As CEDIA Expo Welcomes Crestron Back, Let’s Issue a Challenge to Dump the Apps
CEDIA Expo announced that Crestron Electronics will return for the 2020 show, optimistically scheduled to take place Sept. 8-12 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. And, CEDIA Expo also said Crestron will work with closer to continue the advancement and success of the custom integration channel.
“After what has been a challenging year for our whole industry, welcoming Crestron back to the CEDIA Expo show floor is a welcomed sign of resiliency and progress,” said Ashley Sprengnether, associate show director, CEDIA Expo. “We are excited to be the platform where Crestron announces their plans for 2020 and beyond.”
We’d love to see CEDIA Expo return, and it could, very well, mark the return of trade shows in the AV space! Let’s cross our fingers. But, the show needs to consider ridding themselves of the app-based exhibitors that aren’t really part of the custom-installation segment of the HomeAV market. Let’s be perfectly honest here, CEDIA Expo needs to differentiate itself from CES — the Consumer Electronics Show. CEDIA is not a mini-CES and shouldn’t try to be. The custom installation segment of the HomeAV market is going to go through a renaissance in 2020 (explicitly driven by COVID-19 — everyone has been stuck at home).
Look at LG. The company had its best two months ever for both retail and high-end appliances. Zephyr, record months. Bosch, same. This will trickle over to many markets: projectors, OLED, home automation and whole-home entertainment. But, CEDIA Expo needs to stop taking anyone who wants to exhibit and instead reengineer the show to favor the companies and products that are truly custom-integrated. Sonos — great product; doesn’t require integration. Brilliant Home Control — probably one of the freshest new home automation products, but it’s sold via Instagram!
I’d favor companies like SnapAV, DPI, Barco, Origin Acoustics and Legrand. Not $99 app companies that are selling their offerings on Facebook and Instagram.
My point is, congrats on getting Crestron back, as this will help bring back true integration!
“We feel that now, more than ever, the premium smart home solutions that our dealers and integrators provide are in such high demand, that CEDIA Expo is the perfect event to showcase our new products, specifically our award-winning Crestron Home,” said John Clancy, vice president, Residential Crestron. “We look forward to returning to CEDIA Expo this year with even more exciting Crestron solutions engineered for Crestron dealers and integrators.”
Registration for CEDIA Expo will open in June 2020.
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