by Kyle Glass | Oct 18, 2024 | Daisy, News
Bert Herrero, former founder and CEO of First Priority Audio, set to lead Daisy’s seventh franchise branch, opening in one of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S.
Costa Mesa, Calif., October 17, 2024 – Daisy, the first national smart space installation and services company, proudly announces the expansion of its Florida footprint with the opening of a new branch in Ocala, Florida. Just a few months after Daisy acquired First Priority Audio (FPA), its founder, Bert Herrero, is now launching a new Daisy franchise location in one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation.
Ranked as the top city in the U.S. for in-flow of newcomers during the first quarter of 2024, Ocala offers a tremendous opportunity for Daisy to support an exclusive community with a dynamic mix of new families and retirees whose lifestyles can benefit immensely from advanced technological solutions through enhanced security, energy efficiency, convenience and entertainment. Opening its doors in January 2025, Daisy Ocala will mark the company’s seventh franchise and 13th branch location.
“Ocala and The Villages, in particular, are prime areas for growth, with a rapidly expanding population eager to adopt the latest smart home solutions,” says Bert
Herrero, Daisy Ocala founder and CEO. “We’re excited to bring cutting-edge technology and our unique recurring service model to a community ready to embrace it. Our new venture aligns perfectly with this region’s evolving needs and population boom.”
Entrepreneurial since the age of 18, Herrero has been building businesses for decades that incorporate his passion for technology, home services and personalized client experiences. Building from his track record of running a best-in-class operation for over 20 years at FPA, Herrero will leverage Daisy’s robust branch support systems to establish a strong presence in Ocala.
Said Herrero, “For over two decades, I led First Priority Audio with a strong focus on delivering exceptional customer service, ensuring that every client received personalized support in understanding and using the latest home technology. My approach centered around not only integrating cutting-edge solutions but also ensuring our clients were fully supported long after installation, making leading-edge technology both accessible and easy to use. On the team-building front, I successfully cultivated a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and innovation. By empowering my team to embrace new technologies and take ownership of their roles, we were able to scale the business and consistently exceed client expectations. This foundation of trust and expertise was key to our growth and operational excellence, and it remains a core principle in everything I do.”
Continued Herrero about his new endeavor, “The growth potential of Daisy franchisees is fueled by access to its sales and marketing programs, talent recruitment and training solutions, product and supply chain support, integrated technology infrastructure to run the business end-to-end, and more. This, combined with a track record of 96% client retention and a 5-star rating at FPA gives me the confidence to deliver the same exceptional experiences to the residents of Ocala and The Villages.”
To maximize the potential of the new branch location, Daisy will introduce tailored technology and recurring services that cater to the needs of Ocala residents, while investing in the community by providing new jobs and partnering with schools and technical training centers to cultivate local talent. “Our mission is to not only improve the homes and lifestyles of our clients but to also make a lasting, positive impact on the communities we serve,” Herrero concludes.
Hagan Kappler, CEO and co-founder of Daisy, adds, “The service requirements of Ocala’s community are significant. They expect and deserve high-end technology solutions with reliability, simplicity, and strong support. With Bert’s leadership and experience, combined with the Daisy team’s franchise support operation, Daisy Ocala is well-positioned to meet these expectations and deliver world-class solutions that not only enhance people’s homes but also enrich their lives.”
“In the coming months, Daisy will continue expanding through franchising in both existing markets and new regions across the U.S.,” Kappler continues. “The franchise business model is a true win/win for both our clients and business partners. We are involved in many discussions to add new locations across the U.S. that will provide large-company backing with small-company feel and service. Our national brand presence gives us the ability to bring reliable home technology solutions to clients across the country as we launch new businesses across the nation. Together, we can ensure our customers are happy and our partners can build their businesses with more support and less risk.”
To learn more about becoming part of Daisy’s family of integration firms, new business owners can visit https://daisyco.com/franchising/, and existing integration firms can head to https://daisyco.com/for-integrators/
About Daisy
Daisy is a national smart space installation and services company that simplifies smart home and office technology to make it work and perform optimally for its users, solving one of the biggest in-home problems today and bringing more joy into the home and office. For more information on becoming a Daisy-certified technician or to register as a future business partner, or customer, please visit daisyco.com.
Daisy Media Contact
For interviews or more information please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing [email protected].
All brands, products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 18, 2024 | Daisy, News
Marking Daisy’s eighth location, First Priority Audio strengthens Daisy’s footprint in South Florida market.
Costa Mesa, Calif., July 18, 2024 – Daisy, the first national smart space installation and services company, has established a strong presence in South Florida, one of the most vibrant markets in the systems integration industry, with the addition of a key regional player. First Priority Audio (FPA) marks Daisy’s eighth location and the continuation of a strategic initiative to provide integration firms the robust support system and other advantages of a nationally recognized brand.
This new Daisy location builds upon Daisy’s two other existing locations in South Florida: Cinema Sound Unlimited in Coral Springs and Digital Homes in Sarasota. Daisy will look to leverage the best practices of each location to provide stellar services to customers across South Florida.
FPA CEO and founder Bert Herrero joins the Daisy team while continuing to support his company’s extensive customer relationships and help with the transition. FPA executives Joel Hernandez and Stephanie Ruiz remain on board as FPA’s general managers to help grow FPA’s legacy of exceptional operations and client service. They will continue to operate from FPA’s Pompano Beach office and, as a flagship operation known for its exceptional processes, will be a strong exemplar to other Daisy franchise locations.
Adding this respected integration firm to its other South Florida operations not only strengthens Daisy’s presence in the region but also positions FPA for significant growth. Under the Daisy umbrella, FPA will benefit from a world-class branch support system including technician training and career development, significant employee healthcare and retirement benefits, sales and marketing strategies, technology and call center infrastructure and more.
FPA brings to the Daisy network a well-established reputation in the high-end luxury market, with decades of experience, strong builder relationships and impressive installations.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the Daisy network, as it gives our company an even stronger edge in a very competitive market,” says Herrero. “FPA has always prided itself on providing its clientele with exceptional products and service. Daisy gives us leverage to do even better.”
Adds Hagan Kappler, CEO and co-founder of Daisy, “Partnering with Bert, Stephanie, Joel, and the rest of the FPA team reinforces our position in the South Florida market and our entire Daisy franchise network. We look forward to working with their talented technicians and other dedicated team members to deliver exceptional experiences to our clients.”
Manny Fernandez of Strategic Business Intermediaries was FPA’s broker for this transaction.
Daisy is actively recruiting technicians and sales professionals to support its growth in South Florida and throughout the nation. For more information about becoming a Daisy-certified technician or sales professional, please visit daisyco.com/industryleadingemployeeprograms.
To learn more about becoming part of Daisy’s family of integration firms, new business owners can visit daisyco.com/newteammember and existing integration firms can head to daisyco.com/joiningthedaisyteam.
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cpogfzyjyyabplft1cq8p/AKFi2xOMyO_JJHw15Q26mNI?rlkey=g0y9pm7i2wv7icgby5gf02p8s&dl=0
About Daisy
Daisy is a national smart space installation and services company that simplifies smart home and office technology to make it work and perform optimally for its users, solving one of the biggest in-home problems today and bringing more joy into the home and office. For more information on becoming a Daisy-certified technician or to register as a future business partner, or customer, please visit daisyco.com.
Daisy Media Contact
For interviews or more information please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (406) 446-1283 or emailing [email protected].
All brands, products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | Future Ready Solutions, Kordz, News
Connectivity experts share the realities of Wi-Fi 7 and the new demands it presents for cabling and prewire practices in a recent AV Trade Talk podcast episode.
September 29, 2024 – Systems integration is at the precipice of faster, more reliable, higher capacity Wi-Fi connectivity enabled by the up-and-coming Wi-Fi 7 communications standard. Wi-Fi 7, also known as 802.11be, promises significant improvements over previous Wi-Fi standards, including increased data rates, lower latency, and enhanced network efficiency. Although this newest generation of Wi-Fi has yet to make a significant impact on the systems integration market, it behooves professional integrators to prepare for the ‘next big thing’ in Wi-Fi connectivity. Part of the preparation, according to the panelists of the provocative podcast available here, is the implementation of better, higher-quality Ethernet cabling.
Global connectivity expert and Kordz managing director, James Chen, along with esteemed special guests Nathan Holmes of Why Reboot and Eddie Shapiro of SmartTouchUSA agree that Cat 6A cabling is the answer to this new infrastructural requirement and encourage integrators who may be using Cat 5E and Cat 6 to consider Cat 6A cabling for future projects.
During the informative podcast episode, Mastering Connectivity: Why Cat 6 Won’t Cut It with Wi-Fi 7, the panelists outline the steps to determine if and when to prewire homes and buildings with Cat 6A cabling, the best installation practices to follow, and where to find robust certified and tested cabling that can support a seamless transition to Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 7 offers many performance advantages, but only if a home or building’s cabling backbone is up to the task. For additional insights and recommendations about how to ready a building for Wi-Fi 7, listen to the entire podcast here. Systems integrators can also get the scoop directly from the Kordz team and its U.S. Distribution Partner, Future Ready Solutions by visiting www.futurereadysolutions.com.
For access to other informative podcasts and articles by Kordz, and more information about the company, its professional-grade connectivity products, and free integrator resources, please visit https://www.kordz.com/articles/.
About Kordz
Kordz is the connectivity brand for integrators, by integrators. A multi-award-winning global industry leader in professional-grade connectivity products, Kordz’ team of seasoned former integrators is on a mission to ‘Kordzify’ and optimise technology for professionals by designing, engineering, and manufacturing products that deliver ease and profitability through a seamless installation experience with high-performance results that today’s tech-savvy end-users expect. With a wide range of robust, fast, and effective solutions backed by expert technical support, Kordz helps integrators around the world meet the evolving cabling requirements of a diverse range of residential and commercial environments. For more information about Kordz, please visit kordz.com and follow the company @kordzglobal on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected]
© 2024 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved.
Please note, re-publishing of press release content in relation to this article is permitted, however the re-publishing of the original article content is prohibited. Please author your own post or article, citing the name of the Kordz article, and link it to the page on kordz.com.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | Kordz, News
Systems integrators can learn how to best reduce, reuse and recycle materials in Kordz’ latest article on enviro-friendly design, manufacturing, and installation practices.
October 5, 2024 – Recent product innovations like its award-winning and patent-pending 100% recyclable BeltPak packaging highlight Kordz’s commitment to environmentally conscious design and manufacturing practices. In an effort to raise awareness and promote the adoption of the three core principles of sustainability—reduce, reuse, recycle—Kordz provides practical guidance to systems integrators in a recently published online article, accessible here.
The second installment of the series Kordz and the Call to Greener Connectivity: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Connectivity Products suggests strategies systems integrators can implement incrementally to reduce the environmental footprint across their business and operations now. These include making conscientious product choices, partnering with environmentally conscious manufacturers, improving inventory management, minimizing waste, and properly recycling and reusing materials.
The article also outlines significant steps Kordz is taking to lessen its own environmental footprint. In its own bid to reduce, reuse, and recycle, Kordz has focused first on shortening the global supply chain through its purchasing and distribution strategies and second on innovation, using more sustainable materials and reducing waste and consumption through smarter design, manufacturing, and engineering methods. This results in reduced material consumption, more enviro-friendly packaging, and less energy and water usage.
“Everything we each do, from the types and number of products we carry, to how they are packaged, shipped, and disposed of has an environmental footprint and makes a difference. Change starts with creating an environmentally conscious culture. Ultimately at Kordz, we’re about professional grade, installation-friendly product reliability and when it comes to the environment, our number one commitment is to create products that work so they don’t end up prematurely in landfill,” says Kordz Managing Director, James Chen.
In this article, Kordz notes the increasing competitive advantage of making such a shift. Chen explains, “Applying the golden rule of environmental sustainability—reduce, reuse, and recycle—is something you can proudly stand behind when customers and colleagues enquire about your sustainability efforts. By choosing better products and educating your customers on the importance of quality over quantity, not only will your installations perform better, reducing issues and callbacks to the site, they will last longer and that reduces waste and the demands on our natural resources. It could even give you a competitive edge bidding for projects with increasingly green selection criteria.”
Kordz acknowledges that there is still more that it can do, alongside the AV industry, to reduce the environmental impact of AV products and materials. The Kordz team actively welcomes feedback and suggestions from integrators as they continue to evolve to meet the planet’s changing needs and the growing customer demand for greener connectivity and technology solutions.
To learn more about “greener connectivity” and Kordz’ sustainability initiatives, go to https://www.kordz.com/articles/understanding-the-environmental-footprint-of-a-connectivity-product/. To subscribe to other informative Kordz’ articles and for more information about the company, its comprehensive range of professional grade connectivity products, and free integrator resources, please visit https://www.kordz.com/articles/.
About Kordz
Kordz is the connectivity brand for integrators, by integrators. A multi-award-winning global industry leader in professional-grade connectivity products, Kordz’ team of seasoned former integrators is on a mission to ‘Kordzify’ and optimise technology for professionals by designing, engineering, and manufacturing products that deliver ease and profitability through a seamless installation experience with high-performance results that today’s tech-savvy end-users expect. With a wide range of robust, fast, and effective solutions backed by expert technical support, Kordz helps integrators around the world meet the evolving cabling requirements of a diverse range of residential and commercial environments. For more information about Kordz, please visit kordz.com and follow the company @kordzglobal on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected]
© 2024 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved.
Please note, re-publishing of press release content in relation to this article is permitted, however the re-publishing of the original article content is prohibited. Please author your own post or article, citing the name of the Kordz article, and link it to the page on kordz.com.
by Kyle Glass | Oct 15, 2024 | News, SONOS
Sonos reinvents its premium soundbar with revolutionary transducer technology, introduces Sub 4 with a refreshed design
Sonos app updates deliver significant progress in performance and the return of legacy features, with more to come
Santa Barbara, Calif., Oct.15, 2024 – Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) announced today the introduction of Sonos Arc Ultra, a new premium soundbar that also debuts the brand’s revolutionary transducer technology called Sound Motion™. A significant breakthrough in audio engineering, Sound Motion™ drastically reduces the size of the transducer while supercharging the bass, opening a new chapter in sound innovation where bigger, better sound can be delivered from smaller products. Arc Ultra delivers up to double the bass of its predecessor, with an unprecedented 9.1.4 spatial audio experience in a sleek, sophisticated design.
Sonos is also introducing Sonos Sub 4, the next generation of our iconic subwoofer with a refreshed design and internals that elevate your favorite movies, hit shows and more with rumbling bass.
“For decades, Sonos has revolutionized home theater and music experiences with products that look as great as they sound. Driven by our hunger for innovation, we created Sound Motion™ to break the boundaries of what’s possible by a single speaker, bringing this industry-first transducer technology to home theater where demand for extraordinary sound is equal to designs that fit modern living spaces,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “Arc Ultra is a reimagination of our best-selling soundbar, leveraging this incredible innovation to deliver an unprecedented sound experience from a sleeker design.”
Sonos also continues rapid improvement of its new app. With a software update alongside the launch of Arc Ultra and Sub 4, the new app’s performance is expected to surpass the performance of the previous app across important metrics, including those essential to new purchasers — system identification, the set up of new devices, and the ability to group Sonos devices together. For current Sonos customers, the update will reintroduce 90 percent of the new app’s missing features, with further additions on the way as Sonos maintains its ongoing cadence of updates. You can find details on our support page.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to resolve the most critical app issues and most requested legacy features. We have reached a level of quality that gives us the confidence to launch our extraordinary new products,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “As we laid out in our commitments we will continue to improve the software regularly, and are determined to make the Sonos experience better than it’s ever been.”
Arc Ultra: Breakthrough Sound for Your Home Theater
Built with first-of-its-kind technology and deep industry collaborations, Arc Ultra provides boosted bass, a spine-tingling spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos®, and advanced Speech Enhancement for even more levels of control — all in a sleek package that blends into your space and complements large TVs.
- Theater Sound in Your Living Room: Arc Ultra delivers a massive sound stage that precisely places every detail of sound in your room to envelop you in content. The all-new architecture features 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, including a Sound Motion™ woofer and a cluster of tweeters with waveguides on both ends to deliver a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience. Tune with Trueplay™ to pinpoint the best sound for your space, now available for both iOS and Android.
- Never Miss a Word or Whisper: With a new center channel architecture, Arc Ultra maximizes vocal clarity so it’s easier to follow dialogue. An all-new advanced Speech Enhancement feature lets you choose your preferred level of dialogue clarity in the Sonos app.
- Cinematic Collaborations: Arc Ultra is the product of deepened Sonos Soundboard relationships. We worked with veteran movie producers and creators like Chris Jenkins and Onnalee Blank to fine-tune Arc Ultra for Dolby Atmos content playback and assemble a studio-worthy experience that rivals professional sound systems.
- Design Worthy of Your Home: Arc Ultra is thoughtfully crafted with a distinctive curved profile, matte finish, and a slimmer appearance that looks elegant when mounted and doesn’t obstruct TV bezels when placed on a credenza. Its wrap-around grille extends around the back of the speaker so sound can travel in every direction to completely surround you.
- Seamless Setup and Control: Unlock theater-quality sound in a matter of minutes with a simple HDMI eARC connection and effortlessly control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, Sonos Voice Control, or Amazon Alexa. Touch controls are cleverly housed in a dedicated ledge behind the soundbar to prevent visual distraction. With Bluetooth line-in, Arc Ultra also gives you more ways to stream – whether binging a podcast or setting a playlist before guests arrive.
- Committed to Sustainability: Arc Ultra was designed responsibly with improved serviceability by using more screws and fewer adhesives, halogen-free PCB materials, less silicon material, and a reduced idle power consumption by as much as 20% as a standalone player compared to Arc. Its packaging is 100% recyclable and also 18% smaller in volume, making it more efficient to ship.
Sub 4: Our Most Immersive Subwoofer, Revamped
Sub 4 is the next generation subwoofer producing bass you can feel, transforming your home theater experience to draw you closer to the content you love.
- Pulse-Pounding Sound: Feel every beat, roar or rumble in your chest with dual custom woofers that generate deep, dynamic low frequencies to enhance your entertainment. No buzz or rattle either — both Sub 4 woofers face inward to create a force-canceling effect that neutralizes distortion.
- Rebuilt, Inside and Out: Sonos’ most advanced subwoofer to date, Sub 4 includes increased processing power and memory, as well as new WiFi radios for better connectivity so you never miss a beat.
- Same Iconic Design: Sub 4 sports an elegant sculptural shape maintaining much of its predecessor’s aesthetic, with an updated matte finish in Black and White and a profile that’s easy to stand upright, lay on its side, or tuck under the couch. Sub 4 also comes in a more sustainable form through dematerialization efforts and a nearly 50% reduction in idle power consumption.
- Breathtaking Home Theater: Add more drama to your movies and shows when you pair Sub 4 with Arc Ultra, Arc or Beam for deeper lows. Pair two subwoofers together for maximum bass that supercharges every scene and song — Sub 4 is compatible with previous generations of Sub.
Arc Ultra and Sub 4 will be available beginning on October 29, 2024 for $999 and $799 USD. For more information, visit sonos.com, and follow along on @sonos.
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About Sonos
Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) is the world’s leading sound experience company. As the inventor of multi-room wireless home audio, Sonos innovation helps the world listen better by giving people access to the content they love and allowing them to control it however and wherever they choose. Known for delivering an unparalleled sound experience, thoughtful design aesthetic, simplicity of use, and an open platform, Sonos makes the breadth of audio content available to anyone. Sonos is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at www.sonos.com.
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