Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2019 50 C EDIA was in September, and while I'm sure I say this every year, there were some monumental changes, announcements, and exciting happenings at the show. The following are a few trends we saw at CEDIA and see ahead for the CI market. TREND #1: THE CONVERGENCE OF THE APPLIANCE AND CI WORLD We started to see a shift in some of the demographics of the CEDIA channel — not in the people attending the show, but in some of the vendors on the show floor. While we saw several kitchen and bath vendors like Kohler and others, we also saw for the first time the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). What does this shift mean for the CI dealer and the hybrid CI/ retail dealer? If you're paying attention, (as we are) you're starting to see the appliance, kitchen, and bath manufacturers starting to pay attention to what the CI channel has been talking about and doing for years now. The convergence of the appliance side of the business with the custom install and automation side has been talked about for several years and this year we're starting to see that occur. Get ready for more appliance and kitchen and bath vendors at CEDIA, which is a good thing. TREND #2: LIGHTING Lighting is coming of age and getting better integration, easier installation, and more options for installers and consum- ers alike. A couple of trends in the lighting business that are important are: 1. Low-voltage lighting like LumaStream. New options for fixtures, installation, and integration are great innovations for the custom installation market. 2. Traditional high voltage lighting with a twist, such as Noon lighting. A combination of some of the smartest light switches and great industrial design make this an exciting product. Both products have great margin opportunities and now offer either verticals in the lighting market or an alternative to some established brands which might be "over shopped" by clients. TREND #3: SHADES ARE THE NEXT BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL Relatively new to the CEDIA channel, PowerShades has been in the commercial world for several years. At CEDIA, PowerShades made specifying, selling, installing, and programming their line of shades much easier with the introduction of PoE shades. One wire does it all — power and control. Seeing the shift from traditional control shades to PoE is exciting since it means (in most markets) no need for an electrician and additional costs. While there are many more items worth mentioning, these are a few highlights and trends seen at the show that we're heavily invested in at Nationwide. Hank Alexander Consumer Electronic Trends Hank Alexander Director HTSN - Home Technology Specialists Nationwide Nationwide Marketing Group CEDIA 2019 CHANGES AND TRENDS RO

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