well as school notices and forums, through their tablets. Gary Kayye, founder of rAVe Publications, will kick off E4 with a keynote address based on his popular “Kayye’s Krystal Ball” annual column that outlines industry trends affecting resellers, manufacturers and integrators. The full Chicago E4 educational schedule will be broken down into the following tracks to help attendees navigate their way through the day: Emerging Technology:

Predicting A/V Futures with Kayye’s Krystal Ball LIVE (1 CTS RU): Gary Kayye, rAVe Publications
Assessing Network Readiness for AV Systems (1.5 CTS RU): Paul Streffon, InfoComm International
Digital Signage 201 for Integrators (1 CTS RU): Gary Kayye, rAVe
Designing for Optimum Image Quality (1 CTS RU): Paul Streffon, InfoComm International

Technical Knowledge:

An Overview of Interactive Display Technology and Application (1 CTS RU): Brian Minchew, C2G
Video Walls: A Start to Finish Guide for Success (1 CTS RU): Dave Gentile, NEC Display
Managing and Troubleshooting HDCP (1 CTS RU): Melissa Dillman, Kramer Electronics
HD Video & Digital Signage Distribution Over Simple Coax (1 CTS RU): Roy Bertlalotto, ZeeVe

Business Savvy:

How to Play in the IT Sandbox with A/V Installations (1 CTS RU): Jonathon Brawn, Brawn Consulting
Integration of the Mobile Device in AV (1 CTS RU): Alan Brawn and Jonathan Brawn, Brawn Consulting
Connectivity Buzzwords Decoded (1 CTS RU): Alan Brawn and Jonathan Brawn, Brawn Consulting
The Inside Track on Displays: Fact Not Fiction (1 CTS RU): Alan Brawn and Jonathan Brawn, Brawn Consulting

E4 Chicago is on March 28 at the Oakbrook Drury Lane Conference Center and E4 San Francisco is on April 25 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Both run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are entirely free, including parking, to Almo Pro A/V’s reseller, integrator and consultant partners. To register, go to http://www.e4avtour.com/. The E4 AV program can be accessed on demand during and after each event for instructor videos, copies of the course presentations and live Twitter updates. Leave a Comment

For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HOW [House of Worship] out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue! For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad). Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below. To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas, Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue, which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition. Everything we publish is Opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com To read more about my background, our team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com

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